Columbia gazette., 1854-02-18
GOVERNS SPECIAL MESSAGE,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Denicia, Jan. 81, 1854.

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To the Senate j. assembly Of California:
have the honor ilcyexith to transmit
4 copy Of an important report, received
on the 2ith inst, from the Superinten-
dent Of Public Instruction; the suggcs-
lions therein contained are worthy OF
immediate and careful consideration.
In this connection, l deem it duty
again to urge upon you the great mpor-
tance of Legislative action, in order to
secure to the Ssste all the lands donat-
cd BY Congress for educational purposes.
The Act of 1852, which authorized
School Land Warrants to be issued, was
passed to secure the proceeds of the sales
of the FIVE hundred thousand acres for
the great object designed by the trainers
of the CCnstitution-the education OF
the children of the State.
These lands, donated by Act of Con-
gress, approved Sept. 4,h, lS4l, were
originally granted for purposes of inter-
nal Improvement, but were diverted by
our Constitution to the support of Com
mon Schools. As yet, but a small por-
tion has been surveyed; and it is held by
agents of the General Government, that,
under the provisions of the Act of Con
gress, approved March Sd, 1893, Sci,oel
Land Warrants, issued by tie State,
cannot be located on her selections, per-
haps, for many years, and, indeed, may
eventually lose the greater part of the
fund. -..--.
Is the State to be deprived of this
fund, at q tlane m4e0 gener:si and COM
prehensfye system of Public Instruction
is so much needed: Is the education of
the children Of the State, now number
ing tens of thousands, to be subject to
the delays and uncertainties Incident to
the action of the Federal Governments
These are questions of vital impor-
tancc to the people Of California, init
matcly connected, as they are, with
their present interests and future wei
iare. | hope, therefore, that tine leg
la!ature will, at an early day, memorial
lze Congress to confirm, by special act,
the past legislation Of the State, in re
iatlon to the selection of five hundred
thousand acres of school lands, and to
remove the restrictions which, at pres
ent, retard her progress, and are mimi
cal to her interests and the future well
fare Of her people.
Such a policy can work 10 injury Or
hardship to the actual settler, for the
reason, that the lan''s selected can be
disposed of by the State, under you,
direction, on the same terms as now ex-
acted by the General Government, and
with less actual expense to the purchas-
er, than under the existing laws of the
United States. If the price be fixed at
one dollar and twenty-five cents pei
acre, the school land nnsold, including
the 10th and Both sections will yield six
million eight hundred and forty six
Thousand Iine hundred and ffty-fve dol
lars, which at seven per cent. will afford
an annual interest Of four hundred
and seventy thousand two hundred
and eighty-six dollars and eighty-tivc
cents; q sum quite sufficient to sustain a
system of popular education superior to
that of any of the older States of the
Contederacy.
The plan proposed by the Superip-
tendent would give to persons of small
means, an opportunity to secure homes
at trifiing amount of annual interest,
until prepared at some future day, to
pay the principal
This plan, it is believed, would favor
the interests of the actual settler, and is
consistent with the requirements of the
Constitution; which direct that the in
terest, only, shall be annually applied
for the benefit Of Common Schools. .ieay-
ing tue principal intact, and a perpetu-
al fund OF their support.
/ Should, however, the present Legis-
lature fail, or neglect to adopt proper
measures, in reference to these lands