The Arkansas banner., 1848-08-01
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED HATES.
 JULr 3. lsIs.
 Submitted and ordered To he printed MR BORLaND made Me f,iiorcia..
REPOH Y.

A%A " 1&
 ITO accompany bill $. No soS The Committee on Public Lands to whom wax
 referred the petition of citizens of ATkaR-
 sas, praying aR additional section of land
 for common schools in each township, and
 the exchange of 18th sections in certain
 eases, for other lands" submitted the fol.
 lowing report.
 From the petition. ani other reliable sources of information. tapeears that the State of Arkansas ia common with many of th new States, Is iamenia. y destitute of the means of edurs,ion. pa ticuary in the department of "conmoh schools" that tie people of this State have ever been srnsiby alive to the value of mental improvement for thetr chilren pain uy cnnsciods Q; ihe des'tution, in ths spsc. under which they safEer and laui atly active in their exertions to remedy the evil; that the de- nations of the general government have been anpa- rently liberal for the establishment of he hsliu- tions of iearnine: but that, from hoIly ua- ayoidabe. either by the State GoVei nmeni, by those persons specially charged win he interests of ed cation, or by the people in their private capacity, fhe desiituiion complained of continues, ih great part nnreli vNd, and the bounty of the goyernme nt remain unavailable for the beneicient objects of Is inteHtion except in n few instances and within very narrow liInils.
 The causes which have operated, and are sili in force, to disappoin, the wishes and parayze ihe erlions of the State goTerpmeh its agents and the people, and 10 deiest inc benefceui dcSgus of the general government found, n great part At lrasi in the low price oi inc pubic lands, the bad qna- lty of the soil, and unfavor be ocaic, of macy of the particular sections of land appropriated for mon schools.
 When the policy of granting to the States. for the establishment of common schools, Il IGth sccti n, the 36'h part of every township, was ori sinally adopted, and as late us 1920 the minimum pTIce ot inc public domain fixed al taoo dcliars an af fba he d section ol land was sufficient only for the mainte- nance of school durinE small part of each year. And when at the date mentioned, the price duced to one d0Itlr aRd a9uGrieT acre. il is ob- vous that the produced by such sale, at the c duced price, being only $500 became utterly made Qaate to the reasonable and beneheent purpose of the donatioo, however judieiousIy invested CT faith fully administered.
 There have been very few instances. ii is be- lieved (but so few as 10 prove The rule by excep- tion.J in which the l6,h section has been found of such good quality or deriving such fictitious value from circumstances of locality, to command price sufficiently above the minimum rate of pub lie land to establish and maintain such school as was contemplated by the law which made the do- nation. And in two instances at least where the circumstances of locality such to confer ex- traordlnary value on the 9th section, and if allowed to take their reguiaS course would have produced most bountiful endowment for each of the schools entitled 10 ,hem, acts of Congress were interpOsed to divert them from this coRrse, in one instance, to the convenience of the general government n es. tabshing military post and, in the other instance, 10 the benefit of county in the erection of house, ail, &c. [See Acts of Congress, chap. 75, June 26, lsSI, and chap. 40l, August %, fst9.
 On the other hand, it is found, in many instan- ces fl not generally, that the l6th section is of inferior quality of soil, and often very uhfavorably located So that while very few townships have been benefited by the possession of iGth sections of ing harn .R from locality, to some have been allowed those of average quality, worth no more ihanthe minimum price uf public land; and 10 many have fallen those which are utterly worthless and uns ileable
 To remove the disabilities, and remedy the evils thus set forth the petition prays Congress 10 grant an additional section of land m each township for the use of common schools, and 10 permit an ex- change of inie Fior for good sections.
 As one cause of the failure of these schools in Arkansas, the reduction oEthe price of public lands IS mentioned but not complained of. On the con trary the reduction heretofore effected IS cordially approved, and further reduction 10 75 cents, 50 cents, and 25 cents and acre, in proportion to the length of time the land shall have been in market, is advocated perfectly accordent with enlightened policy and the true interests of the people. Ant snch farther reduction, the probable policy of the government. Is urged additional argument for speedy compliance with the pIayei oi the petition in order that the donatlon may b, made available, while Il will command price adequate 10 the par pose of the grant.
 In considering this subject, retrospec, of the &C., ton of government Nill show that the leg sia- ton of Congress has been founde in wise policy and marked by liberal provisions. With a general regard for the morals and intelligence of the people and Tn careful guardianship of our rising conimuur- flee, liberal donations of iand they were esared at the umei have been made, alike 10 States to cor portions, and to ind yiiual citizens for purposes of education. In faithful administrations ol the pub g Inc. inp rfeyht of the duties of proprietor, 10 deveope the character and Capabilities of various portions oi it. and 10 la vor is sale and settlement, large portions have been freely granted, conditions, orler that the con- seqnent value of the part remaining 10 the govern ment should exceed the prior value of the whole -- This policy has, in tbe main. been successful in practice as the motives 10 its adoption were enilsh tened and patriotic Aud so long singe gooi Il contempates shall remain 10 be done a single evil 1t deFr~cates requires i.. be removed, every cOnside' alton ol proPrety, moral sni political de- mands that 1t shall be continued and even enlarged in it's liberaliy. This policy has been, and shoah coutlnue to be- to contribute 10 the merai ad rRti- lectual elevation ot the people. (ani psosliy of the rising genera,ion,l ani 10 add saiar to ali the Beighboang lands. by the estabism pt Of one cou- school iand more If Praeicsb'e) ,n every iown- ship of every State where such ins;i uiions do not already exisi and inc malnlenaaee of them, iu per nanent and useial operation, wherever they nov or shall hereafter be established. Such, no doubt sere the purposes of he Gr.t and all subseqnees laws; such must have been the for granting the 10th sections for common schools Al the times and under the circumstances oi such grants. they were deemed amply sufficient for lhal parpose And, in many portions ol the country, they are so st.lI. Ia dens.y populated Ststrs-eyen some of the new Slates-on Datis gable rivers and in the vicinity of towns, a section of land of ordinary quality would proiuce by lis sale pianifcent endowment for d common school, n so,ee instances, even for a col lege But n several. perhaps in nesi oi tie new States. where the population 1 spar,eahcre much of the laad is of nerigr q'sa,y and unlatuahy it- oated, sad whore ihsre large guaRiitt of ppb- lie land in market. inc sale of section of iand would produce sa saall ia bs nlefy inad- equate either 10 the establishment er Daintepance of school of any character or uiiiiy. IHer such circumstances the motive of the gfahi is much dfssppoated, and lis purposes completely defea ted, if ID .tsbt whatever bad beea made.
 fl 1t be conceded ss daabti.ss | will be by si affn oFC assn