The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-03-09

Congress Of asfsw snu1herated but NEST
important powers rslatiag chiefly TO var
peace, fofeignlc nlcommerceS nsgotiation, and
other subjects, which can be best or alone
exercised beneHcially by the common
Government All other powers are 70.
served to the States and to the people,
For the efficient and harmonious Working
of both it is necessary that; their several
spheres of action should be kept aibtinct
from each other. This alone can prevent
conflict and mutual injury. Should the
time ever arrive when the State govern.
ments shall look to the Federal Treasury
for the means of supporting themselves
and maintaining their systems Of educa-
tion and internal policy, the characters Of
both governments viii be greatly deter
iorated.
of the people, feeling q moro immediate
interest in obtaining money tolighten the
burdens of their constituents than for tho
promotion of the more distant objects In
trusted to the Federal Government, wiz
naturally incline to obtain means from the
Federal Government for State purposes.
If question shall arise between IN appro--
priation of land or money to carry into
effect the objects Of the Federal Govern
ment and the States. their feelings win bs
enlisted in favor of the latter This -
human nature; and hence the necessity Of
keeping the two governents entirely dis
tinct. The preponderance Of this homo
feeling has been manifested by the pas
sage of the present bill. The establish.
ment of these colleges has prevailed over
the pressing wants of the common Treas.
ury. No nation ever had such An inher-
itance as we possess in the public lands.
These ought to be managed with the mt
most care, but at the same time With . lib
eral spirit toward actual settlers.
In the first year Of war with. Q pow
erful naval nation, the revenue from Gus.
toms must in great degree cease. 4
resort to loans will then become necessary
7 and these can always be obtained. az oav
7 fathers obtained them, on advantageous
; terms, by pledging the public lands a. ss-
, curity. In this view Of the subject, y
would be wiser to grant money to ths
States for domestic purposes than to
, squander away the public lands, and trans.
. fer them in large bodies into the hands Of
spectators. .'sToE IFsaiz
: A successful struggle on the part Of
0 State Governments with General Gov
q ernment for the public lands, would de-
;; prive the latter of the means Of perform.
d ing its high duties, especially ~ critical
IS and dangerous periods. Besides, II would
d operate with equal detriment to the hest
, interests of the States. It would remove
o the most wholesome of all restraints on
If legislative bodies-that Of being obliged
a to raise money by taxation from their con-
stituents-and would lead to sextrava-
l. gance, if not to corruption. What is OBJ
IS tanned easily. and without responsibility,
IS will be layishly expended. .--
4 8, This bill, should it become Law,
~ will operate greatly to the injury Of tbs
8; new States. The progress Of settlments
D. and the increase of an industrious popu-
D. lation owning an interest ID the soil they
cultivate are the causes which will build
to them up into great Aourishing Common
lie wealths.
Of Nothing could be more prejudicial Il
or their interests than for wealthy individusll
n to acquire large tracts of the public land
cy and hold them for speculative purposes,
he The low price to which. this land scrir
will probably be reduced will lstsmpt spec
b. ulators to buy it in large amounts and
tn and locate it on the best lands bslongina
ia to the Government The eeyentual con.
l. sequence must be that the men who deeirl
Sc to cultivate the soil will be. compelled te
es purchase these very lands at rates much
a higher than the price at which they could
be be obtained from the Government.
n A Its extremely doubtful, to;say ths
en- least, whether this bill would eeatributs
ed to the advancement Of agricpltars sni
j. the mechanic arts-objects, the dignity
ke and value of which can not be too highl,
ch appreciated - aifga q haz
nd The Federal Government which makei
's- the donation, has confessedly NO consti
en- tutional power to follow it into tho State,
n and enforce the application Of the fant
to to the intended objects. A donors ",
se shall possess no control over our owl
nd gift after 1t shall have passed from oul
tn hands. 1t is true that the State Legisla
d. lures are required to stipnlats that thsJ
ne win faithfully execute the trustiu the man
n ner pressribed BY the bill But shouli
al they fail to do this what would b ID,
BY consequence The Federal GoSernmsa
re- has no power; and ought to have no pow
~, er, to compel the execution of ~ trust
ret 1t would be in % helpless = condi
be tion as if even in this, the Tin
i've of great need, we were to odsuaa'
re- any portion Of the many millions Of suf
we plus revenue deposited withs The State
ar for safe.keeping under the act lof $3.50.
to 5. This bill will injuriously tnterleg
ret with existing colleges in othe bdi6essn
at States, in many. Of which agsioaltsrs ]
re, taught as science, and ID III q uhiel
nd it ought to be so taught These institu
- tions of learning have grown up With u
en-. growth of the counkry undAr the foat0fin,