Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-10-18

society, apprehond that the establishment OF
teachers semnares, or the adoption of q
suitable and separate course of instruction
in some Of our academies, is the most feast.
bic way in which this can be accomplished.
1n'some states this mode has been successful
| ~ adopted, and as the benefits of system of
this character must be generally dfluscd
throughout tho state, it certainly has strong
claims upon our favor and support.
The question Of approprating and dsiri-
buiing, for a limited term, tho income Of the
State school fund among the incorporated
academies and higher institutions Of learning
was proposed during tho last session Of tho
legislature, and resolution passed the senate
requiring information fthe condition oftbosc
scminaries. | am aware that the design of
those who established THAT fund was to ac.
cumulalo until its annual income, together
with the other public funds devoted TO this
purpose, should dofray largo share OF the
expense of our common schools, and leave
upon tho recipients Of their benefits little OF
no burden but their management. This OBJ
iect has, to great and perliaps sufficient
extent, been already accomplished by tho re-
cent application of the income of tho surplus
revenue. Under these circumstances, would
therefore seem the duty of tho Legislature so
far TO vary tho application of the ncomoAf
this fund, for tho time being, as most cffeot,i>
ally 20 carry out tho benifcicnt Vows of its
founders. And since the specific object for
which tho fund was established has been an
ticipaied probably by many yeats, it could
hardly DO considered breach Of tho trust
, roposcd in us TO mako the proposed applca
ton ;aways providing, however, tho princi.
| pie shall in no way be diminished.
am led to these remarks by tho consider.
alton of the fact that at various timcsa dis
position 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 tic full belief tina. in no other
| way can our common schools DO advanced
and the standard ofinstruction raised so GER
lainly orso speedily as by aAording soma
public aid to our academies. Tho standard
OF education has been greatly advanced with.
in few years. 1t is at this time as high in
! this State as in any other. Science, which
| TOW years since was confined TO the learned
professions. NAV now be met ia many Of our
most humble dwellings, extending its benign
| influence TO almost every class, and operating
with giant power upon almost every pursuit
| and interest IN community.
II is source of unfeigned regret that tho
bill which passed both Houses of Congress,
providing for the distribution among the sew
! cral States and Territories, of the proceeds
of tho sales ofthe public lands for the purpo-
sos OF education and internal improvement,
| failed TO receive the appreciation of the Presi.
dent. And also, that tho proposition more
recently made, in the House OF Representa-.
| tiVes, TO mako an Increased appropriation OF
these lanes, Tor Tho purposes oilroo schools,
academies, and the promotion and tho diff
| sion of education in all tho States and Terri.
tories,d did not obtain the favorable action OF
Congress. The adoption OF either Of these
measures would have placed at tho disposal
Of the Legislature funds wherewith TO have
made efficient provision for tho purposes Of
| education. Tho consequences would have
been favorable, not AMY from The positive nd
van,agesto be derived from tho expenditure
OF funds IL the manner provided in the orig
lnal project, but also from those. incidental
benefits which would alleviate, in somo de.
gree, tho distress that our manufacturing in
! tcrest must experience when tho duties on i'm
portations shall he reduced to sum barely
necessary for tho economical administration OIL
the government. Had tho measure first al.
luded TO been adopted, the necessity of The
deposite act would not have existed and the
redistribution would doubtless have been con-
,inued and become the settled policy OF the
governmental SO long Is tho country remained
at peace.
The amount which the State of Yer.
mont would have received, on the princi
ples Of the bill, in the five years 10 which
it's operation was limited, would have beer
not far from 81 200, 600, or about S24O,.
600 annually a sum sufficient to have en-.
ab'ed the State TO provide literally for pur'
poses OF education, and perhaps have war
ran'ed the commencement Of some system
of internal improvement.
! by the original acs of session, the Uni
ted States were ma do trustees of such por.
tons of the public domains as were ceded
by The old states claiming them, to dispose
OF for The common benefit. A distinction
between this portion Of public lands and
the territories OF Louisiana and the Florl
das, acquired by purchase and paid for
out of the common treasure, has no foun
dntIon in equity,
The repeated and pertinaciuus efforts oil
some OF the new states TO acquire such
portions OF the public domain as lie within
their limits; the readiness which has
been manifested to favor these unjust pre-.
len'ons and unreasonable claims, by indl
Evduals who have been high IN the conf
dence Of the public, either by the in,erpo
sltlon Of their official nets and influence &c
prevent or delay an equitable arrangement
OF this immense interest. or by direct
: proposition to cede the lands ~ question
for consideration merely nominal, ad
monlsh the old states that representation
OF the final settlement of this matter vii
only lend 10 increase its difficulties. The
attention of some Of the States has beer
directed to this subject, and may it not
be our duty to join in endeavorng to eff
feet an impartial adjustment +?
Notwithstanding tho excitement which
at present prevails in regard to banks
aud the cry Of monopoly with which
they have been nssaled, 1t may b.