US Presidency
1859

The object of this gift, as stated by the bill, is the endowment, support, and maintenance of at least one college ( in each State ) where the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific or classical studies, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts, as the legislatures of the States may respectively prescribe, in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions in life. As there does not appear from the bill to be any beneficiaries in existence to which this endowment can be applied, each State is required to provide, within five years at least, not less than one college, or the grant to said State shall cease. In that event the said State shall be bound to pay the United States the amount received of any lands previously sold, and that the title to purchasers under the State shall be valid.