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

the STATE OF Ohio into the Union, tract of six hun
dred and iorty acres OF land, being l-36th part o
each township, wa, reserv cd by Congress from sale
out OF the lands lying within the limits OF suci
township The lille OF this reservation was veset
In the United States The lands thus reserv ed be-
came Tie subject of compact betw cen the UniteC
states and The Convention of the State of Ohio
andy that compact these reservations were grant
ed TO the State OF Ohio for the support OF the schools
oithat state In addition TO this grant another 36
part was also allowed, equal to- the Virginia Mill
tary Tract, the Connecticut Reserve, &c. This
is not situated in districts bat is allotted in quarter
townships, OF which there forty-nine in mum
Der. The whole amour, of the school lands i'll the
stale somewhat exceed seven hundred thousand
acres. The United States transferred their Whole
Tile and interest, leaving the state an unlimited
discretion, as to the mode of applying them TO tie
support OF the schools. The Legislature, wishing
10 make the lands productive, set about the bust
ness OF iegislating upon them The which
was pursued was 10 put them 10 rent. Ever
since that period, an interval of twenty years, they
had been the continued subject Of legislation, al
ways proving abor'ive, except in new legislation
In short time the people were satisfied that this
course was dsadvantageous; and impressed with
this belief, the Legislature have now come TO Con
gress Tor permission 10 sell, on condition that the
townships shall give their consent. The title hav-
ing been vested IN the state the Legislature posses
SEES unlimited discretion in application TO the funds
Unwilling, however, TO incur the imputaton of too
great an extension of their control, especially as
some seemed to profess doubts of their power the
Legislature have made this application. One of
the causes of the unproductveness of these lands,
Is the cheapness of the lands in that section of the
Union, and the desire felt by cultva,ors to own
the lands thew occupy. 1t had besn found, that
where millions of acres OF land are in the market
and where they are TO be had so moderately none
but the INDECENT were applicants for these lands.
Another cause, is the number and remote situation
OF these tracts, which place them entirely out of
the reach OF that control which would insure
direct responsibility. The productiveness OF these
lands, little it had always BEEN is constantly
diminishing. About fifteen years ago, when the
population of the state about 100, GOO, the
produce of this fund actually greater than it is
now, when the population is from 700, 900 10
100000. Persons who occupy The lands are ek-
remely poor, aud are often times 10 be evicted.
They leave the lands in state of great desolation,
every thing destroyed or run TO waste Others
who came in the room of those who are evicted
follow precisely in the same steps. They have not
only, therefore, hitherto proved unproductive, but
are likely still TO dlsappoint the expectations of
those who rely on them.
There was no place where the demand for edu-
cation was so great He referred the House TO
the last enumeration, The representation of the
state of Ohio on this floor exceeds that of hIassa-
chusets by only one member; while tie populalion
of Ohio exceeds that of Massachusetts by II 900
The whole of that great body of people Were pro-
per subjects for The acquisition of knowledge The
legislature OF the state have adopted tie best means
OF suppying The demands of the country, which are
Increasing and must continue TO increase In the
adoption OF this system, the legislature have made
the present application. 1t indeed the prevail
ing opinion in Ohio, Il ut The fund " Guild answer
better-if it was common fund. As, however, it
has been apart, the legislature Only ask that it
should be thrown into the most available form
He had interest to the peculiar fund in
which the proceeds should be invested so that ibey
might be made productive. But as it was per
manent fund, he thought it would be most proper to
leave it to the legislature to inves, il as times and
circumstances May require The time may come,
when there may be neither stock OF the United
States, nor of any one of The states, in which TO
make the investment l, would therefore be better
To- leave it 10 the legislature to its discretion
The bill was then ordered TO be engrossed and
read third time tomorrow.
The House then adjourned. Nat Journal.