The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1859-03-23

A successful struggle on tho part OF State
Governments with the General Government for
the public lands, would deprive the latter Of the
means Of performing its high duties, especially
at critical and dangerous periods. Besides, il
would operate with equal detiment to the best
interests OF the States. 1t would remove tho
most wholesome Of all restraints on legislative
bodieS-that ofbeing obliged to raise money by
taxation from their constitucnts-and would
lead TO exirav gance ifnot corruption. What Ia
obtained easily and without responsibility, will
be ldviSh'y expended
3 This bill should it become law.wili op.
crate greatly to the injury OF the new States
The progress of settlements and the increase OF
All Industrious population owning an interest In
the soil they cultivate are the causes which will
build them up into great and 1ourishtng COM
monwealhs. Nothing could be more prejudi-
cial to their common interests than for wealthy
individuals to acquire large facts of the public
land and hold them for speculative purposes
The low price to which this land scrip will prob.
ably DO reduced will tempt spectators TO buy
it in large amounts and locate it on the best
lands belonging to the government. The event.
ual consequence must be that the men who de-
sire to cultivate the soil will be compelled to
purchase these very lands at rates much higher
than the price at which they would be obtained
from the Government.
4 1t is extremely doubtful, to sny ihe least,
whether this bill would contribute 10 the I'D.
varcement ofagriculture and the mechanic arts
objects, the dignity and value Of which can
not be too highly appreciated.
The Federal Government which makes the
donation, has conftssedly no constitutional pow
er to follow it into the States and enforce tho
application Of the fund to the intended objects.
AS donors, we shall possess no CONTROL over our
own gift after it shall have passed from our hands.
1t is true that the State Legislatures arc Iequir-
ed to stipula,e that they will faithfully execute
in the manner prescribed by the bill. But should
they fail to do this, what would be the conse.
quenceb The Federal Government has no pow
er, and ought to have no power, TO compel the
execution o the trust 1t would be in as help
less condition as if even in this, the time Of
great need, we were to demand any portion Of
the many millions ofsurp,us revenue deposited
with the States for safe keeping under tho act
Of 1886
5. This bill will injuriously interfere with
existing colleges in the different States, in ma
ny ofwhich agriculture IS taught as q science,
and in all OF which ought to be so taught
These institutions Of learning have grown up
with the groth OF the country under tho FOSTER
ing care Of the States and the munifcence O. in
| dividuals to meet the advancing demand for ed
ucation They have proved great blessings TO
the people. Manv-indeed most Of them
IRE poor, and sustain themselves with difficulty
What the effect will be on these institutions of
creating an indefinite number Of rival colleges,
sustained by the endowment Of the Federal
Cove 'nment, It is not difficult to determine.
Under this bill, it is provided that scientific
and classical studies shall not be excluded from
them Indeed. it would be almost impossible
to sustain them without such provision; for
| no father would incur the expense of sending
son 10 one of these institutions for the sole pur.
pose OF making him scientific farmer or me.
chanlc. The bill itself negatives the idea, and
declares that there object is to promote the lib
eral and practical education OF the industrial
classes in the several pursuits and professions of
! life. This certainly ought to he the case In
this view Of the subject, 1t would be far better.
if such an an appropriation of land must be
made to institutions Of learning in tho several
States, to apply it directly to the establishment.
Of proiessorships Of agriculture and the mechan.
c arts in existing colleges, without the inter-
vention Of State Legislatures will manage this
! fund.
! Each representative in Congress, for whose
district the proportion oftwenty thousand acres
has been granted, will probably insist that the
proceeds shall be expended within its limits
! There will undoubtedly be struggle between
different localities in each State concerning the
division o the gift,which may end in disappoint-
ing the hopes Of the true friends OF agriculture
For this state Of things we are without remedy.
Not so in regard to State colleges. We might
grant land tothese corporations on which they
accepted the grant, we might enforce specific
performance ofthese before the ordinary courts
OF Justice,
/, G. But does Congress posses the power un.
der the Constitution to m Ike donation ofpub.
lie lands to the different lands to the different
States ofthe Union to provide colleges for tho
purpose Of educating their own people? a.
presume the general proposition is undenia.
BILE that Congress does not possess the power to
appropriate money in the treasury raised by
taxes on the people Of the United States for the
purpose oS educating the people o. the respective
States. 1t will not be pretended that any such
powers granted to Congress, nor that its'is hecz
essary and proper for carrying into execution"
any one Of these powers Should Congress ex-
ercise such power this would be to break
down the barriers which have been so carefully
constructed in the Constitution to separate Fed
cral from State authority. We should tn n
not only LAY and collect taxes, duties imposts
and exciscS' for Federal purposes, but every
s ale purpose which congress might deem ex-
pedent or useful. This would be an actual cen.
solidation ofthe Federal and State Governments
so far as the great taxing and money power is
I concerned and constitute a sort o partnership
between tie two in the treasury Of the United
States equally ruinons to both. iatn
| But it is conceded that the public lands ara
! placed upon different footing from money rais-
\ ed By taxation and that tho proceeds arising
from their sale not subject to limitations of the
Consultation, but may he appropriated or given
awaybv Congress, at its owndseret9naoS States
corporn R6ns erndividmls. for any purpose they
may deeine expcdient. t n :,
Tlo advocates Of this bill attempt to sustain
their position upon the language OF the second
clause otfthe third section of the fourth article
+. of the Constitution, which declares that athe
i Congress shall have power to dispose Of and
mako AL needful rules and regulations respcct-
4 ing the territory or other property belonging to
the Uuiied States" They contend that, by
fair Interpretation Of the words dispose Of"
this clause, Congress possesses The power to
make this giitof 'phbliJ lands to the atcs for
purposes Of educatiun. A @+s
IL would require clear and strong evidence to-
induce the belief that tho framers ofthc consti
tuition, after having limited the powers of Cor
gres: to certain, prec;s1 and specific Objects, IN.
! teied, by employing the words dispose or ID
give that body.unlimited power otor ne vast
public domain. 1t would bea s,rangS aifoms4ys
indeed 10 have created two funds; 4he she ssByi
taxft;oD. confined TO the execution or he emu
lmeratci porers delegaiei toiCons FesSlafgd ihs
other from tho public ianis. aSplica r. sto an.
subjects toreign aul domestic, which Congress
might designate That this fluid should bgflisT
posed Of rot to nay the debg OF fha dIfAtlndf