Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-01-02


The gentleman from Benton, (Mr. Bal.
lou) has shown himself the peculiar friend
Of internal improvement. He is against
the adoption of this Memorial because
forsooth the State Constitution provides, in
the ll,h Article, that internal improve.
ment shall forever be encouraged by the
government of this State Therefore, he
insists, this General Assembly is enioined,
dy the mandatory force of constitutional
provision, TO vote down this Memorial; and,
as well in pursuance of the act of Congress
as the injunci ions of the Constitution Of
the Stale, to encourage" internal improve
ments by devoting these lands to 1.-The most
proper objects in relation both to
roads and Manageable waters" If there be
force and per,inency in this doctrine-if
this Legislature should permit its action to
be influenced on this occasion by such a
provision as this. would it not be well to
see whether the constitution does not also
enjoin, in terms equally distinct and man.
datory, some great undischarged duty on
the subject Of Educationl
If this doctrine be invoked by the gentle.
man from Benton in aid of the cause of in.
ternal improvements. cannot l likewise en-
ploy its power and virtue, and for addition.
al and better reasons, in favor Of the more
glorious cause of Common Schools1
Does not the constitution also provide.
and in language equally emphatic, that
schools und the means of Education
shall forever be encouraged in this STATED"
And so providing, are we not under as
much obligation to obey the one provision
as the o,her7 Yea more! Looking along
down the provisions Of that instrument.
with the view Of learning the powers and
duties Of the Legislature, and in good faith
performing each duty in its turn as it &C.
ours. we find that, in the constitution, as in
the heart Of every loyal friend of our
institutions, Education is first, taking prece-
dent of the subordinate interest of inter-
nal improvements Then, if, in the consid-
Grafton Of this Memorial we are to be
guarded by the doctrine insisted upon by
the gentleman from Benton. let us examine
well, and discharge faithfully first our du-
ties to "school and the means of educa-
iion." and secondly those we owe to inter.
nal Improvement!
SO long as these lands remain an unap-
propriated internal improvement fund. just
that long, Judging the future by the past,
will they remain "a bone of contention"
Already have former Legislatures expend-
ed, in fruiiless efforts to apply them TO
some wise and useful purpose, quite as
much time and money as they are probably
worth.
No future Legislature, in all probability,
will meet with better success. The fund
being too small 10 perfect the several i'm.
provements which have advocates on this
floor, or perhaps any one of them, there is
no assurance that any body of men, here
after TO assemble in these Halls, how vir-
luous and wise so ever they may be, will
ever agree to a disposition contemplated
by the grant. or acceptable to the whole
people. At this very moment there are
numerous works Of Improvement, having
their location in dlfieren, parts Of the State,
and their advocates here, to carry forward
which these lands are now desired. These
works are multiplying at each successive
session, and in the same ratio are the diff
culties attending an appropriation for any
one of them. And they will continue 10
multiply, until each county in the State,
welded TO some favorie scheme, and 10
that exclusively, shall send up her repre-
sentative. making confusion more con-
founded" Have we the least assurance
that elements so discordant, Che fund be-
| ing 100 htIidi W stlNe ALL VIII SNSi NC dulO
to agree. And if not, will not the immortal
100000 acres forever remain fruitful
source of legislation, TO the eminent detri-
ment of the public interests!
Grant, however, the prayer Of this me-
mortal; change the condition and lmita-
tons of the act of Congress, and the EN-.
barrassnig circumstances at this moment
encompassing our legislation, would change
also. At the very instant that the funds
become means for the encouragement of
Common Schools, legislation ceases. The
bone Of contention would be removed.
And what have other States done' In
Iowa not only have her 100000 acres of
land been donated TO Common Schools.
} but also the three per cent. fund-the Con.
s,i,u,ion of that State also providing that
the Legislature shall sustain Schools at
} least three months in the year, and provide
each township with public library. By
the new Constitution of Louisiana the
State is bound TO pay six per cent. on al
the Common School moneys, and in addi
ton, taxation for School purposes is au
thorized. Under the Constitution of Texas
ten per cent. at least. of the whole rev
enue of the State, is set apart for the
encouragement and Supper, of Common
Schools. These States. new as two O.
them are, have set US a commendabe ex
ample in this respect, the moral force OIL
which, trust. will not he lost.
Valuing the 100000 acres at our dis
posal at 81 2s per acre, land by the &C
of Congress they cannot be sold lower.
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