The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-01-24


report, embraces 1856, All acres. Out of
this area, were 1t not for the Indian Reserves
and Trust Lands, Kansas would have 664,-
478 acres for school purposes, in addition
to all previous grants. Congress has made
good like deficiency for Iowa, Mississippi
and other States. You should ask Congress
to be equally just to Kansas.
The act of Congress of September 4th,
l84I, appropriates FIVE hundred thousand
acres of land to internal improvements to
each State; this fund, thus appropriated
has been diverted by the Constitution of
Kansas to the support of Common Schools.
The laws of Congress are the supreme laws
of the land. Now the question arises :
Whether the assent given by Congress to
the admission of Kansas as a State under
the Constitution, repeats the law of 184t,
and in fact diverts the land as provided for
by our State Constitution ? Ny impress
sions are, that no act of Congress can be
amended or repealed, unless by subse-
quent act of the same body, and that to di-
vert these lands from the purposes specified
in the act of Congress granting them to the
several States, it would be necessary for
Congress to amend this law. The question
for you to determine, then, is: Which pur-
pose would be of more service to the State
While the Educational fund has received
donations, the Internal Improvement fund
has received nothing; yet both Internal I'm
provements and Common Schools are of vi
tai importance. 1t is necessary that the
question should be settled, and for this pur-
pose ask you to memorialze Congress.
Every being in the State should be edu-
Cd n ~ 81, L
toned. Mind is the highest gift of God to
man. The Legislator, then, who ignores
this right-the Legislature which sacrifices
it, ignores and sacrifices that which alone
gives or can give stability to Law or vitality
to Liberty l entreat you, then, with all
the earnestness 1 possess, 10 guard we'll the
Educational interests of the State-to de-
velop them-to hold as inviolable the means
dedicated to that high end, and to employ
them without faltering or failure to our COM
mon advancement. Better stratened means
than starved intellect. Better poverty of
purse than poverty of heart.
For the unfortunate, for the deaf and
dumb, blind and insane, the older, and
with a few exceptions the newer States,
have provided asylums. The Constitution
of the State of Kansas is explicit on this
subject: institutions for the benefit Of the
insane, blind, and deaf and dumb and such
other benevolent institutions as the public
good may require, shall be fostered and
supported" This appeals directly to you,
and, as you are able, you will respond to the
appeal. The State which cares best for
these unfortunates, is always the truest in
council and the noblest in sction.
Jy,E1 - IL 11o;k -,
of State University. The Constitution
directs especially your attention and mine
to it: "ProVIsion shall be made by law for
the establishment at some eligible and cen
trial point of State University" 1 would
direct your attention, then, to the law passed
by Congress, July Cd, 1862, styled can
Act donating public lands to the several
States and Territories, which may provide
Colleges for the benefit of Agriculture and
the Mechanic Arts A wise combination
Of the interests of the State, and just APP
plication of the means which the General
Government should grant, will enable us to
do for education all that an int lgent peo-
pie could ask or desire. 1t is for you to
perfect this combination, and by right leg
islation to receive the benefit of the act of
Congress of July, 1862, which appropriates
to this State for educational purposes, ninety
thousand acres of land. To do this, it will
be necessary for you to express your ac-
ceptance thereof by legislative action,
''within two years from the date of its APP
proval by the President" That date was
July Cd, 1862.
The Constitution declares that peniten-
tiary shall be established. By report 10
the State Legislature, dated July Is, 1861,
Of the Commissioners appointed by the first
Legislature of the State Of Kansas to fix and
determine the location of the penitentiary for
The State of Kansas / learn that ma
jority of the Commissioners decided upon a
site in Delaware township, Leavenworth
county on the 9th day of August, 1861;
that the parties contracting to sell "did not
comply with the agreement between the
Commissioners and them, whereby the said
contract by its own terms became null and
void. | learn further from the report of
the Commissioners, that they made "pur-
chase of another tract of land in Delaware
township, the deed of which is recorded,
and the title of which is reported undoubt-
ed. :" The land thus purchased amounts to
forty acres, and cost the State SIS per acre,
lin such funds as may be appropriated for
that purpose" This appropriation has never
been made The party who.sold forty acres
has never received pay therefor. Though
inc deed to the State of Kansas is perfect"
Common justice demands that this obliga-
ton should be met; besides, wisdom and
economy urge US to build penitentiary,
for the conyicts are heavy expense, and
the cost of supporting them is increasing
daily. The State should be relieved of this
needless and heavy burden, and the con
Victs made to earn their bread. am de-
eidedly in favor of meeting faithfully the
contract the State has made. recommend