The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1870-09-23
the system, and thus undermine what

the system, and thus undermine what
cannot be directly oyerthrown.
The spirit of invasion, upon the
principles of the Constitution of the
United States, of which we have been
forewarned, has already been abroad,
and it has adopted the very method
of assault specifically pointed out. 1t
has struck at the vital forces of our
system and sought to implant therein
tho essential elements of tyranny. 1t
has attacked the principle of local
self-government in the States, which
Is the chief corner stone of our whole
political fabric. While discounten-
ancing irregular opposition to even
assumed authority ON the part of the
general government in this respect, l
shall not forbear placing on record my
settled conviction that the two propo-
sitions last promulgated as amend
ments to the Constitution Of the Uni
ted States, efiecting as they do such
violence to the inherent and reserved
rights Of tho several States, have new
er been legally sanctioned, and while
we yield to superior force, exercised
Ill the forms Of law, let our Constitu-
ton stand sustained by the will of her
people rs living monument oil the
former dignity of the States of the
Union, and as landmark OF Ameri-
can liberty.
CONVENTION TO AMEND Tng CONSTITUTION
or THE UNITED STATES.
T., A.. ..,... H. -.
plications and inconsistencies into
which the late distracted condition of
the country has thrown our funda-
mental laws, both State and National
Mt the proper time would recommend
that Oregon JOIN with her sister States
III proposing - call for n convention of
NIL the States to- frame amendments to
the Constitution of the United States.
to which. when fairly ratified by the
Legislatures or conventions of three
fomrths of the States, elected upon the
issues submitted, all the States would
eheerfully acqniesee, and conform
the local Constitutions thereto.
This course will probably become
necessary IN order that the coordinate
branches of the general government
be better intrenched in their rights
and that the rights OF tho States be
re-defined and acknowledged.
PUBLIC gJnprS6s.
The State is in want of public build
ings, while every succeeding year
shows that the necessity for their erec-
! ton is growing more imperative
Prudence indeed would dictate that
we proceed slowly with those works,
but nevertheless we saould be making
some progress in this direction.
wonld therefore suggest that provision
he made during the present session for
the gradual erection OF some one Of
.i.~ .---ai:- Ill - 49,
STATE UNIVERSITY AND AagIcsLrUnAL coll
LEoE.
BY the 10th section of the act of
Congress Of September -, 1850, max
ing donations of public lands in Ore
gon, the quantity of two townships of
land was donated TO aid in the estab-
lishment of university in Oregon -
also by the i1th section of the same
act there were granted for the same
purpose, parts of what was known as
"the Oregon claim" BY the 4th sec
ton of the act of Congress of Febru-
aIy 14, 1859, admitting the State OF
Oregon into the Union, il was provid-
ed ''tbat seyenty-two sections of land
shall be set apart and reserved for the
use and support of State University,
to be selected by the Governor of said
State, to be appropriated and applied
in such manner as the Legislature
of said State may prescribe for the
purpose aforesaid, but for no other
purpose.
These lands have been located, and
many of them sold, and the funds ar
ising from the sales have been invest
ed to the use University fund, but in
what amounts / have not now the
means Of stating.
These funds, however, have, by the
terms of the Constitution, been inhib-
tied from.expenditure until the period
of ten years from she adoption of the
Constitution, unless the same should
be otherwise disposed of by the con-
sent of Congress for common school
purposes" The period of ten years
limitation for the adoption of the Con-
stitution has elapsed, and Congress
has not only consented to these funds
being otherwise disposed Of, but has
specially enjoined by an act subse-
quent to the framing of our Constitu-
ton, that as to the seventy-two seo.
tions of land they should be applied
for the use and support of q universe
ty, "but for no other purpose. -
These funds, therefore, are subject to
being marshalled now, and of being
devoted to the establishment of State
University.
i Allied to these provisions of Con.
gress for State University, is the
1 Act of July 2, 1862, making q gram
! of 10000 acres of public lands fol
the establishment of an Agricultural
College. This grant has been accept
ed by the State, and provisions for The
!, location of the lands have been duly
made and the lands have been select
ed and are of excellent quality and 10
cation. For the purpose of establish
ing the Agricultural College within
the time required by the act making
the grant, the Legislature, at its las
session, Designated Corvallis Colleg'
as the Agricultural College of tn,
, State. But this designation was linn
! tied to the term of two years. /
j would appear that to meet the pur
! poses Of the grant, steps for q perma
80 +b,S ;nrtit,f.n an c3, c,,I