PROTEST OF CONCORD ASSOCIATION AGAINST THE APPROPRIATION
OF STATE FUNDS FOR THE SUPPORT OF SECTARIAN SCHOOLS.Whereas, The Legislature of Kentucky did on the 22d of February 1865, grant a charter to the Curators of Kentucky University, whereby was transferred to them certain lands appropriated by Congress, July 2d, 1862, for the purpose of providing colleges for the benefit of agricultural and mechanical arts, in the several States and Territories in the United States.
And whereas, On the 10th of February, 1866, the Legislature did, in addition to the aforenamed donation, appropriate $20,000, public money, to enable the Curators of the aforesaid University to put the mechanical and agricultural college into oreration; and as we learn from journals
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in the interest of the said University, that further appropriations should be solicited from the Legislature, and certainly will be, not for the purpose of fostering the agricultural and mechanical college alone, but to maintain the University in all of its schools.And whereas, the aforesaid University is notoriously a sectarian institution, as much as any under the patronage of other religious denominations, and is designed to promote the interests of that religious persuasion, known as "the Reformers," "the Campbellites," or "the Christians," in the education of its minist[r]y or otherwise; and as the alliance of the agricultural and mechanical college, with the other schools of the said University, make it subservient to the sectarian purposes, as the loaders of the denomination publicly declare.
And whereas, we believe that the union of church and state in any form, direct or indirect, in any degree whatever, is inconsistent with the genius of our free institutions, and constitutional law, endangers the liberties of tho people, and is fraught with incalculable evils; and as the bestowment of State ·patronage, public monies, or prestige, is a direct violation of this fundamental principle of our government, whether such patronage or monies be appropriated to building churches, educating ministers, or in sustaining the institutions of learning, literary or theological, and as such is a manifest injustice, being partial legislation, which affects the right; and interests of others.
And whereas, This alliance between the State and the University was inaugurated and matured amid the confusion and perplexity occasioned by the late war, when other matters claimed the attention of our legislative body, and which doubtless prevented them from weighing tbe full significancy of the acts, transferring the lands and appropriating money to the University, and which were passed without being submitted to the popular vote.
Therefore resolved, First, that we as a religious association, and as citizens of the State of Kentucky, do solemnly protest against the prestige and support of the State being given to the aforenamed religious denomination, or to any other, and also do protest against the injustice done to all others, in giving so large a sum as is equivalent to the value of the lands donated, 330,000 acres, valued at $415,750, and in addition, imposing taxes to maintain a sectarian institution.
Secondly, That we humbly, respectfully, yet earnestly petition the Legislature to repeal all acts relating to the University of the State with the Kentucky University, reclaiming all the State funds in the hands of the same, and proceed to establish the mechanical and agricultural college, independent of all sectarian alliances.
Thirdly, That these resolutions be sent to the Legislature by the hands of our representatives, Hon. Jesse D. Bright, of Carrolton, and Hon. Jerry Lillard, of Owenton.
============================= [From Minutes of Concord Baptist Association (Ky.), meeting in Owen County, 1867; Via SBTS Archives and Special Collections, Adam Winters, Archivist. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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