lties only
emphasized what had become a general opinion. Accordingly the sections
of the new Constitution of 1850 relating to the University were
thoroughly discussed in the Convention; with the result that certain new
provisions were incorporated which gave the University of Michigan a
unique standing among state universities. Particularly important were
the measures relating to the Board of Regents. In the first place, it
was provided that they should be elected by the people, one for each
judicial district, and at the same time the judges of each circuit were
elected. Ten years later the latter provision was changed so that the
number of Regents was definitely fixed at eight; two to be elected every
two years at the regular election of the justices of the Supreme Court.
In the second place, it was provided that while the Regents should have
only general supervision of the University, they should have the
direction and control of all expenditures from the University interest
fund. These provisions were far-reaching. They made the Board of Regents
a constituent part of the State Government, on an equality as regards
powers with the Governor, the Legislature, and the Supreme Court.

From the time this action went into effect we may date the larger growth
of the University. The selection of the Regents is as far removed from
political influence as it is possible to make it under our electoral
system, and they are given absolute control of the income of the
University and the appropriations of the Legislature, once they are
made; provided of course they are used for the purposes designated.

A further provision of the Constitution specified the immediate
appointment of a President. The old plan was not considered suitable for
an American college. This sentiment was so strong that the Convention
was unwilling to leave this matter to the discretion of the Regents and
therefore they made action imperative. All that was necessary now was
the adaptation of the organic Act of the University to the new
Constitution. This was accomplished on April 8, 1851, when a new Act was
adopted, in essentials far simpler and more general in its terms than
the old one, which left the University free to enter upon the remarkable
growth and expansion which began with the administration of President
Tappan.

CHAPTER IV

THE FIRST ADMINISTRATIONS

The new University Act had charged the Regents with the duty of electing
a President i