Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-03-05

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;nr eosld be moro preudicial 10 ther interests than
for wealthy individuals 70 acquire large tscs OF the
nublic land and hold them for speculative puPoeeA
The low price to which this land scrip will probably
be reduced will tempt Spectators 70 ooy m h!ge
amounts and locate It on the best lands belonging
to the government The eventual consequence must
be- that the men who desire to cultivate the soil will
DO compelled to purchase these very lands at rates
much higher than the price at which they could b
obtained from the government
4. Il is extremely doubtful, to say the least,
whether this bill would contribute to the advance
ment of agriculture and the mechanics arts-objects
the dignity and value Of which cannot be too highly
appreciated
tion has confessedly no constitutional power 10 io
low it into the States and enforce the application OF
the fund to the intended objects As donors No
shall possess no control our own gift alter It
shall have passed from our hands tits true that the
State legislatures required to stpulatc that they
will faithfully execute the trust in the manner pre-
scribed by the bill But should they fail to do this
eminent has no power, and ought to have no power,
to compel the execution Of the trust. II would be
in IS helpless condition as If even in this the time
of great need we were to demand any portion Of the
many millions of surplus revenue deposited with tho
States for safe keeping under the act OF 1855
5. This bill will injuriously interfere with exist
ing colleges in the different States in many Of which
agriculture is taught rs science and in all Of which
it ought to be SO taught These institutions OF learn.
ing have grown up with the growth Of the country
under the fostering Of the States and the muni
icence of individuals to meet the advancing demands
for education They have proved great blessings to
the people. Many-indeed, most Of thcm-arc poor,
and sustain themselves with difficulty. What the
effect will be these institutions Of creating an incf
go ~oc ~
dowment Of the federal government 1t is not difficult
to determine.
Under this bill, it is provided that scientific and
classical studies shall not lie excluded from them
Indeed it would he almost impossible to sustain
them without such . provision; for no father would
incur the expense Of sending a son to one Of these
institutions for the sole purpose Of making him
scientific farmer mechanic The bill itself mega
tives this idea and declares that their object is Ito
promote the liberal and practical education Of the in
dustral classes in the several pursuits and profess
sions of life" This certainly ought to be the case.
In this view Of the subject it would be far better, II
such an appropriation Of land must be made to in
stituons of learning in the several States to apply
it directly to the establishment Of procssorshps Of
agriculture and the mechanic arts in existing COL
legcs without the intervention Of the State lcgsla
lures. 1t would be difficult to forsec how these leg
islatures will manage this fund Each representa-
tive in Congress- for whose district the proportion
Of twenty thousand acres has been granted, will pro-
badly insist that the proceeds shall be expended
within its limits. There will undoubtedly bc .
struggle between different localities in each State
concerning the division Of the gift, which may end
in disappointing the hopes Of the true friends of az
riculture. For this state Of things We arc without
remedy. Not so in regari to State colleges. We
might grant land to these corporations to establish
agricultural and mechanical professorShips; and,
should they fail to comply with the condition which
they accepted the grant We might enforce specific
performance Of these before the ordinary courts Of
justice.
But does Congress possess the power. under the
constitution, to make donation Of public lands to
the different States of the Union to provide colleges
for the purpose Of educating their own people!
lpresume the general proposition is undeniablc
that Congress does not possess the power to appro
pirate money in the treasuary raised by taxes on
the people Of the United States for the purpose o
educating the people Of the respective States. II
will not be pretended that any such power is to bs
| found among the specific powers granted to Con
gress, nor that it is necessary and proper for carry
ing into execution" any one Of these powers
Should Congress exercise such a power, this wouk
be to break down the barriers which have bcvn u
carefully constructed in the constitution to separat,
federal from State authority. We should then no
only "ly and collect taxes, duties, imposts ant
excuses" for federal purposes but for every Stat,
useful. This would be an actual consolidation o
the federal and State governments, so far as tn
! great taxing and money power IS concerned, an,
constitute sort Of partnership between the two Il
the treasury Of the United States equally ruinou
to both.
But it is contended that the public lands arc place.
upon different footing from money raised by taxa
ton, and that the proceeds arising from their sal
are not subject to the limitations Of the constitution
but may be appropriated or given away by Congress
at its own discretion, to States, corporations IN
dividuals, for any purpose they may deem expcdicn
The advocates Of this bill attempt to sus,ai
their position upon the language Of the sccon
clause Of the third section Of the fourth article
the constitution which declares that 1.-THE Congress
rules and regulations respecting the territory q
other property belonging to the United States.
They contend that by a fair Interpretation Of Oh
words disposed Of" in this clause Congress posse.
the power to made this gift Of public lands to Ii
States for purposes Of education.
1t would require clear and strong evidence to Il
duce the belief that the trainers Of the constitution
after having limited the powers Of Congress to &C
tain precise, and specific objects, intended by en-
ploying the words "dispose Of" to give that bod
unlimited power over the vast public domain.
would be = strange anomaly, indeed to have create
two funds, the one by taxation confined to the cx
cution of the enumerated powers delegated to Coz
gress, and the other from the public land, apple
bic to all subjects foreign and domestic which Co
gress might designate. That this fund should
disposed Of" not to pay the debts Of the Unit,
Statss, nor ITO raise and support armies" nor I"
provide and maintain navy" nor to accompli
any one Of the other great objects enumerated
the constitution but be delivered from them to p,
the debts Of the States to educate their people, a
to carry into effect any other measure Of their d
mestic policy. This would be to confer upon Co
gress . vast and irresponsible authority, utterly
war with the well known jealousy Of federal pow
which prevailed at the formation Of the constitutio
The natural intendment would be that, Is the CO
stitution confined Congress to well.defined spcci
} powers, the fund placed at their command, wheth
in land or money, should be appropriated to I
performance Of the duties corresponding with the
, powers. If not, government has been Great
with all its other powers carefully limited but vi,
out any limitation in respect to the public lands
But cannot so read the words dispose Of"