Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 10.djvu/327

 New Hampshire Men in Michio-an.

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��which would convene the first Monday in January, 1S37. ]\Ir. Peiree had a clear field for action and five months' time in which to prepare his report. He immediately went East and con- sulted such men as John A. Dix, Gov. Marcy of New York, President Humphrey of Amherst college. Gov. Everett of Massachusetts, President Day of Yale college, and other emi- nent men. He also attended the American Institute of Instruction held at Worcester, Mass., and the college of professional teachers at Cincinnati. During this pilgrimage among educa- tors and schools, Mr. Peiree was a close observer of the systems exam- ined, as he deeply appreciated the re- sponsibility imposed upon him by the government, wiiich had appropriated over a million acres of land for carr}'- ing out the system he was expected to recommend. The report, covering all the ground requested by the act of the legislature, was submitted, and was adopted by the legislature with scarcely a dissenting voice. His next move, in the cause of education in Michigan, was the devising a plan for the establishment of a universit}^, which proved a very perplexing busi- ness, as it was then believed that the maintenance and success of a state institution was impracticable. It was suggested that the private academies then in existence should be named the University of Michigan, and the fund set apart for the university should he divided among them in proportion to the number of students in attendance. This scheme was fa- vored by manv throusjhout the state, but was vigorously opposed by Mr. Peiree, who brought to bear, in its defeat, all the iufiuence he could con-

��trol. The measure passed the Senate^ and was defeated in the house by only one vote. The opposition to the scheme of Mr. Peiree was s^xy bitter ; but accomplished facts have demonstrated the wisdom of his posi- tion in the matter, as Michigan now boasts of a University whose fame, with its fifteen hundred students, is world-wide. In his opposition to the confederation of the academies, he was seconded by many distinguished educators, who, like him, clearly saw the impracticability of the scheme, and the waste of time and energy that its adoption would bring. Again were his shrewdness and foresight shown in opposing the appropriation of $500,000 that had been made for the erection of buildings. Mr. Peiree believed that such au amount used at that time would seriously cripple the future of the university, which he l)e- lieved should develop naturally. It will thus be seen that his efforts for the establishment of the educational system covered many of the best years of his life. And to quote the words of anotlier, " to John D. Peiree, Michigan owes her present admirable school system, of which every citizen is justly proud. Among other impor- tant measures originated by him was the homestead exemption law, by which many of the residents of the state are now owners of fine farms and comfortable homes. The provi- sions for the support of the pulilic schools and the homestead exemption measure were, through his efforts, in- corporated in the constitution of the state in 1850. In 1842 Mr. Peiree again took up the ministry, and in 1847 he was elected to the state legis- lature. He was ever a strong anti-

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