, 1852-10-02
About that University.

4ASAN NeAsAN - 49, Neo@Ny
"Slc. 10. And he it further enacted. That
mere be, and hereby is, granted to the Territory
Of Oregon tie quantity of two townships of land
in said Territory, west Of the Cascade Mountains
and to be selected IN legal subdivisions after the
same has been surveyed, by the legislative assem-
bly, Of said Tofntop, in such manner as it may
deem proper one to be located north, and the other
souih, Of the Columbia River to old IN the ts,ab-
lshment Of a university 10 the Territory Of Ore
gon, in such manner as the said legislative assem-
bic may direct The selection 10 be approved by the
surveyor general
The above is an extract from The Oregon Land
Law, entitled" An &C, To create the office Of sur
yeyor general Of the public lands in Oregon, and
to provide for the survey, and to make donations
to settlers on said lanjs."-ApproyeJ by congress
September 27th, 1870.
No friends Of education or iupro -smert can
possibly object-so long IS the general govern
meni assumes the Ownership Of the public lands
and exercises is authority as to the manner Of
their disposal for on unjust valuable consideration,
that they shsuli Be literally appropriated, so far
as consistent with sound policy and the eonstitu
ton, to the purposes above mentioned. Indeed
they should rejoice that whilst the 81 2J per acre,
eAtoHed from tic labor Of its subjects for the
privilege to toll" is swallowed up in defrayiny the
expenses Of idleness and debauchery Of the mem
bers Of our national legislature. that body roe,
occasionally, award a moiety Of what Justly be.
longs to the people, for useful purposes.
In the name Of the people of northern Oregon
however, we would take occasion most respectful
y to protest against the provisions Of the above
section Of the land law, inasinuch as we are PFC
pared to show that the exaclion of 50 one township
Of land north Of the Columbia river for establish
ing a university &c, would, under present cir.
cumstancss, be unjust and oppressve-an abuse
Of authority vested in congress, and an encroach-
ment on the rights Of our citizens
How stand matters between northern and south.
em Oregon! The act of congress approved Au,
gust l4Ih, 1913 establishing our territorial gov
eminent, amongst other things, reserved to our
legislative assembly the authority to locate our seat
oi governmenl-providing for the erection Of our
public buildings, which were 10 consist of state
house, penitentiary and university-the latter nam
ed institution to be endowed rs above. In pursu-
anee Of (which, what did our legislature do They
located the scat of government, and consequently
the capitol at Salem-the penitentiary at Portland
aud The university at Marysyile, all in thew lam.
eue-without reference to any claims which north
ern Oregon might advance for the location and
erection of any Of these buildings within the lin
It's Of her territory. This is al well enough, as
II Is the intention of this territory, as soon as DOS
si6le, to be ditorced from all political relationship
with southern Oregon and therefore seeks no ali ia.
lion with her in the erection Of her public build
ings. such being the plain facts in The case, the
citizens on the Sound DO object 10 congress ap-
proPnaiing township Of their land TO ! foreisn
territory for purpose in which they arc not i'm.
medately interested, and from which they ean De
rive no advantage; and they consider that ID ad
congress insist On The surrender Of said tor nshp
ior the purpose specified, that body would be trans
cendlng its powers, in an unjust, oppressive en-.
croachment on the rights Of our citizens, ipasmuch
as they have pressing demand for all such ap
Propnations for educational purposes within then
own territory.
The Willamette valley Is most sssuredly abund-
antly able, in wealth and all necessary resources,
to erect, and eompetenuy endow her ywn insttu-
tons OF learning, without begging congress to eS-
tort means from those who require ali the lands
thai congress has to spare, appropriated in the ed
ucatlon Of the youth Of their own territory.
we want university and common schools os-
lablished HERE, and trust the Willamette valley
WIN DC ashamed ever to urge an unjust claim for
OUR pound Of flesh"