, 1859-03-01
PRESS AND TRIBUNE.
TUESDAY NoRN1No. UARcH /, 1sss.
The Veto Of the Agricultural. College



The Presidents VETO Of the bill donating
public lands for the endowment and mainte.
nance Of free Colleges for Agriculture and
the Mechanic Arte, did mot take the country
By surprise but the reasons upon which that
veto was based, mort certainly did. That the
farmera and laboring men Of the North should
be smitten in the face by the man whom they
elevated to the exaltcd post Of Chief Magis-
trate Of the Republic. was in the regular
course OF events, but that be should rest his
action on the three statements-first, that the
bill wonld not enure to the benefit Of agricua-
tttre; second, that It would operate in favor
Of spectators In lands aud againEt actual
settlers; and third, that it would injuriously
affect the public revenues-may rightly etag-
ger the common sense Of the people.
We need not again present the benchcent
features Of tlis measure. Il was the matur-
ed Judgment Of the entire Northern Press, Of
both Houses Of Congress, Of numerous Agri-
cultural Societies, and Of every unpreJudlced
mind in the United States not absorbed in the
breeding Of negroes, that 1t was eminently
adapted to advance aud elevate the pursuits
OF Agriculture and Mechanics, to place o
practical eCucation in the useful arts within
the reach Of every boy and girl In America,
to multiply the productive power of the
country, to economize the muscles and Gle.
vate the taste Of the lnborer. For these
boons the price to be paid wns deemed a
tri0e. The public lands belong to the whole
people. In the way Of revenue to the general
government they are bagatclle. They con-
stitute prolific source Of all manner Of cor
ruption. They are gambled away ty leagues
to moonshinc railroads or thrown BY whole
Territories into the pockets Of spectators,
under the guisc Of Bouuties to soldiers who
have already been paid two prices for their
services. Those who ore really entitled 10
them, namely, those who subdue them to the
uses of civilization, are studiously discour-
aged from entering upon them, and whatever
advance is made upon the broad acres reach.
ing hence 10 tie Rocky Mountains, is effected
In spite Of an unjust and grinding land sys'
TEN. The people receive no benefit, direct Or
indirect from the empire Of virgin soil be.
longing exclusively to them. Those who set
tie upon tue public domain earn all they get.
aud no thanks are due to any one whomso'
eyer.
But why proceed with the demonstration
Of thing 60 palpable as that the PROPOSED
donation was for q noble and benehcent end
to be attained ut d cost which would never
have been felt outside the circle Of specula
tors and corrnptionists who hive at Wash
ington7 The allegations Of the President
that the proposed donation would not enurt
10 the benefit Of agriculture, and that it woulc
operate in favor Of spectators and to tht
detriment Of cultivators, are to be taken prt'
cise]y by contraries- They belong to tbt
Level Of bis declaration that tue Lecompton
Constitution vas the act Of the people o.
Knnsas. In other words, they are false
hoods, equarely and brazcnly planted III
the face Of all facts and all experience
Az we'll might he say that the appropriation
Of lands to each Of the new States fol
common sehools, tends to retard education and
injure the settlement Of the country. There
being no reason under The broad heavens fo1
vetoing the bill, except The remorselcs.
negative Of slavery, it nude no difference
what pretexts were corjurcd up for the
purpose, and these were the first which can.c
to hand.
Thus is the fate Of this wise aud just meas.
ure settled for Mr.. Duchanan's official tern.
4 majority Of two thirds Of 10th branches oi
Congress cannot hc expected even in the most
fortunate event Of The coming elections. Il
goes over to he adjusted by another decision
Of the American people, and let it be we'll re-
membcred.