The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-01-13


large grant Of lands, amounting u nearly 6
000,00 Of acres, under the co1tfol of til
Commissioner Of the Land Office and authc
rzes him TO sell them. 1t also provides hs
the moneys arising from the sale shall be an
remain fund for the purpose Of 'seclaimin
said lands, in conformity to the provisions
the grant" To this mode Of sale and dispC
OF the funds, il appears to me there ar
Hs and strong objections. The Stat
r into no implied contract wit
I(Rsers of these lands, that they sha
hned with the proceeds of the sales.--
HOcrcatioa Of such fund would of itself b
a'1emptation to dishonest legislation. Com
bnations Of purchasers would surround thc
Legislature, and Judging from ell past oxpe
rienee, bat little good would be accomplished
if The moneys were appropriated, in ACCORD
ance with their demands.
Thess csis have appeared 50 Formidable
and certain, ,ha. il has been thought best I,
withhold the lands from sale until addtiona
enactments could be made, and no land
have been brought into the market within
the last two years.
| invoke your deliberate and earnest atten
tion to the sabect. It's importance demand
that ~ local ana private considerations shoe
give.Alace TO the great public interests whicl
the magnitude Of this question involves. I
wisd legislation prevails, it is believed. that
copblying good faith with all the condi-
tons of the grant, the foundations of fund
will be laid, the benefits of which will be felt
and appreciated by future generations as well
as the present, and be co-extensive with the
existence Of the State To what nobler pur.
pcs, can this fund be devoted than that Of
education? Michigan has already acquired a
high character for her efforts in this direction.
A deep interest is felt upon the subject, and
its benefits are highly appreciated BY all cas-
ses. Much aid is already derived from the
Primary School and University funds. And
if to these there could be added another fund
the avails of which could be applied to other
educational establishments, demand for
which is seriously felt, all classes Of communi-
ty woold be very fully provided for, and edu-
cation could be made entirely free and uaiycr-
sal
1t Is believed that any local or Temporary
disposition of these lands would come far
short Of producing such beneficial resulls.-
And we are not wanting in experience to
guide us to correct conclusions upon the sub
ject. In September, ls4l, Ave hundred
thousand acres Of land were granted by Con-
gress to this Statc, for the purposes of internal
mprovement-grcat caro- was had in their
selection, and they now combine some of the
choicest lands in the State, whose aggregate
value cannot DO less than from three 20 five
millions Of doIias--instead Of creating fund
from the psoceeds Of thefr sale, they were
granted directly for various local purposes,
and the State has now nothing TO show for
one Of tho largest bountes Of the government.
There would be no Justification for disposing
of these swamp lands in similar manner
and trust that Wiser councils will now pre-
vaik After mature delberaton | do not
feel able 70 recommend better mode for
their disposition than that suggested in my
message TO your predecessors: Namely, that
thao be aold in limite quantities to such rs
will actually occupy and improve them, sub
ject to be drained 10y the purchaser And
that proof of actual occupancy and improve
ment be made condition for the delivery OF
u complete title from the State. Should YOU
concur with me, that tho proceeds of these
lands should constitute fund for educational
purposes, The particular direction to which
the income should be applied would become
an important inquiry, and would respectful
ly suggest that Agricultural College, addition
nj Normal Schools, and Seminary of the
highest grade for the education Of young la
dies, are particularly deserving of the atten-
ton and fostering care of tho Legislature
These are important constituents OF connec-
ted educational series, and would render the
system much more perfect aud complete
/ commend to your attention the sugges-
ton of the Commissioner Of the Land Office,
whose experience has discovered defects in
the working Of the law relative to both the
school and swamp lands.
ST. MARY's SNIP CANAL.
The ST. Mary's Ship Canal after careful
examination by the Board Of Control in May,
1855, was accepted by the State, and the
lands appropriated by the General Govern
ment for its construction, were transferred to
the contractors, by the issuing of Patents from
the Land Office The noble work, which 80
facilitate the commerce with the rich mines
and fisheries OF Lake Su, cror, has been in
successful operation for The last two years.
The tolls received from it have been sufficient
to pay for ITS superntcpdence and repairs, TO
which the State is limited by the conditions
of the grant for its construction. On account
fthe high latitude in which it is situated,
and the immense volume Of water, being the
entire outlet Of Lake Superior, pressing upon
its banks, additional safeguards in the
opinion of the Superintendent are necessary
to avoid damage Of the opening of navigation,
which the deep frosts of winter may occasion.
As this is cminently National work, con
structed by the means of a liberal grant Of
lands from the General Government, and
only committed to tho care and supervision
Of the State, from which she can derive no
revenue, submit for your consideration the
expediency Of mcmorializing Congress for an
appropriation Of the amount deemed necessary
by the Superintendent to make the work
permanent and secure. 1t is the dictate Of
economy and prudence to provide against
every posible danger to which this important
and expensive work may be exposed.
GRANTS OF LAND DY coxaREss