Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-03-11
PREsIDENT,s VETO MESSAGE.

from her fastening the other side of the river, and
was blown across; damage slight.
PRESIDENTS VETO MESSAGE.
To the House Of Representatives Of the United Sates
return, with my objections to the House of Repre-
sentatves, in which it originated, the bill entitled An
act donating public lands to the several States and Ter
rtores which may provide colleges for the benefit of
rcuture and the mechanic arts presented to the
18th inst.
The bill makes donation to the several States of
twenty thousand of the public lands for each
tor and representative of the present Congress- and also
additional donation of twenty thousand acres for each
additional representative to which any State may be
titled under the census of 1860.
According to a report from the Interior Department
based upon the present number of Senators and repre-
sentatves the lands given to the States amounts to six
millions and sixty thousand acres, and their value at
the minimum government price of one dollar and twen-
tyve cents per acre, to million five hundred and
seventy-tve thousand dollars.
The object of this gift as stated by the BILL is the
endowment support and maintenance of at least one
college in each State where the leading object shall be
without excluding other scientific classical studies to
teach such branches of learning related to agr
culture and the mechanic arts the legislature of the
State may respectively prescribe in order to promote
the liberal and practical education of the industrial
classes in the several pursuits and professions in life.
AS there does not appear from the bill to be any ben
efcaries in existence which this endowment can be
applied each State is required to provide within five
years at least not less than college, the grant to
said State shall cease" In that event the said State
shall be bound to pay the United States the amount
ceved ol any lands previously sod and that the title to
purchasers under the State shall be valid
The grant in land itself is confined tc such States
have public lands within their limits worth dollar and
twenty-five cents per acre, in the opinion of the COVER
For the remaining States the Secretary of the In
terror directed to issue land scrip to the amount of
hutiu 4bo IF
this act said script to be sold by said States and the
proceeds thereof applied to the and purposes what
soever." The lands granted and the scr, is to be
issued in sections subdivisions of sections not less
than one quarter of a section"
According to estimate from the Interior Depart
ment, the number of which will probably be &C
cepted by States having public lands within their own
limits will not exceed five hundred and eighty thousand
acres and it may be much less leaving balance of five
million four hundred and eighty thousand to be
provided for by scrip.
These grants of land and land scrip to each of the
thrty-three States made upon certain conditions,
the principal of which is, that if the fund shall be lost
or diminished on account of unfortunate investments
otherwise the deficiency shall be replaced and made good
by the respective States.
shall now proceed to state objections to the BILL
deem it to be both inexpedient and unconstitutional.
l. This bill has been passed at period when can
with great difficulty raise sufficient to sustain
the expenses of the government. Should it become a
law the treasury will be deprived of the whole,
ly the WHOLE of income from the sale of the public
lands which, for the next fiscal year, has been estimated
at five Mullins Of dollars
A bare statement of tue case will make this evident
The minimum price at which dispose of our lands is
one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre At the pres
ent moment however, the price has been reduced those
who purchase the bountyand warrants of the old sol
ders to elghty-lve cents per acre of these warrants
there still outstanding aud INDICATED as appears by
report 9th February, 1850 from the General Land
ounce, the amount OF eleven millions nine hundred and
ninety thousand three hundred and ninety one
This has already reduced the sales by the
ment, and diminished the revenue from this sources If
In addition thirtythree States shall enter the market
with their land scrip the price must be greatly reduced
below even elghtyve cents per acre, as much to the
prejudice OF the old soldiers WHO have not already part
ed with their land warrants to government. 1t is
easy to perceive that with this gut of the market gov
eminent can sell little lands at one dollar and
twenty-five cents per acre, when the price of bounty
land warrants and scrip shall be reduced half this sum
This source OF revenue will be almost entirely dried up
Under the bill the States may sell their land scrip at
any price it may bring. There is no limitation what
ever in this respect Indeed they must sell for what the
scrip will bring, for without this fund they cannot pro-
coed to establish their colleges within the five years to
which they are limited 1t is manifest, therefore that
to the extent to which this bill prevents the sale of the
public lands at one dollar and twenty-five cents per
to that amount will have precisely the same effect up
on the treasury should impose tax or create
loan to end0w these State colleges
| Surely the present IS the most unpropitious moment
which could have been selected for the passage of this
bill.
2. Waving for the present the question of constitu
tona power what effect will this bill have on the rea
tons established between the federal and State
ments? The constitution is grant to Congress of
. few enumerated but most important powers relating
chiefly to war, peace foreign and domestic commerce
negotiation, ard other subec which can be best
alone exercised benefcay by the common government
All other powers reserved to the States and to tn
people. For the efficient and harmonious working @
both is necessary that their several spheres of actor
should be kept distinct from each other This alone Cal
prevent conflict and mutual injury. Should the tim
arrive when the State governments shall look to tn
federal treasury for the means of supporting themselve
and maintaining their systems of education and nterns
policy the character of both governments will be great
y deeriorated The representatives of the States an
OF the people, feeling immediate interest in OF
tanning money to tighten the burdens of their constu
ents than for the promotion of the more distant object
instructed to the federal government will naturally
: cline to obtain means from the federal government fo
I, State purposes If question shall arise between a
appropriation of land Or money to carry into effect h
objects OF the federal government and those of the States
their feelings will be enlisted in favor of the latter Th
is human nature and hence the necessity of keepin
the two governments entirely distinct. The preponde
= ance OF this home feeling has been manifested by h
passage OF the present BILL The establishment of thes
colleges has prevailed the pressing vents of til
common treasury. No nation ever had such an inner