Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-12-28


from the consequences of delay in their payments
me sums reported were founded on the estimates
winch had been received from the Treasury in reply
10 a communication from the Committee of WAYS
ana Means. BY error in the printing OF the bill
Tie sums had been inserted But he would now
move 10 I'LL the first blank with the of 1852 100
dollars; the second blank with the sum of 67 500
dollars, and the third blank with the sum of Il, 900
dollars.
NO further proposition being made TO amend the
Dill, the Committee and reported the same and
Inc amendments being concurred in, the bill was
'hen ordered TO be engrossed aid read thud time to-
morrow.
LANDS IN OHIO.
The House then went INTO Committee of the
whole on the bill to authorize the legislature OF
ONO TO sell the lands heretofore reserved for the
use OF schools. MIR. M'Coy in the chair.
The bill was then read. as follows:
" BE ~ enacted 6y the Senate and House of
Representatives. Of the United States of .q,ueyi
ca, IA Congress assembled, That the legislature
Oh the state OF Ohio shall be, and is hereby autho-
riZeo 10 sell apd convey, ia fee simple, all or any
part, OF the lands heretofore reserved and appro-
prlated by Congress for the use of schools within
said state, and to invest the money arisino from
the sale therefore in some productive fund tho nyo
ceeds Oh which shall be forever applied under the
direction OF said legislature, for the use and sun
port OF schools within the several townships and
districts OF country, for which they were originally
reserved and set apart, and for no other use or pur
pose whatsoever Pr0Uided, said land, or any
part thereof, shall, in no case be sold without ,
consent oil inc inhabitants OF such township or dis
trlct, TO be obtained in such manner az the IegsI,
'ure OF SAID state shall, by law, direct: find pr0-
ofded also, lhai, In disappointment of the pro-
ceeds OF SAID fund, each township and district
Aforesaid, shall be entitled 10 such partv thereof
and no more, as shall have accrued from the sum
or sums arising from the sale of the school lands
belonging to such township or district
MIR. Vnton OF Ohio, offered the following,
men,, to be added to the BILL as an additional sec
ton:
sec = IND De 1t fighter enqeted, That if the
proceeds accrning 10 any township or district from
SAID fund shall be insufficient for the ,support OF
schools therein, it shall be laval for sadleaisature
10 invest the same, as hereinbelore directed, I'M
I'll the whole proceeds of The fund belonging 10
SUCH township or district shall be adequate TO the
permanent maintenance and support of schools
within the same.
MIR. FinIon, on introducing his amendment, very
briefly stated that the land. ere held by Townships
or districts, separately. II might occur in many
cases, that the produce of esales of tracts in
dlslfIct, or township, ght not be sufficient for the
support OF the schools which were situated in such
district or township. II was the object of his
amendment, where such cases occurred 10 invest
VIC PIOtSetS, until they should amount q a
sufficient for the permanent n.ainl enaDce of such
school.
Mr.. Forsythe of Georgia, rose merely for the
purpose OF Information He wished TO know the
eaSoa Tor The introduction of the pIoviso into the
first section of the bill
Mr. Ninton, in reply, stated shat the reason was
as lie had before remarked, the lands belonged To
the several townships and districts, each having
sole Interest in the lands which were set apart in
SIirl tOyx-nc b.
legislature of Ohio, on which this measure is foun-
ded, ask the consent OF Congress to sell these lands
Out 1t does not ask Tor the Pow er of absolute sale
Out sale with the consent of the townships or
districts in which the lands are situated Some
persons may think that better use can he made o.
hem than selling them. The bill provided that IT
should be lett to the inhabitants themselves to de-
teImine whether the lands should be sold or not.
This was introduced with the sole view OF presery
inS rights.
IRE committee then rose and reported the bill,
with lis amendment. On motion that the house
/ concur In the amendment
MIR. Lathrop of Massachusetts, suggest ed to the
gentleman from Ohio, who had charge of this bill
whether 1t might not be eXpedient TO introduce an
amendment, by adding a proviso, stipulatng that
the townships or districts interested, might either
give or withhold their consent TO this second sec
ton.
Mr.. M'Coy of Va. was opposed TO the amend
inent altogether. He would not give to the egis-
lature such power as was required by the second
section. He would withhold from the legislature
all power in relation to the investment of the funds
The people should have the money under their
own control He hoped the amendment would no,
be agreed TO.
Mr.. Vinton stated that the object was to provide
permanent fund for the support of the schools
within the state, without being compelled to resort
to taxation Tor such support. There was only
school fund, and the funds at present arising from
II, were totally inadequate 10 support the schools
If the money produced from the sales in any town
ship or district should be insufficient TO support the
schools in that township district, il should be
vested and suffered to accumulate. The fund would
thus he rendered more efficient and the object for
which 1t was created would be much better answer
ed, than by the distribution of small sums which
would not do away the necessity of taxation. The
natural presumption -, that ~ cases where the
people are Interested deeply as they are in the
present case, they will be very solicous about the
application OF the fund. II appeared 10 him that
The legislature was the proper body In which the
contfol OF the education OF the state ought to be
vested without limit. His only objection TO tie
amendment which suggettet by the gentleman
rom Massachusetts,. was founded on he difficulty
Of obtaining from time to time, the consent of the
townships and districts intercs'.d. Some law or
provision of q complex character might be neces-
sary to enable the legislature act upon this SUD-
ject
Mr.. Wbpple Of New Hampshire, rose for infor-
nation. lie wished some gentleman from Ohio
b would state hether, while the fund was accumu-
lsiing there any fund on, of which the means
Tor the education OF tie children OF lie state could
be provided.
Air Yinton replied, that the system, when adopt
ed, would go Immediately into operation; and IT
would afterwards remain for the legislature 10 de
termiae whether the fund should be applied ia aid
Of IT, or he invested Tor the purpose OF accumula-
! ion. Ihe lnnd bY which lhe exlslina s,slem Is