Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-05-20

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to agriculture, Russia maintains greater mum
Der than any other nation, France only excep
! ted No nation has arisen in the political fir
manent with a steadier splendor than the great
northern bear, which instead of paving, like
Nlilton's lion " his hinder-parts to get free
from the mud of the Nile, is struggling to gel
free from the Polar ice of ignorance. The
backbone of Russia, in her recent contest, lay
in her agricultural forces, and against these but
half-tutored resources of men and wealth, hall
the strength of Europe could only wage drawn
battle, Here we find despotism, from motives
merely of governmental policy, eleyating la
Dor, placing it within the power of her agrf
cultursts and artisans to become educated anc
skillful, while our people, with the government
in their own hands, parley on the brink, and dc
nothing for their own benefit.
Spain is weak in all her industry, because
while an uneducated Spanish gentlemen, it ii
said, cannot be found, SO neither can peasant
be found who can read or WRITE.
Italy, ancientiy far in advance of all her CO
temporaries, in theory and practice, is now be-
hind all other States in her farming and indus
trial pursuits, and here we find but one person
in fifty provided with any instructions what
ever.
might contrast Bohemia with Saxony, ant
even Ireland with England, or the different can
tons Of Switzerland with each other, to show
the difference between ignorant and educated
culture of the soil, but have not space.
Thus, we behold the suffrages of all the wiser
civilized nations in favor of the measure con
templated by the bill under consideration; ex-
amples as much to be initiated as those of an
opposite character are to be stunned. If other
nations advance, though VIC but pause we are
dstanced. The voice of our country, if il
could find utterance, is believed to be over.
whelmingly in favor of the establishment Of
these institutions on our own soil They are as
much needed and will be as gratefully accepted
in one direction of our country as another
More than tour-ffths of our population are en-.
gagged in agricultural and mechanical employ
ments. This vast number, out of thirty mill.
ions of people now, to be increased to fifty mill
ions in less than twenty years, will forever fur
nish an inexhaustable supply of pupils who will
not foresee their calling. Is it not of grave
Importance to give this vast force an intelligent
direction?
In 1850 there were, between the ages of five
and fifteen, s, l06, 1857 inhabitants of our coun.
try There were engaged in the professions o.
law, medicine, and theology, 94,575 citizens
and in all the colleges of the United States
there were q, l59 pupils only. If these pupils
required two hundred and thirty-nine colleges
for their instructions, how many ought we tC
have for the sons of the millions engaged in az
riculture? Why, sir, the number which II
may be hoped will be provided for under thu
auspices Of this bill will hardly do more thar
to supply teachers that will be required in sec
ondary schools.
At the close of the Revolution there was much
difficulty about these lands. The States within
whose boundaries the ungranted crown land
were situated felt disposed to claim them, un
Justly as the other States thought, as State pro
perty. But finally all yielded to the Union, us
ing in their conveyance words of like import
that the lands should be considered com
mon fund for the use and benefit Of all. Since
then the Revolutionary debt has been extinguisl
ed !; gratitude for military services has been &C
|knowledged to the extent of forty-four millions
one hundred and nine thousand eight hundred
and seventy-nine acres new States have beer
properly treated with statesmen-liko liberality
now by this bill the old States, by whose BLOOD
and treasue the public domain was so largel,
acquired, will be allowed some direct share, bu
not greater than that of others, in the dstri
button. What clause in the Constitution inter
poses any barrier to this?
1t cannot be pretended that therelis one of
class of cases for here is one where four-ffth
Of all the people are directly and all the res
indirectly interested. No other can come u
representing more than fractional part of tn
remaining fifth. Our Government is also direct
ly interested, as the holder and dealer in larg
tracts of land. fit be for the interest of smal
holders of land, it must be for the interest of
large holder. If the measurs shall in any de
gree increase the future profits of cultivatort
the value Of all land. wherever it may be
whether held in large or small quantities, wi
be augmented. The cotton-gin has hardly don
more to raise the price of estates in the South
than would now the discovery of a remedy 70
the boll-worm, and other destructive insects
which gore and gorge the cotton-plant nc
have the reaping machines been of more advar
tage to Western wheat fields, than would be
cure for the wheat nudge. These invaders ma
not be overcome ; may not be within the reac
of human cngnery ; one sixth part of the col
ton and wheat crop may still be lost but som
resulting Improvements may safely be predicte
upon the labors of thirty-two or more institu
tions actively engaged in scientific agriculture
There can be no doubt that the benefits to be de
rived, will prove an ample consideration for til
lands disposed Of One of the most adequat
considerations ever received for any estate b
parent is called, in legal parlance, Z" love an
affection :" and that also will not be wan tin
here.
These considerations are rendered by thof
elder States, to whose tolls and expenditure
the remarketable value of our public domai
is SO largely indebted. Blot out the canals an
railroads of Pennsylvania, New York, and OhiC
costing over two hundred million dollars, an
the buffalo and the fur-trader on the wester
prairies might strive for the mastery, but ci
ilization would postpone her triumphs ov'
the savage to remoter age. Our :" wester
empire Z" might be taxed the whole cost
the New York and Erie Canal, and then be tt
gamer ; and yet the bill | am advocating wi
not appropriate, among all the States, OF
fifth part of its original cost, and not ONEIDA
of the amount of the yet unpaid canal debt
New York.
The third section of article four of the Coz
stitution declares
" The Congress shall have power to dispo
of and make, all needfull rules and regulation
respecting the territory, or other property b
longing to the United States"
Here is the whole of it and there is
restriction save that in the deeds of our cessio
Our public lands are no longer pledged for
national debt ; and, if held for the CONNIE
benefit of all, how can it be wrong to give a
their ripbtfill and exact propOrtion to the lin
tied extent now proposed? Who will
wronged? What better thing shall we do wi
them? Whatever discordant opinions the
may have recently existed touching the tn
Interpretation of this clause, as to persons, !
one will pretend that it does not give COZ
plete control over the land (the property b
longing to the United States and the measu
am considering is literal compliance wi
the powers conferred in that it proceeds I"
dispose of and make all needful rules and re
ulations respecting so much as is embrac
in the bill
r H. H., - L.