The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-10-22

voted to this purpose, should defray large share
of the expense Of our common schools, and leaVe
upon the residents OF their benefits little or no Dur
den but their management. Ths-object has TO
great and perhaps sufficient extent, been areauy az
compshed by the recent application OF !he income
of the Surplus revenue Under these ciIc"IIstu"
res il would there fore the duty of the Legs
iature so far to vary the income of this fund' Tor
the time being, most efectual'y TO carry ou' NE
benefcent views ofts founders. And since the
snoc;6c object for which the fund was established
has been anticipated probably for many years, it
could hardly be considered breach OF the trust re-
posed in Us TO make the proposed sappcation al.
WAYS providing however, that the principal shall
no may be diminished.
am led to these rem arks by the consideration Of
the fact that at various times 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 interests of
education; and also from the full belief that in
other way can our common schools be advanced u
the standard ofinstruction raised SO certainly or so
speedily as by affording some pnblic aid to our IL
cademies. The standard OF education has been
greatly advanced within few years. 1t is at this
time as high in this state as any other. Science,
which few years since was confined to the learn
ed professions, may be met in many of our
most humble dwellings, extending its benign lnfin'
to almost ever class, and operating with giant
power upon almost every pursuit and interest IN
community.
1t is a source of unfegned regret that the bill
which passed both House of Congress, provided Tor
the dist buton among the several States and Terri
tories of the proceeds oflhe sales ofthe pub
lie lands, for the purpose of education and
internal Improvement, failed to receive the APP
probation of the President. And also that the pro-
position more recently made, in the House of Rep
sentatives, to make an increase appropriation Of
these lands, for the purpose of free schools, acad
emles, and the promotion aud diffusion of educa-
tionn all the States and Territories, did obtain
the favorable action of congress. The adoption Of
either of those measures would have placed at the
disposal Of the Legislature funds wherewith to lav
made efficient provision for the parpose of educa-
ton. The consequence would have been favorable
not only from the positive advantages TO be Geri-
we'd from the expenditure Of funds in the manner
provided in the original pro ect, but also from those
incidental benefit which would alleviate, in some
degree, the distress that our manufacturing interest
must experience when the duties of importations
shall be reduced to barely necessary tor the
economical administration of the government. Had
the measure first alluded to been adopted, the ne
cessiy for the deposte act would not have existed
and the distribution wonld doubles have been con-
tnued and become the settled policy of the gov
eminent, so long the country remained at peace.
The amount which the State of Vermont would
have received, the principles of the BILL in the
five years to which its operation was linited would
have been not far from 81 200, 900 annually: n sum
sufficient to enable the State to provide Literally for
purposes of education, and perhaps have warranted
the commencement of some system of internal i'm
provement.
BY the original acts of session, the United States
were made trustees of snch portions of the public
domain coded by old states claiming them .,
to dispose of for the common benefit. A distinc-
ton between this portion of the public lands and
the territories of Louisiana and tho FlorduS, acQU-
red by purchase and paid for of the common
treasure, has no foundation in equity,
The repeated and pertinacious effort of some OF
the new states to acquire such portion of the pub
lie domain as lie within their limits; the readiness
which has been manifested TO favor these uni ust
pretentons and unreasonable claims by individuals
who have been high in the confidence Of the pub
llc either by the interposition of their official acts
and influence to prevent or delay equitable
rangement of this immense interest, or by direct
propositions to ccde the lauds in question for conr
sideraion merely nominal, admonish the old states
that representation Of the final settlement of this
matter will only lend to increase its difficulties
The attention Of some of the States has been Iii.
rected to this subject, and may it not be duty
to join in endeavorng to effect an impartial adjust
ment?
Notwithstanding the excitement which at
present prevails in regard to banks, and the cry OF
monopoly with which they have been assaled, it
may be questioned whether any intelligent in
dividual can be found who is not of the opinion,
that, under the existing state of things, when rightly
managed, they are indispensable. They werecreated
expressly for public convenience. 1t is easily do
monstraled that some medium, other than gold an
SILVER is necessary to preserve sound and healthy
action between the various agricultural ,mechancal
and commercial de1artments-that any measures
which should, suddenly, very much lessen thepropor
ton which paper money bears to the specie in crcua
ton, would operate greatly in favor OF the credit
ors, the capitalists and the money lender, and in
the same amount 10 tho disadvantage of the debt.
or, the laborer, and the holder oftho property OF
the country. The abundant supply of sound
circulating medium of uniform value, has heretofore
afforded facilities for tho sale and exchange OF
various commodities, and has done much towards
establishing an uniformity IN their value, and con.
sequeny in the value of labor, the basis of all val
ues. Although banking facilities may at times have
been perverted and made to subsorve the purposes
of the Spectator and monopolist, still were they
materially lessened, would they not be likely TO be
controlled by fewer hands, and consequently the
danger to community begreatly enhanced' 1t will
probably be admitted, that through the assistance
of banking operations, ali branches of industry and
improvement in country have been essentially
promoted, and If so, the Inconsistency ola general
denunciaton of all banking institutions must be
clearly peIcoptible. Wisdom would to
system such additional securities and guards as will
effectualiy ensure the safety of community, and at
the same time not defeat the object o. its establish
ment. Many visionary propositions on this sub
ject have been, and doubtless will continue to be
submitted, from various motives, which, though
snecinus in thenru will hn fund mil inn