Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1857-02-25
SENATOR FERRY'S REMARKS
ON THE SWAMP LAND BILL.

occasion to explain the position L occupy up
on this subjea. 1t has been my view here
tofore, and is still, that the fulfllment of the
trust imposed upon the State by the act o.
Congress, in making her the grant of Swamp
Lands, would be better secured through the
immediate action of the Boards of Supervi-
sors of the several counties. ! have from
the first down to the present time avowed
this mode of disposition. But from recent
observation of the tone of the Senate and
the repeated assurances of Senators that they
were disposed to seek the drainage of the
Swamp Lands, but were unwilling to trans
fer the State trust to county management,
have been led to frame my amendment ac-
cordingly. desire to test the good faith Of
their declarations and have covered in the
amendment, the whole ground Of drainage,
reclamation, both of the sold and unsold
swamp lands now existing within the borders
of the State. Icome with confidence, sir, be-
fore this body, upon principle which divided
the two great contending parties in the can
vass, it was based solely upon the recognition
of good faith in the disavowal of the perfd-
ious repeal of the Missouri Compromises
Entering upon the open field of political con-
fict with conscientious inspiration of the
rectitude of our position, you, sir-I, and a
majority of this Senate, were carried onward
to victory in the arms of a virtuous public opin-
ion. This body then, convened fresh from the
honors of recent struggle, in which the
ascendency of truth has been triumphant; /;
Senators who compose the same, will, trust,
not repudiate the just claims which minor
ity urges, as right, upon this floor. came
here, sir, to advocate the special interests of
my constituency whenever their will did not
conflict with the welfare of the State. In the
absence of any such expression, l have act
ed and claim to be guided in my action for
the general interest of the whole. yield to
no Senator in desire to secure such legisla-
ton as will best promtoe the success, and in
vigorate the varied relations of Michigan
The record will place me with the most zeal
ons supporters of all those specific objects Of
improvement and public good which are so
often pressed upon the consideration of this
body. The University of the State, notwith-
stand its munificcnt endowment, has received
at my hand cheerful support for additional
favors. The Institutions for the Insane and
the Deaf, Dumb and Blind have, without
hesitation, found in me ready sympathizer;
and in all the departments of learning wheth-
er of the primary, intermediate or higher
grades of distinction, no consideration has
withheld my support in afording such appro-
priatons as were claimed to be advisable
Then, sir, upon the point of educational pur-
poses, no Seuator will charge me with censur-
able apathy.
While represent District isolated from
all those noble institutions of which | have
spoken, and in which my constituency may
not, for the present, at least, reap any special
benefit, 1 may be allowed to disclaim any
selfish motive in the course which l have
thus far pursued, in the direction l have
deemed it my place to take upon the educa-
tional interests of the State. While we, in
the locality which represent, are deprived of
the privileges which are so abundantly enjoy
ed 10y the constituency of other more favored
Senators; while Colleges, Academies and
Universities arc being erected over the State,
to signalize its interior and southern bounda-
ries with monuments of the intelligence of
the people, we, sir, are left to graduate our
honors amid the listless halls of dense pine
res, and listen to the text books of nature,
illustrated by the moaning winds which re-
sound through our restless domain. And yet
l stand in the defence of the diffusion
and universally of education. Let not
Senators charge me with any degree of rec
reancy to my position when deny the right
which they are determined to exercise in the
perversion of the condition of laudable ma
tional donation. |, with the minority upon
this question, claim, at the hand Of this body,
an inviolate regard for the good faith which
Congress has imposed, in a commission of
trust to this State, which by major voice Of
this body, you are about to ignore. look
with suspicion upon the course pursued by
certain Senators, who represent districts where
most of the swamp lands are sold, and who
zealously support the appropriation of this
boon to other objects than was contemplated
in the grant. They may claim to advocate
the views of their constituency, and seek to
crafty the pnblic mind with their generous
endeavors in behalf of primary schools, but,
sir, / warn them of the repudiation which
will follow upon the heels Of their action
We claim, and that. justly too, that the lands
be drained and reclaimed. Remove from
the midst of those counties these cess-pools
of destruction. Recover from stagnation and
disuse those sections of liquid substance,