The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-02-28
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT


The PRESIDENTS veto of the Agricultural College
! Bill has come at last. Those readers who do not
care to wade through the details of document so
unwelcome to them, will be interested in brief
statement of the points of objection made in the
Message. They are six in number, and substant
ally as follows:
l. The bill is inexpedent, because it has been
passed at period when it is difficult to raise reve-
nue. enough to carry the Government; and if this
measure becomes law, The treasury will be de-
prived OF the whole or nearly the whole of its in
come from land sales, which, for the next fiscal
year, is estimated at SIS, 100000.
2 1t is ineXpedient to teach the people to look ia
| the Federal Treasury for the means of supporting
themselves and maintaining their systems of educa-
ton and internal policy, which the president thinks
to be the tendency of this bill The representatives
of the States and of the people, feeling more i'm
mediate interest in obtaining money to tighten the
burdens o! their constituents than for the promo
ton of the more distant objects entrusted to the
Federal Government, will naturally be inclined tn
! obtain means from the Federal Government for
State purposes. In other words the PRESIDENT
thinks it important to maintain habits of sefreli-
ance among the States, which are endangered by
this bill. Furthermore, in the first wear of a war
with foreign nation, the revenue from customs
must in great degree cease and a resort to loans
will then become necessary, which can be obtained
on advantageous terms by pledging the public lands
security. The message fails to 90 to the self.
evident deduction from this argument, and to re-
commend that the public lands be withheld from
sale hereafter, in order that the Government NAV
have them to mortgage as security for loans.
3. The bill, lift becomes law will operate greatly
to the injury of the new States by putting their
lands into the hands of SPECTATORS who will hold
them for high prices, and thus check immigration
to said States. The objection applies with equal
force to the entire system of selling lands at public
sae for it is notorious that actual settler never
gets his land at the Government prce-unless un-
der his mption-without accepting inferior
land, or remote location. The best lands are all
taken up by spectators now, by purchase at the
public sales.
4. The PRESIDENT thinks it extremely doubtful
whether this bill would contribute to the advance
ment of agriculture and the mechanic arts be-
cause the federal Government cannot follow the
donation into the States, and see that it is proper
ly applied There is the same security, however
that this donation will be properly applied that
exists in the of any other donation of lands to
States for railroad other purposes
5. The bill will interfere nuriously with existing
colleges in the different States and the President
wishes to save them from the rivalry to which Con-
gress is attempting to subject them. Besides, the
States themselves will quarrel over the manner of
appropriating this fund-a state of things which
must lead to the most unfortunate results, as Mr.
BUCHANAN already knows from experience in the
Nhappy family" of his nAdministrat
6. The bill is unconstitutional, as Congress has
no power to give away the public lands, except
where, as large landed proprietor it donates por-
tion OF the domain for railroad school purposes,
in order to enhance the value of the remainder.
The Post-otlice Appropriation Bill has been per-
mitted to pass the House, with an understanding
on the part of the Tariff men that Mr.. PHELPS will
bring forth loan or Treasury note bill, to which
amendments, modifying the Tariff, will be in order
The vote of yesterday shows a clear majority of
at least 40 in favor of bill reyying the Tariff of
46 with the Free List of 81.
The withdrawal by Mr.. SLIDELL of the Thirty
Million Bill, involves a humiliating acknowledge
ment of utter defeat. There were considerations
eifectng this result. however, which do not appear
upon the surface of the proceedings The Demo
cratic Senators had caucus on Thursday last at
which they agreed to take up the Cuba bill on Fri
day, and hold 4 continuous session upon it until
vote could be had. The contest of physical endu-
rance began, and was maintained with some spirit
on both sides until far into Friday evening. The
opposition, having number of speeches to make
yet, determined not to be forced to deliver
them at midnight, and gave Mr.. SLpELL no
tice of the fact. Still the latter persevered
until it leaked out that Mr.. DouGLAs de-
signed singing speech in support of MAsoN's sub
stiute, merely giving notice to Spain of desire
to purchase Cuba, and determination that nobody
else shall buy. 1t also became apparent that the
entire opposition to the Thirty Million Bill would
concentrate upon and carry MAsoN's proposition
which would have been an absolute defeat of the
original bill. To avoid such a catastrophe, Mr..
SLIDELL moved the adjournment, which the caucus
had agreed should not be had until vote was OBJ
tanned upon the pending measure, and yesterday
morning announced his purpose not to press the
matter any further at present. Thus is disposed of
one of the most mschievous schemes that was ever
submitted to the consideration of Congress.
The difficulty always attending an effort to prove
case OF official corruption, because of the perjury
to which implicated parties often resort in order to
break the force OF the adverse testimony, Is illus