Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-01-11
Tae Governor and the UniyeTuity.

Tne Governor and the Uniyersity.
Our opinion having b,~n rPea,.dly ss6cit-
I'd ou the merits Of the University qsssaiso -
nov pending b.fore the L.gislatuss. ~ be-
ing sass.sly pressed Tor our views uP0 The
propsirty Il th. Suggestions % thst asrs
cou,ai.sa in ihc Governors ns~ags. vs pro
pose, in m few words as possible. to stale opr
vi~~s sP"n the questions at ISSUE vhhsa in
dalgng the bop or belief that any thing re
NAV say upon the >uhiee; will chs.es EN-
ions aln-sd. formed ia OPPOSITION to thsr cn-
teriaincd by ours--lycs. We give exFssarion
to them a, this time to avoid the impus.sion
Of disposition to carry wafer On both
shoulders" OF sn unwillingue<s - . pshlir
josInali<, to give :Fc- .xprs~~i"a Ia ssr sF'is-
ions "a al quesieaS undergoing dicssiou
Among tbs psSple az IN in ouT Lgi.lzaise
Assembly.
II l. eur et,iai.sa. after a careful examina-
iicn of the subject. that thu sans law grant
Ing the tao ownshilrs Of land To Washington
Territory. gives to the Legislative Assembly
TIL solr and exclusive eo..;rol and disposition
oT said lants. with the r,s:zse condiiica tina,
they shall h. devoted to the establishment a:
a Univcrs,y.-1nd III. further nominal ~
s,riction reserved by Congress over all Lesis-
laiive cnactnss,ts-
The follow ing section of An art to amend
-. A.. al. a., IL S.,~~r,-..x
eral Of Washington Territory" we think mos.
fully justifcs the opinion above expressed:
Sec. 4. Asd be IT. further cxaefcd. That
in lieu Of the two townships Of land granted
to the Territory Of Oregon by the 10Th sec
ton of the act Of 1850, for Universities. there
shall be- reserved to each Of the Territories Of
Washington and Oregon two townships of
land of 3G sections each. to be- selected in lc-
gal subdivisions, for University purposes. UNI
der the direction of the Legislatures Of said
Territories respectively"
Now we find nothing in the law of Con-
gress granting the lands that directs when or
how they shall be applied, whether they shall
BE- sold for cash Or on credit,-for one dollar
and a quarter per acre, or for one dollar and
fifty cents what amount shall be expended
for the erection of University building, and
what set apart for endowing professorships.
1t is not required to locate it at the Capital,
or at any other particular point in the Terri.
tory. Al Of these details are let7 entirely
scith the Legislature.
1t is not insisted by the Governor, or any
body else that We are aware of, that there has
been any violation Of the terms Of the law by
the commissioners in the selection and dispo-
sal Of the land, or in the application of the
money in the erection Of University build
ing. All has been in strict conformity to the
law of the Legislative Assembly, and tho
result shows very commcndablc zeal and
ability on the part of the commissioners.
We have not succeeded as yet in fully
comprehending the distinct grounds of the
Governors objections He is by no means
as clear in the expression Of his views OH the
University question MS upon others of far less
public importance. 1t appears, however, that
he apprehcnds that Congress will not confirm
the action of the Legislature or the selection
of the lands under the law by the commits
sioners, but he does not 60 into detail of his
reasons for his very decided and confident
opinion. They may be entirely conclusive
on the subject, but until they are given to the
public, we do not apprehend that any one de-
sirous Of obtaining land for settlement, or for
the timber, will hesitate to risk their money
on the faith Of the Governments carrying out
tho clearly implied contract made with the
prior settlers in the Territory.
We are not one of those who believe in the
policy or justice Of boarding those lands for
the benefit of the generations that are to come
after US, or that this was expected by Con.
gress when they placed two townships Of
land Mt our disposal for University purposes.
However much We may deprecate some Of
the legislation Of the Inst session. we most
heartily approve the policy of their rendering
that fund available for the education of the
sons OF our honest pioneer settlers and this
one righteous and benevolent act Of theirs will
20 very far with US in cxcusing their incon.
siderate and mischievous Legislation.
We are informed by the Surveyor General.
Dr. Henry, Whose opinion win have much
influence with the Land Department at Wash.
ington) that the Government win have no
reason to complain Of the manner IN which the
lands have been selected. and that he il sa,is-
fed that their selection and salc win prove
bcnc6cial to the improvement and scttlc,ncnt
Of the Territory.
whaicver nay have been our prsfr~eee II
point fcs the rssmancst location of the
University. - N original qsrssioa. Ne ar
nov N fav~ Il th- dispssal " the lalancs Il