Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-03-31

milton Of the Government might affnrd To all
this the President turns deaf ear
Mr.. Speaker, the Constitution gives To Con-
gress the unreserSd and unrestricted power to
dispose OF" the public.lands; but tile Pres,-
dent says this does not grant the power to are
them alcdy. Sir, | contend that this provisions
does give to Congress the power to dispose of
them In any way not prohibited bv the Consti-
tuition. 1t is absolute and unqualified. If
there is any limitation in the deeds of cession.
which provide that they shall be disposed of for
the common benefit of all the States, this bill is
strict conformity thereto. Nor does this bill
propose to girc them away at all. Like
prudent proprietor, we adopt policy to in
crease the value OF the whole landed property
OF the country. The bill expressly demands u
fuli and proper consideration is, that the several
States shall establish these colleges, "where the
leading object shall be without excluding other
scientific or classical studies, to teach such
branches of learning as are related to agriculture
and the mechanic arts" If this were done,
there can be no doubt the interests of the coun
try, the benefits to accrue, would be fifty fold
greater than any sum which would be abstract
cd from the Treasury. If we cannot give away
the lands we already possess. under what clause
\ohpeAeN'tipli
for the purchase of Cuba, only for the purpose
of giving it back again to the Spanish slave
holders?
We have heretofore very properly, in our
legislation pertaining to new States and Terri.
tories, granted one or two sections of land, in
each township. for the especial purpose of es-
t,iblishing schools. This bill is nothing more
than pursu ancc of the same policy, and, was
fit complement of the system. Many literary
universities had already been established with
the approval of James Buchanan, who, with
many other Distinguished Democrats, voted for
the deaf and dumb school, endowed by Congress,
in Kentucky, in 1927. IF we can legislate for
the deaf and dumb, may we not legislate for
those who can hear and speak? If we can leg
islate for the insane, may We not legislate for
the sane? We have granted lands for railroad
purposes, Tor military services, and we have
granted lands to the several States for the pro
motion Of health that is, we have granted tc
the States the swamp and overhowed lands with
in their limits. Now, sir, if we can grant lands
for the promotion of physical health, can We
not grant them for the purpose of promoting
the moral health and education of the people
We granted seven hundred and fifty Thousand
acres of land for the benefit of the Sault Ste
Marie canal and also other large grants for ca
nails. Well, sir, if we can grant lands for thu
benefit of commerce, trade, military service, ant
health, cannot we grant them for other purpo
SEES? Cannot we grant them for education, ant
for the education OF the great mass Of the coun
try and class, too, which has received nj
special benefit from any act of Congress?
Mr.. Speaker, We sometimes see men who driv
horses rather hardly, seeking to find some new
spot where they can touch them on the raw
While this is not in any sense party question
The President has endeavored to make it one
and whether he has succeeded in that or not
and [ hope he has not, he has succeeded in un
covering new spot, as numerous as are hi
scars-lnd in this respect he is yeteran--t
which to apply the whip. do not, however
propose, at this time, to enter into any long ar
gument in relation to this matter, and am quit
ready that the vote should be taken which tn
Constitution prescribes.
The President has established his higher lay
over that of Congress and we have nothing els
to do but to appeal to that higher law-of tn
people--which will override the Executive vote
call for the previous question.