Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-11-11
COMMUNICATED.
STATE GOVERNMENT, No. A.

In addition TO the many pecuniary advan-
tages mentioned in my last, which will be
gained by forming state government, the
full control and disposal of our school lands
is by no means matter of small Importance.
The sixteenth section of every surveyed
township has been been set apart by Con-
gress for the support Of common schools;
there have been sold ofpublic lands in the
territory over 5000, 600 acres, and perma-
nent settlements have been made in more
than three hundred Of the surveyed town.
ships In many of these townships the set
Elements are Of course sparse, land the school
lots of but little if any more value than gov
eminent lands; but in the southern part of
the territory, very many of the school lands
are already valuable: and if the people had
any authority TO make some permanent dis
position ofthcm, many sections might i'm.
medately be made available for educational
purposes. Whenever Wisconsin becomes
state. the legislature will have power TO
fix upon some settled policy in relation to
our school lands, and as soon as permanent
leases or conveyances can be made, they
will command attention, and many of them
will doubtless very soon yield revenue
which will greatly aid the cause of educa-
ton.
The condition of common schools in this
territory is far from being creditable, and
there is but little prospect Of any improve
ment while we remain territory. We have
no plan for common schools deserving the
name of system, and hence our schools are
inefficient and behind the Improvements of
the age. An opinion appears to prevail that
we must wait until we become state, be-
fore we devise permanent system Of COM
mon schools; the consequence is. most
fatal indifle renee prevails on the subject Of
general education. Wisconsin is hazard
ing much, by neglecting the instruction of
the rising generation; it may take years Of
arduous and devoted effort 10 repair the
wrong. No doubt the people could, if they
were so determined, establish system Of
education under our territorial form Of gov
eminent, which would be efficient and
useful, but as long as the feeling exists SO
extensively, that all our Legislation is tenn
porary until we become state, it will be
impossible to elevate the standard of COM
mon school education.
The lands also which are granted by Con-
gress for the establishment of Univers:-
,y, cannot be placed in condition to be
made available until we become a state.-
The number of acres granted by Congress
for this object is 46 ,OSO. The territory was
authorized TO select its University lands at
any time after its organization, but owing to
a singular rem:ssness Characteristic ola terri
torial form of government, these lands have
never vet been all located and the selections
approved by the Secretary of the Treasury
so, TAG acres were located in lS40 pursuant
TO ALI act of the legislature; one third of
which were selected in the Milwaukee land
Sistricts one third in the Green Bay land
dissriat, and one third in the Mineral Point
land district. The selections made in the
Milwaukee aud Green Bay land districts