Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-01-13

fulflment of the obligation Of the General
Government to provide for common protec-
ton and defence, and to do equal Justice to
every State Of the Union. Let this be &C
companied with request to the Delegation
in both Houses of Congress, to enforce the
demand by the utmost of their exertions.
/! 1t will strengthen their hands to the task.
1t will give them confidence in the success
of their efforts. 1t will authorize them to
speak in the name Of the People, and with
the voice of the sovereignty of Massachu-
sets ;-and, if this ancient Commonwealth,
the earliest and foremost of the parties to
the Confederacy, which poured out, with
profusion, its blood and treasure, to achieve
the independence ofthe Nation, and which
at all periods, has made liberal contributions
of talent, patriotism, and service, to the sup
port of the Constitution and the administra-
ton of the Government, is to be regarded,
that voice will not be uttered in vain.
The Report of the Secretary of War, to
which have alluded, will be laid before
you. 1t will be found to contain injurious
determinations in the items of account; but
these may be the subject of correction be-
fore Congress, or an occasion for future at
tention with some branch of the Executive
Department of the Nation.
The Land Agent of the Commonwealth,
who by virtue of sundry Resolves, is vested
with important powers in the management
of the property in the publick lands, within
the limits of the State of Maine, will report,
directly to the Legislature, his proceedings
in the discharge of the trusts committed to
him. The sales of timber, the last year, have
been considerable and have probably saved
so much from the depredations to which the
lands from their exposed situation in the
neighbourhood of large rivers, and their re
moteness from protection, are liable. It is
unquestionably for the interest of the Com
monwealth, that permits for the cutting of
timber, should continue to be given, where
the lands are thus situated, and the expert
ence and fidelity of the Agent, with his per-
sonal knowledge of the country, are an as
surance, that the confidence which has been
reposed in his discretion, will not fail to be
justified. Under the authority of Resolve
of the 22d February last, the Land Agent
with the Treaurer of the Commonwealth,
acting as joint special Commissioners, have
disposed of several townships near Moose
Head Lake, and south of the Monument Line,
to an amount, in price, of about &c thous-
and dollars. The proceeds, in payments re-
CURED upon the purchase, and in securities
for instalments of the balance, have been
passed into the Treasury, and the money,
as received, is mingled with the receipts
from the ordinary sources of revenue. 1t
has often been proposed, and it cannot but
deserve the most serious consideration, that
the sales of the Publick Lands should be
made to constitute permanent fund for the
support of Schools, and the encouragement
OF learning, or for general purposes of pub
lick Improvement If the Government shall
ever intend this disposition of the property, it
seems necessary that appropriation should be
made, as the sales proceed, and before the
capital shall be further materially diminish
ed. The State is now constantly consuming
the principal, and defeating hope which
has been anxiOusly INDUCED, that from this
source there might be an income, at some
future period, which should be pledged to
sustain and to cherish the most valuable in
stitutions, and best interests of the commu-
nifty.
| 1t cannot but afford the highest satisfac-
ton to the Legislature, to be informed, that
the benefits of Resolve, passed on the
fourth of March last, in favour of the nom
commissioned officers and Soldiers of the
Revolutionary Army, l0ho aoere returned as
part Of this States quota, and aoho served
three gears, and acre honourably discharged,
has been claimed by numbers of the survi-
vors of that pariotick and gallant band, or
the descendants and representatives of such
as have deceased. From Report of the
Land Agent, it appears, that there remain
but 'llne lots undraa0n in the Township of
Mars-Hill, which was appropriated to satisfy
the grants to the Soldiers, while there is
reason to believe, that there are many more
cases in which claims to the bounty will be
exhibited and allowed. 1t hence becomes
necessary, that further assignment Of
lands, from which lots may be drawn, should
be made by the Legislature, and for this
purpose, recommend the subject to your
early attention.
An interesting communication from Mr.
Gallaudet, Principal of the Asylum of the
Deaf and Dumb, at Hartford, received
through the Department of State, is with
pleasure, referred to your notice. There
are now fffy.four Benefciaries of the Com
|monwealth, in an equal number of males and
females, supported and in q course OF educa-
ton, at that Institution. With hirty-tVo
of these, the limited term of pupilage will
expire in the course of the present year
and, from past observation, there is reason
to believe that there will not be a sufficient
number of applicants. within the description
of the Act of the Legislature, to supply their
places. If such should be the fact, the pro-
priety of permitting longer continuance at
the Asylum, of such of the pupils as should
be selected for their talents and proficiency,
and who, by further opportunities for in
struction, might themselves become qualified
to teach, or be otherwise particularly use full,
is recommended to your favourable regard.
This humane and charitable indulgence, is
strongly enforced by the observation of the
Principal, that " four years affords but a
very imperfect opportunity for the education
of those who, like the Deaf and Dumb, be-
gin at the very Alphabet of learning, and
have to be taught Systematically, in the
school-roomf a great deal that other chill