Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-03-04
Tue President has vetoed, as expected, the

bill appropriating public lands for the endow-
ment of agricultural and mechanical colleges
His rnessageis Characteristic, Astounding in mis-
representations and perversions
The bill thus vetoed makes donation Of 30
600 acres Of the public domain, to the several
States, for each Senator and Representative in
the present Congress and additional 10000
for each additional representative TO which any
State may be entitled under the census of 1850.
The object is ''the endowment, support and
maintenance of at least one college in each
Stnte, where the leading objectshal be. without
excluding other scientific classical studies, to
teach such branches of learning as related
TO agriculture and the mechanic arts, the
Legislature of the new States may respectively
prescribe, iii order to promote the liberal and
practical education Of the industrial classes in
the several pursuits and professions of life"
The bill scarcely needs comment, it explains
ITSELF It's object is one of the very noblest-
that of elevating agriculture and mechanics, and
dignifying voluntary labor. But these not
subjects that merit the attention of Mr. Buchan-
ans craftsmanship. The first objection he urges
is that the Treasury is empty, and this bestowal
Of the public lands would draw money from the
Treasury. We must economist. Now, aside
from this bill, drawing money from the Treasury,
which is not very easily conpreheuded, we
rather like this talk about economy. Democratic
economy is peculiar thing. 1t is always just a
little to late. When they have spent all they had
and gone in debt as far as they could, then the
Democrats begin to talk about economy. They
have any amount of money TO buy Cuba but
''nary red" for the most vital interests of the
Republic, for tho encouragement of tho arts
that make MS what and all we are. The truth
is, the branches of agriculture which are Me-.
Buchanan's flvorites, the raising of cotton,
sugar and rice, make but little demands on sci
ence. All they want is more territory and free
trade with Africa
The President gravely informs us that if this
bill becomes law it will injure the new States.
How it could injure new State to foster and
stimulate the very interests that build it up, we
can't possibly understand. We suppose Mr.. b.
knows how, and that is sufficient He admits
that "the progress of settlements and the in
crease of an industrial population owning an
interest in the soil they cultivate, are the causes
which build them up into great and fiourishing
Commemorative And how can men be in
duced to own soil and cultivate it? BY making
the calling digniied, and assuring pecuniary re.
ward, and by teaching men how. There are
thousands of men lurking about our country,
and the great cities, who would be practical
cultivators of the soil if they knew how. Give
them, then, good schools where they may learn.
The President thinks the bill unconsdtution-
al He is suspicious of Congress, but not more
so thnn Congress is of him. Congress, he says,
has power to dispose of the Public domain.
He thinks, though, that Congress has the right
to donate lands to State Colleges, now in exist
ence, but not the right to donate to those to be
created. That is consistent. Very. 1t is just
on pnr, though with everything that James
Buchanan says and does When comes there
better?