Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1857-01-14
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE

eio, anu "nne we are Wiling 10 acknowledge
the correctness of many Of the views of the
Executive, Yet from the demagoguesm and
partizanshp, the selfshness and injustice
evinced in his Kansas pettifogging and his
recommendations respecting the Swamp
Lands, we turn away with a feeling akin to
disgust. There is no object Of legislation
coming before our present Legislature in
which the citizens of the northern portion of
our State are 50. deeply interested as in the
disposal of the Swamp Lands. The fact that
almost the entire quantity of those lands lie
in the new and unsettled portion of the
State, curse upon its growth and settle
ment that could only be partially mitigated,
even by being allowed to use all of the funds
arising from their sale, for the purpose of
drainage, should make every citizen of the
northern counties earnest, and awake, res
pecting their disposition.
And when the chief Executive of the State
unblushingly proposes to dispose of those
lands, entirely Regardless of the object for
which the grant was made proposes to ac-
cept the munfcent gift Of the General Gov
ernment upon the conditions named, and, af-
ter receiving the title, proposes in his mes
sage to the Legislature to disregard those
conditions, and turn the gift to an entirely
different purpose than the one designed; it is
an evidence of willingness, on his part, to be
guilty Of an act that should damn him as q
Politician. And he not only recommends to
the Legislature to be guilty of this breach
Of faith, but he wishes it to rob the northern
part oe the State for the benefit of the southern
for this must be the ultimate result. 1t is
as plain as daylight. If the grant of the
General Government is fairly carried out, the
money will be expended in draining the
swamp lands in the counties where they are
located; but, if BINGHAM's recommendation
is carried out, the money will be expended
throughout the State for educational purpos-
es, in proportion to the population. The
southern part of the State, having, COMPARE
lively speaking, all the population, and the
northern all the swamp lands, they take the
funds which should drain our marshes and
build themselves school houses and female
seminaries. This brilliant conception of the
Governors, for system Of legal pillage,
whereby the new counties are to be fieeced,
and the older ones enriched, can only be ac-
counted for by his belief in the righteousness
of that prayer which adjures Con to take
care Of the rich, for the poor can take care of
themselves. The question has often been
asked, by our Fusion friends, as there
North3" Now, we repeat the question, is
there north not north half of the Union
for, since BUCHANAN's election, we know there
is-but north half to the State of Michi-
gan? or is the whole State and all its inter
ests to be found in the narrow strip Of land
between the Central and Southern Railroads
Have the new counties any rights, and are
they TO be allowed the use of this swamp
land fund to rid themselves Of the evil which
nature has entailed upon them? or are they
to be pillaged, and the conditions upon which
the grant was made trampled under foot,
that a dishonest and scheming Executive,
and Legislature-under the hypocritcal
cloak of wishing to advance the cause of ed
ucaton-may make political capital in the
thickly settled portions of our State?
The idea that the terms of the grant can
not be complied with, is mere pretence.
There are portions of our swamps and marsh
es that can not be drained such as are around
the mouth of this river; but there are also
large tracts-the greater portion of them
that can, by judicious management, be made
the most valuable lands we have; and, I'M
der the management of the Board Of Super
visors, in the respective counties, who, being {
acquainted with the different portions of 1
swamp lands in their localities, could Judge I
accurately of the means to be used; the fund {
arising from their sale could, and, without
doubt, would be used in such a manner as to &
fairly, the purpose of the dona- t
ion. But admitting even that the condition C
upon which the grant was made can not be |
complied with, to whom do the funds be- S