Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-10-16

ry out the bene6cent views of its founders.
And since the specific object for which
the fund was established has been antici-
pated probably by many years. it could
hardly be considered breach of the trust
reposed in Us to make the proposed appli-
cation; always providing, however, that
the principal shall in no way be diminish
ed
am led to these remarks by the con.
sIderation of the fact that at various times
a disposition has been manifested to divert
some OF The sources from which this fund
has been accumulated, and perhaps the
fund itself, to objects foreign TO the inter-
ests OF education; and also from the full
belief that III no other way can our com
mon schools be advanced and the stand
ard of instruction raised so certainly or
speedily as by affording some public aid
TO our academies. The standard of edu-
cation has been greatly advanced within
few years. 1t is at this time as high IN
this State as in any other. Science, which
few years since was confined to the learn
ed professions, may now be met in many
of our most humble dwellings, extending
IFS benign influence 10 almost every class,
and operating with great power upon al
most every pursuit aud interest in commn-
nifty.
1t is a source of unfeigned regret that
the bill which passed both Houses of
Congress, providing for the distribution
among the several States and Territories,
of the proceeds of The sales of the public
lands, for the purposes of education and
internal Improvement failed to receive the
appreciation Of the President. And also,
that the proposition more recently made,
in the House of Representatives, to make
an increased appropriation of these lands,
for the purposes of free schools, acade-
mics, and the promotion and diffusion of
education in all the States and Territories.
did not obtain the favorable action of Con
gresS. The adoption of either of these
measures would have placed at the dispos-
al of the Legislature funds wherewith 10
have made efficient provision for the pur-
poses of education. The consequences
would have been favorable, not only from
the positive advantages to be derived from
the expenditure OF funds in the manner
provided IN the original project, but also
from those incidental benefits which
would alleviate, in some degree, the dis
| tress that our manufacturing interest must
experience when the duties on importa-
tions shall be reduced to a SUN barely me-
cessary for the economical administration
of the government. Had the measure
first alluded to been adopted, the necessi-
ty for the deposite act would not have ex-
listed; and the distribution would doubt.
less have been continued and become the
settled policy of the government, SO long
as the country remained at peace.
The amount which the State of Yer.
mont would have received, on the princi-
| plies OF the BILL in the five wears to which
its operation was limited, would have been
not far from 81, 100000, or about S24O,.
600 annually; a sum sufficient to have
enabled the State TO provide literally for
purposes of education, and perhaps have
warranted the commencement of some
system of internal improvement
BY the original acts of session, the u
States We're made trustees of such portions
OF the public domain as were ceded by
The old states claiming them, to dispose O
Tor the common benefit. A distinction be
tween this portion OF public lands and The
territories of Louisiana and the Florldas
acquired by purchase and paid for out o
the common treasure, has no foundation
in equity.
The repeated and pertinacious efforts O
some of the new states to acquire suct
portions of the public domain as lie with
i in their limits the readiness which ha
) been manifested to favor these unjust pre-
tensions and unreasonable claims, by indi
viduals who have been high in The conf
dence of the public, either by the interpo
} sltion of their official acts and inAuenc,
r to prevent or delay an equitable arrange
' ment OF this immense interest. or ty di
rect propositions 10 cede the lands in cues
i ton, for consideration merely nominal
g admonish the old states that procrastina
: ton of the final settlement of this matte
d will only tend to increase its difficulties
i The attention of some of the States ha
i been directed to this subject, and may
o not be our duty to join in endeavoring /
: effect an impartial adjustment
Notwithstanding the excitement whic
:. at present prevails in regard to banks, an
| the cry of monopoly with which the
i have been assailed, it may be qucstione
: whether any intelligent individual can b
n found who is not Of the opinion, that. III
i der the existing state of things. whe
y rightly managed, they are Indispensable
IS They were created expressly for publ
J. convenience. 1t is easily demonstrate
,e that some medium, other than gold an
it silver, is necessary to preserve sour
A. and healthy action between the variot
on eli, N lin mal mac hi icnl and cn1nnarci