BATON ROUGE, Saturday, Feb. 17, 1860.
DEAR GENERAL: I know how anxious you are and must be about our affairs here. I have met a great many gentlemen here, dined with the governor, am invited to dine with Mr. Moise to-day, and by all am assured of the deep interest felt in our affairs. Could any bill come before either branch with few provisions, and ample appropriation it would pass. But the whole matter having been referred to the School Committee it is proper it should report its bill, when anything may come in on amendment. First Dr. Smith will not consent to your bill or any new bill. He insists on clinging to the old bill, but is willing to modify it in any way, that may be politic. He now agrees to amend so far as to style the Seminary "The Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy," also to add a clause making the cadets, officers, etc., a military body, with commissions, etc., also to make five supervisors a quorum for the transaction of business. The Board of Supervisors retaining all other full powers as now.
As to appropriations we feel now confident that there is rightfully in the treasury — $12,330, arising thus — coupons for eighteen months on $137,000 bond, nine percent is $12,330. We have this on the signature of the auditor and the treasurer admits that sum to be in the treasury subject to appropriation. It also appears that in former years, $119,000 were appropriated, and that only $112,000 have been drawn, leaving a balance due the Seminary on that score, of exactly $6,930 which we will also ask to be re-appropriated.
Dr. Smith will also ask the Seminary Fund to be relieved of the condition of refunding the $30,000, and ask to cry quits on that score of our claim to compound interest. I have just had a full conversation with Randall Hunt who is an eminent lawyer and says the courts here have compelled the payment of compound interest, when the money has been used, as was the case with Louisiana.
Now if the legislature will repeal the clause requiring that $30,000 to be paid back, and will further relieve us of the charge of indigent youth — it would be well not to press the claim for compound interest.
Now I understand the Committee to intend to recommend the fifty indigent youths, the state to pay all the expenses but tuition. I have explained fully that such would not help us much, and Colonel Taylor and Mr. Goode and others say it will ruin our institution as planters will not send their children to a school with a preponderance of pauper children. All admit a perfect willingness to appropriate $5,000 for chemical, philosophical, surveying, engineering, etc., books; also $11,000 for two professor's houses.
Therefore the points now in dispute are the indigent student clauses. If they reënact the sixteen1 clause they will appropriate three hundred dollars a piece — if they provide for fifty, then fifteen thousand dollars. If Messrs. Taylor and Goode represent public sentiment properly, I think the best plan would be to give the Board of Supervisors the six thousand dollars cash, and let them reduce the tuition fee to all as low as possible. That would enable us to educate as cheap as any college.
We all meet again tomorrow, Sunday, and will discuss these points. I want the school committee to report on Monday or Tuesday next, as I want to hear the action of the Senate. Bragg was compelled to go down to his plantation yesterday and may not return before I leave, but he put me in such good relation with his friends that really they overcome me with zeal. They pitched into Dr. Smith so, at dinner, that he was alarmed for the safety of the nation. They so damned the volunteers and elevated the regulars that the Doctor feared for the safety of the liberties of the people. I have your bill in my pocket — also one prepared by myself — but I now abandon any hope of a new bill, and shall confine my efforts to so modifying the old one as to bring in the military element, and to get the State aid which all seem so anxious to give. I am now in the Library and shall see if there be not some books we could get. The librarian, named Carrigan, is trying to get a state appointment for a friend in New Orleans. I would for myself be almost willing to give him the appointment on easy terms if he would give me a list of duplicate books that a resolution could secure them. They have a good library here.
The knowing ones say the Arsenal Bill will also pass, and the blank be filled with $150,000 for the purchase of arms and building a structure — but I doubt it. If we can get five thousand stand of arms, then a field battery and the usual proportion of equipments, it would be all we could expect — and in vain if the room so dedicated get ten or twelve thousand dollars to build a mess hall and kitchen separate.
On Thursday next I am bound to give Roelofson a categoric answer and feel a little confused thereat, for the solicitude of my family which I have heretofore disregarded now troubles me.
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1 The old law provided for sixteen beneficiary students.
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