Washington telegraph., 1852-11-17

I object to this, disposition of the fund, be-
cause it was an abandonment of all intention
to establish, by State authority, a Seminary
of Learning in our State; and because the
law by which this was done. was but part
of that vicious distribution policy which has
obtained in Arkansas SO disastrously to eve-
ry Legitimate interest. And, furthermore,
because | am convinced from careful in
yestigation into the history of Common
Schools, and other public institutions of
learning, in other new States, and the prac-
tical operation Of this law, here, at home,
that no possible good has come of it, or ever
can result to the State, or any considerable
portion of the people. Common Schools
can prove beneficial only in thickly settled
communities, and that, too where Semina-
ries of learning have previously been in
successful operation, and the minds of the
people prepared by previous course of
training, for their reception. Before Com.
mon Schools can result in that general ben
eft claimed for them by their friends suf-
fcient number of the community must be
well educated to prepare public opinion for
such course OF instruction, and to take
charge of these schools in every neighbor-
hood where they may be established.
Taking these facts as true, | would most
earnestly recommend the repeal Of the act
distributing the Seminary Fund among the
counties and the immediate establishment
and endowment of one or more Seminaries
of Learning, at which teachers for Common
Schools may be educated, and prepared to
push on with success system of Common
Schools, when the community may be pre-
pared for them
His Excelleney here recommends Bates
vile, Fayetteville and Tulip as the three
points most suitable for the estab!; !;shment of
these schools, speaks with appreciation Of the
Military system of Education, and continues.
The next error in the past legislation of
this State. demanding your consideration
and correction. to which l would allude is
the distribution Of the proceeds Of the 5OO.-
900 acres of land donated to this State. by
act Of Congress, for purposes of Internal
improvement.
The Congress of the United States, i'm
pressed with the necessity and being con-
vinced that there was no method by which
this object could be SO surely and speedily
accomplished, as by we'll conducted sys-
TEN of Internal improvements in the States,
in 1871, donated to the State of Arkansas
100000 acres Of land FIR the purpose,
as it is expressed, "of aiding the State
in the construction Of Internal Improve
ments therein" reserving to the United
States the right to transport, free of charge,
over whatever roads or other works con-
structed, the mails troops, and munitions If
war, thus making the grant conditional
one; that the Safe should construct works
OF Internal improvement, and the United
States IN ght use them for national purpo-
ses Il we fail to appropriate these lands
to the objects designated by the United
States, ard agreed to by the State, by her
acceptance OF the grant, we, upon our part,
not only are guilty of bad faith with the
General Government, but absolutely violate
the terms Of the grant, and thereby render
it void, and the lands, do, upon we'll settled
principles of law. and ought, of right, to
revert to the grantor
If, however, when the proceeds of these
lands were diverted from their legitimate
channel, they had been appropriated to some
more useful and beneficial purpose, some
excuse might have been pleaded for the ex-
hibition of bad faith on our part. But they
were divided among the counties, pittance
to each, and Of no practical use or benefit to
any. Under the first law passed, distribut-
ing this fund, it could not have been collect
ed fast enough, from the purchasers of the
lands, to have paid the expenses of some
500 agents employed to distribute it, This
law was changed and vastly improved by
the last Legislature. leaving, however, abun-
dant room and urgent demands for further
Improvements. would not, by any means,
have this law repealed, and the whole fund
accumulated in the vaults of the Treasury,
there to be the bone OF contention. But.
beiore this law is repealed, as it should, and,
[ trust, will be, would have it appropriat-
ed to some specific object or objects Of In
ternal Improvente mt. But of the mode of
applying this fuhG, will speak more in de-
tail when [ come to discuss the subject of
Internal Improvements.
The Message then comments on the pro-
gressive spirit of the age, and proceeds.
In the history Of either men or nations.
absolute independence is unknown. In our
social intercourse, we are dependant, one
upon the other; and especially is this great
sisterhood of States oga
Ii our sister States increase and improve
their natural resources and advantages, build
Railroads and encourage commerce. and we
do not, their advancement will drive us
back upon the path we have travelled
They, by presenting superior inducements
for The investment Of capital, and the loca-
ton of men of enterprise, will not only ap-
propriate to themselves that which was de-
signed for lis but will draw from ne a nor