The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-03-08
Presidents Veto Message.
To the House Of RspresentqUes Of the United States:

"An act donating public lands to the several States
and Territories which may provide colleges for the
benefit Of agriculture and the mechanic arts, pre-
scented to on the 18th inst.
This bill makes donation to the several States OF
twenty thousand acres of the public lands for each
senator and representative in the present Congress
and also additional donation OF twenty thousand
acres for each additional representative to which any
State may be entitled under the census of 1860.
According TO a report from the Interior Depart
ment based upon the present, number of senators
and representatives. the lands given 20 the States
amount six million and sixty thousand acres, and
their value, at the minimum government price of one
dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. TO seven million
five hundred and seventy-fve thousand dollars
The object of this gift as stated by the BILL is 'the
endowment support and maintenance of at least one
college lin each State where the leading object shall
be- without excluding other scientific classical stu
dies teach such branches of learning as are rela
ted to agriculture and mechanic arts, as the leg
iature of the States respectively prescribe, in
order 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
benefciaries in existence to which this endowment
be applied, each State Is required Ito provide,
within five years least less than college,
the grant said State shall cease. In that event
the "sad State shall be bound to pay the United
States the received of any lands previously
sold and that the title to purchasers under the State
shall be valid"
The grant in land itself is confined to such States
rs have public lands within their limits worth one
dollar and twenty-five cents per in the opinion
of the governor. For the remaining States the Sec
rotary of the Interior directed issue Gland scrip
20 the Of their distrbutive shares in acres
under the provision of this said scrip to be sold
by the said States and the proceeds thereof applied TO
the uses and purposes prescribed in this act and for
other purpose whatsoever" The lands
are granted and the scrip is he issued Gin sections
subdivisions Of sections not less than one quarter
of a section.
According to estimate from the interior De-
partment, the number Of which will probably
be accepted by States having public lands within
their limits will not exceed five hundred and
eight thousand acres and it may be much less; eav
ing 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 diminished account of unfortunate invest
ments otherwise, the deficiency shall be replaced
and made good by the respective States.
shall proceed TO state my objections to this
bill. l deem it to be ine1pedent and unconsttu-
tional.
/. This bill has been passed at a period when we
can with great difficulty raise sufficient revenue
sustain tie expenses of the government. Should it
become law, the treasury will be deprived of the
whole, or nearly the whole, of income from the
sale of public lands which, for the next fiscal year.
has been estimated at five millions.
A bare statement of the case will make this evil
dent. The minimum price at which we dispose Of
our lands is one dollar and twenty -fve cents per
At the present moment, howeve:, the price
has been reduced to those who purchase the bounty
land warrants of the old soldiers to eighyve cents
standing and INDICATED, it appears by report 18th
February, 1857 from the General Land Office, the
of eleven millions nine hundred and ninety
thousand three hundred and ninetv-one acres. This
has already greatly reduced the current sales by the
government and diminished the revenue from this
IT. in addition thiry-h States shall enter
the market with their land scrip. the price must be
greatly reduced below eghty-fve cents per
much to the prejudice of the old soldiers who have
yet parted with their warrants the government
II is perceive that with this gu of the market,
sell little lands dollar
twenty-five cents per when the price of bounty
land and scrip shall be reduced to half this
sum. This 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
whatever in this respect Indeed they must sell for
what the scrip will bring, for without this fund they
proceed establish their colleges within the
FIVE years to which they limited. 1t is manifest,
therefore that 10 the extent to which this bill will
the sale of the public lands at dollar and
twenty-five cents per acre, to that amount will have
precisely the effect upon the treasury if we
should impose tax or create loan to endow these
State colleges
Surely the present is the unpropitious
which could have been selected for the passage of this
bill.
.. Waving for the present the question of consti-
tutional power, what effect will this bill have the
relations established between the federal and State
governments? The constitution is grant to Congress
of few enumerated but most important powers rela
ting chiefly to war, peace, foreign and domestic
lnerce, negotiation, and other subjects which be
best alone exercised by the common government.
other reserved TO the states and to the
people. For the efficient and harmonious working of
both it is necessary that their several spheres Of
ton should be kept distinct from each other This
alone prevent conflict and mutual injury. Should
time arrive when the State governments shall
look to the federal treasury for the means of sup
porting themselves and maintaining their systems of
education and internal policy. the character of both
governments will be greatly deterorated The repre-
sentatvcs of the States and of the people feeling
immediate interest in obtaining money to Tighten
the burdens of their constituents than for the promo
ton OF the distant objects intrusted to the federal
government will naturally incline to obtain from
the federal government for State purposes. If ques
ton shall arise between the appropriation Of land
carry into effect the objects of the federal
government and those of the States their feelings will
be enlisted in favor of the latter. This is human
ture and hence the necessity of keeping the gov
entirely distinct The prepOnderance of this
home feeling has been manifested by the passage of the
prevailed the pressing of the
treasury. No nation ever had such an inheritance
possess in the public lands. These ought to be
managed with the utmost care but at the same time
with liberal spirit towards actual settlers.
In the first year of war with powerful naval
ton the from customs must in great degree
cease. A resort to loans will then become necessary,
andIh always be obtained fathers obtain
cd them advantageous terms. by pledgng the public
lands security In this view ofthe subject it would
wiser to grant to the States for domestic pur
poses than TO squander away the public lands, and
transfer them in large bodies into the hands of spec
uatOrS.
successful struggle the part of the State govern
with the general government for the public lands
would deprive the latter of the of performing its
duties especially critical