The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-12-26
Donation of Land to this State by Con-
gress, for an Agricultural College.

s Z" Hts
ton, a bill passed one house Of Congress to
withdraw from the State for the present the
land granted some time since for an Agricul-
tural College This grant was made under
a general law, and the present organization
of the district formerly comprising the
State of North Carolina" which was set
up" and is continued "under martial law,
made haste by legislative action to claim
this gift. But not SO fast, says loyal Con-
gress. A bill is put in and passes one house
to suspend or postpone the gift; whereupon
Gov. Swain, Judge Rufin, and Gov Worth,
in the plentitude of their legal wisdom, with
shrewdness which woulh reflect credit on
the keenest " Yankee whom they hold in
such great aversion, conceived the idea that
if the Legislature could be induced to trans
fer the gift to the corporation Of the Univer-
sity, before the bill passed the other house and
became law, it would vest in that corpora
tion, and all the power of Uncle Sam could
not draw it thence. Therefore, Gov. Swain
telegramed the Legislature to do this thing,
and thus prevent the moustrous wrong about
to be consummated by the Congress. Many
an anxious eye of the governing clique had
been fastened on this land, and many hand
had itched to handle the greenbacks that
would be disbursed in managing and selling
it. The Senate acted promptly, but the
Commons hesitated. Some hard things were
uttered about Gov Swain, and some good
words were uttered for other institutions of
learning besides Chapel Hill. The Reporter
says the /" resolution in response to Gov.
SWANS telegram " went over" in the Com
mons, and we hope it will continue to go
over" and over," until it lands in a limbo
vast and large"
But our three wise men who went to Wash
ington and put up at the Ebbitt, the OBJ
served of all observers, carrying with them
as much legal knowledge as would enable
them to invent this happy telegram, seem to
have overlooked the fact that the district
formerly comprising the State of North Car
olina," is not yet restored as State to its
constitutional relations to the federal gov
ernment, and could not, therefore, accept this
gift. If it could not accept it, it could not
transfer it to the University. So the tele-
gram, the hurry in the Senate to respond to
it, and the debate in the Commons on the
subject, must all go for nothing.
We are not surprised at the action of Con-
gress. Indeed, we trust it has suspended or
postponed this gift Our loyal people do not
want this or any other donation 70 pass INTO
the hands OF the disloyal Organization set
up under martial law" which is now con-
trolling our affairs Let the State be restored
to the Union on loyal basis before this gift
is made good; and when this shall have
been done, we have the assurance that not
only this, but millions, if necessary, will be
donated or loaned to the State for education
| al and internal improvement purposes. We
speak "by the book" But not now. Our
loyal people say not now. But the day will
come, and it is not distant, when the national
government will shower its favors on the
people of North Carolina, without regard to
race or color. 1t is a great, magnanimous,
benefcent government, and it will act accor-
dinghy. But it does not intend that traitors
shall handle its money or have controlling
voice in disposing of its donations
The following are the resolutions offered in
the House of Representatives on the subject
On motion of Mr.. Julian, the rules were
suspended that he might offer the following
preamable and joint resolution:
| Whereas on the Sd day of April, 1866, by
| the authority and direction of the President
/ of the United States, agricultural college
scrip covering 270,000 acres was issued and
4 delivered to the State of North Carolina un-
der the act of Congress of July 5, 1862, pro-
1 viding for agricultural colleges; and where
as by the same authority the General Land
Office is now preparing to issue scrip in like
manner to the States of Virginia, Georgia,
| and Mississippi; and whereas said action OF
| the President takes for granted that said
States are restored to their proper constitu.
tiunal relations to the Union, and are to be
recognized in all respects as entitled to the
rights of the other States of the Union, which
Congress alone can rightfully determine
therefore,
Reso1Ued By the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentotioes Of the United States, That the fur
ther issue and delivery of such scrip to any
of the vet unrepresensed States lately in re-
bellion against the United States, or the
acceptance Of such scrip or any heretofore
issued by the registers or receivers OF any o.
the land officers of said States, be and the
same is hereby prohibited until said States
shall be fully restored to their rights as States
by Congress.
| Mr.. LIE Blond, of Ohio, moved to refel
the preamble and resolution to the Commit
tee on Reconstruction. Lost.
The resolution was adopted.