The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-02-22
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES.

lie lion. L. e. Clay, OF Alabama, has sent us a
copy of his speech against the bill donating land
to the several States for the support of agrcultur-
al colleges Apart from the bad principle of tax
ing the property of the General Government and
giving it to the States, thereby diminishing its
source Of revenue, the bill is unfair in its pro-
visions. The northern and northwestern States
would get the greater portion Of the land, to pay
for which the South will be called upon to con-
tribute two-thirds in the way of increased duties
on the merchandise she buys.
The bill passed the Senate by vote of % to %.
We make the following synopsis of Dir Clay's
speech in opposition to the measure:
He opposed the bill as affordins dangerous
precedent; and said that at time when the Gov
vernmcnt was more than sixty millions of dollars
in debt and when the revenue is insufficient to
supply the wants of government, it was proposed
by this bill to cut off all revenue from the public
lands, and at the same time to increase the expen-
ses Of government by donations of lands equivalent
to ten millions Of dollars. Common sense would
teach private individual under similar crcunl-
stances to reduce his expenses and endeavor to be
just to his creditors rather than generous to his
friends. The measure supported by Ameri-
and Republicans, now cassed together as the
Opposition, who had been loudly declaiming against
the extravaganza of the Administration and the
democratic party, and protesting patriotic desire
for economy and retrenchmcnt, but who in this in
stance, in most others, dscrcdtcd their profess
sols by bad works
His greatest objection to the bill was its uncon-
stitutionality. Senators should not violate their
oaths in consequence of Legislative Instructions.
He had profound respect for and gratitude to the
people of his State, but when they should instruct
him to vote for usurpation of unconstitutional
power he would either refuse resign his trust.
Upon questions of cxpediency he would yield to
instructions, but would surrender his judgment to
no man nor body Of men. But the people did
not want this grant. They had never consented
to surrender the supervision of their educational
affairs to Federal power The scheme was pressed
only by few greedy capitalists and needy adven-
turers who speculate upon Congress. TO the peo-
pie it would prove a most delusive measure. It
conferred six millions of acres to be dis
tributed according to the representation among the
States, for the endowment of colleges to teach
such things pertain to agriculture and the
mechanic arts, but without excluding other things.
Agriculture the mere name under whose po-
tentlal charm the people to be detraudcd. Its
promotion was the incident, not the great ob jeot
of the measure. The same section which spoke of
agriculture went on to say ''without excluding
other scientific and classical studies" The object
of the donation stated to be sin order to pro-
IlOte lnc vi III
dustral classes in the several pursuits and ayoca-
tons of life" They might be trained for COM
merce, manufactures law, theology medicine,
all under the pretext Of promoting agriculture.
If Congress had the power claimed here he did
not know what power she had not. If the prn-
ciple of this bill was established and conceded, it
would be difficult to keep Federal power within
the narrow limits of State sovereignty. IF Con-
gross might supervise the education OF the people,
why not also endow asylums for the insane, the
deaf and dumb, the blind, the destitute, the poor,
the widow and orphan and all the afflicted either
in mind, body or estate? As Gen. Jackson said,
they had to 60 but one step further and put the
sums required for the salaries of State officers,
governors judges, &c, in the general appropriation
bills
He quoted from the report of debates in the
Constitutional Convention, showing that the power
to establish and provide for universities and semi
narcs of learning, and institutions for the promo
ton of agriculture, commerce, trade and manufac-
lures, four times proposed to be given to Con-
gress, and expressly refused. This refusal to
grant the power forbade its exercise as much as
direct prohibition An agent who should do ex-
actly the thing which his principal had refused to
permit would clearly be guilty of violation of his
trust.