Manhattan, K. T. May 24th 1858
Hon. Eli Thayer
My Dear Friend,
I called to see you when East last Summer but missed you. I regretted
this
much as I wished a long talk on the interests of Kansas, & especially
as
connected with Bluemont Central College, an Institution already Chartered
for
this place. Its most striking feature will be our Agricultural Department
of
a most thorough practical character. Further particulars you can learn
from
Mr Parrott, our Delegate to [xxx] [xxx] sent statistics & a petition
to
Congress for a grant of 100000 acres of land to carry out our
Agricultural Department
Can you not bring influences to bear on this question that will make it
succeed?
Make one of your telling speeches upon it!
Very much obliged for the ones you have sent me.
Talk with Senators Harlan & Wilson on the land grant.
I am appointed Agent to go East to raise money to put up our first
College
building. I shall start the first or second week in June & shall hope
to
see you before long. I want your aid with the E. Aid Co’y. etc in
this
enterprise.
I feel assured you will do all you can consistently with other duties
to promote
our Educational interests. You have had a powerful, turning influence in
bringing
us out here. You well know that we come to battle for Freedom & a
pure Christianity,
& now when the victory in the Main is won we wish to make the results
certain
by seeing well to our Schools & Churches. We are encouraged, but work
is
before us. This we do not fear but we wish to labor successfully. To do
this
we must have the aid of our friends
in Congress, & among the mass of the People.
If it is too late to act on the Land grant this session, please bring
it up
early at the next one.
One favor more, will you be so kind as to secure the Fifth Vol. of
the Surveys
for a Pacific R. Road with any other copies of the Series & forward
to my
address. They contain important information for us here & I design
finally
to place them in the Library of our College. Any Congressional Works, or
Patent
Office Reports will be gratefully recd.
We calculate to run “Lecompton” square into the ground
never to
have a resurrection!
The Lord reigns let the Earth rejoice! There is hope for our Nation!
Yours gratefully & Affectionately
Isaac T. Goodnow.
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/3580/text
