Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-03-17
Congressional.
CONGRESSIONAL DOCUMENT,
School .fimd for the several States.

to which the subject had been referred ,na , n,
lowing REPoRT: N '''0 '''o
The Committee the Public Lands 10 whom ,y,s
referred the resolution OF December oI.t. 1895. in.
struct'nG them "to inquire into the expedencv of
PfopfaiinS portion OF the nett annual proceeds OF e
safes and entries OF the public lands exclusively for
me support OF Common Schools, and ot
the same among the several States in pronor,ion 70
me representation of each in the House of Renresepi
uvesn report:
That the subject rccrrei to the consideration nj tho
committee is manifesy of great interest II has d.
Fecuy IN view The Improvement of the mind and morals
% 'ne present generation, and of generations 10 come
IL contemplate giving additional stability the Gov
e'hihch'' aGu drawing around the Republic new and
stronger bonds OF union. We are indeed n pecuIar
Ioopie. None ENJOY more freedom than we Go and
oon IL DC The price OF blood yet it is founded in
usuPatlon, nor sustained by the sword The most ca,
suai observer of human institutions once pcrceives
that our political, well as civil condition in some cs
sental particulars, differs fundamentally from thai of
every other nation The Constitution under which ,.
i've Is the only enc, beyond the limits of this Republc
which secures religious toleration and leaves the
tongue and the conscience free. This was chiefly The
result ol ciucation Chastened liberty lives in the yo-
uH'afJ choce 0 an enlightened People, while arGira-
~ power depends for its existence upon the s,vi,l fear
OF an ignorant multitude. Hence n Government lil,e
ours, which guarantees equal representation and taxa
ton, trai by Jury, the freedom of speech and of tho
press OF religious opinion and profession rot only de-
penis Tor lis energy and ac;iCn but for its very cxis
tcncc' upon the Will of the People. They, aad they
only can alter, change, or abolish IT, And arc t;.o
rights of mankind and the obligations of ciy.societv
generally understood respected by the iqnoraDt?-
mas property or reputation. life, when left TO depend
upon hc wisdam OF ignorance, the forbearance Of
PASSION ever been accounted safe? And where Is the
deoascd: Is it where schools AMI the means of edu
cation abound? Or is ii where the light of know
ledge never Illuminated the human intellect, IT, then
the habits, notions and actions ien nhic natural
~ result from tic ignorance of letters from the force
OF superstition, and tie blind impulses CT passion
are utterly Incompatible with rational liberty ana
human character usually found the most degraded AMI
/ tn fl,pI -;CnIi
how high and iinperous is the dnty uron us living un
dera Government the fIcest of the ficc-a Govern
men whose action and being depend upon popular Will
TO seek every constitutional means to cnIi,ricn and
chasten, and purify that w How shall we Justify il
20 ourselves, anu - the world ii we do not c,n,ov tIc
means IN our power, III order to free from severe
bondage OF ignorance and passion and Iacc il undo,
the mid control of wisdom and reason! As ? pe as
the opportunities Of acquiring knowledge are and as
much OF common learning the American Peonle
have there CROWN; ma nhoot aronJ ,,s
who have neither learning the opportunity OF acqi-
ring Il.
The resolution under consideration proposes to ap-
profratc portion of the proceeds Of tIc public lands
20 new and specific ohjcCt-to convcrtit iuto per
naneDt fand fer the soe and support Of coruinon
schools in the several states, and divide this fund
among the several states III proportion the rcpicscu
: tatiOn Of each in this House.
Of GpProprjaag parton. Of these proceeds 4? a ,f,c
ana specific oijeet- "a part OF the public domain was
acquired by the ioriunc Of anal part by purchase
The whole constitutes common fund for tie Joint bc,
eft Of the States and the People. This domain amount
cd 10 hundred millions of acres and Of it, prota-
bly, some tvs hundred millions Of acres good land yet
remain nnsold Ii IS true that the proceeds of these
lands together with those of the internal duties and
the duties merchandise and the tonnage oG vesse
10 tie amount of ten millions of dollars aniia ily are
appropriated and pledged 10 tie ''sui.inm fund.- But
Is this valid objection 10 the appropriation Of tic
whole or of any part of the proceeds of these lands
10 any other proper object? Since the act of March,
ISL making this appropriation and pledge the sink
Ing iand the annual average Of the public re-
boon .!1r.
long, therefore, ten millions og dollars are cfl TO ie
sinking fund, the appropriation 10 answered. and the
pledge redeemed; and the surplus revenue from what
ever source derived, not having been appropriated or
pledged remains be disposed Of in suck way and for
such purposes as the Congress may direct. Bnt, are
the public lands source OF upon which pru-
dent Government ought 20 ri, lis credit? Will CAPT
t2iISts lend Their noEey upon such vague and
security The land may DC offered for sale but no man
can be compelled to buy The purchase is wholly yo-
lun'ary The promised revenue to bc derived from it
IS altogether contingent. IL depends all upon thC
power or the necessities Of the Garenment but rrog
the will of the purchaser Besides, the faith of The
Government does not consist in the intrinsic value TIN
thing pledged. This is not enough. nc prudent ma n
! for example, would lend Isis money 70 tie Goycrntnen
10 be reimbursed ont Of the proceeds which may or ma
not accrue from the lead mines and salt springs belong
ing TO the United States. The value Of the pledge
the credit 1t secures And the thing pledged is value
III proportion 70 its peculiar fitness and proper adapted
ness 10 Tie end for which il pledged So that liz
faith of tic Government necessarily depends upon il
ability TO coeTCe The possessOn-to touch and turn h
ibDg pledged into money HIS the Government can
not do with tic public lands. They indeed tanCi
bic, but neither The wishes, tho will, tie power o
the Government, can change them into money. They
| arc therefore, not proper source of revenue upon
which tie faith the credit of tic nation should be
hazarded. Congress seems TO have considered tjeu
so. township Of land has been given 70 tue ira
tons Guest" Large portions Of land have, from time
to time, been given TO other Individuals and TO publ,
institutions. Now if il be good faith TO give away thc
lands from which the revenue pledged to The sinking
fund Is derived il cannot be bad faith 10 appropriate
PORTION at least Of their proceeds for the support Of com
mon schools
Of converting IL into permanent fynd fer the soil
mil support Of schools IN the scUcynL States
Unless children taught how TO govern themselves
and bow 10 be governed by law, they will rarely make
good citizens. 1t may objected at the Constitution
GOcs not give 10 Congress the rover to appropriate Tic
proceeds Of these lands or tic purposes OF education
The question IS not whether CUDgrcss can supcrinieDd
and control the private schools IN the several States bu
whether Congress appropriate the proceed Of these
lands for the and support Of these private schools