New-York tribune., 1873-02-22
PUBLIC LANDS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS


PUBLIC LANDS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
To the Bdttor Of The Tribune.
SIR: A public debt for a Republic is Of
doUotul proprety. 10 would at first view that
thirsty country Ike thrifty man, ought 10 keep clear
ct don't and especially one caused by maadministra-
ton debt contracted by shiftlessness, incapacty
corruption, must inevitably end in Generalization
Contracted been. partly by The errors Of the
people burden 10 remind of past FAULTS
aud ne a caution ior the future but far a weak
policy cOncurred 10 swell large debt to act
KIND of force 20 keep the people In order, s opera
,ion bad, vicious. republican Popular educ-
ou the best force for the conservation of republican
government
one OF the bad consequences Of our immense national
dcbt which is twice II needed 90 have been,
is that enables the character vel as the best,
the traitor Government and society well the
patriot 20 live pensOner the heayilvtxed earn
ugs OF industrious people The worst gambler IN the
world may buy half million OF national Indebted
with the gains OF his infamous prOiessOn and re-
tire 0 Pas wherever else ne peases, and draw more
from the industry of the nation for Lis support than
whole company Of patriots shed their blood 70
the country The question is could not tins debt
be applied better purpose Why not devote Che
public lands 10 buying the bonds of the Government
and distribute these bonds among counties of the
States, among the states Of the Union, for the
purpose of Common school educationl GER
tain amount Of the public lands II not all,
might be divided among the States in pro
portion To their number OF square miles, under the
condition that they shall De appropriated to the purchase
of United States bonds 70 perpetual fund for
Common School purposes within the respective States
under the of the State Legislatures. The
donation of public lands a particular branch Of edu
cation, which necessarily be exclusive In its opera
Un, Tor the higher branches OF education where the
original Common system OF the country needs sup
port is Of doubtful expedeucy. And especially is this
the case where the law ofecting the donation is so
worded that il be carried INTO practical execu-
ton. None OF the smaller States give faithful exc
CutOn Ca the Law which gives public lands Tor dgrcu
1lI COLLEGES. and the result lis am almost universal in
iriIEemeut violation OF the law. The lands are
accepted; bnt few Chc where institutions have
been established i'm strict accord with OF the
law Granting nase lands The law very long, complex,
ana mprlctcaD.c; almost the only result Mas hcu-OL
could well DE from its provisOns-o award so much lard
any one college of each State that viii establish
chair ut practical agriculture a2d mechanic arts IL ls
questionable whether ins DONATION as "ofdri j., the
Law, Las no$been OF more injury IN mcucGtins loose
demolaLzug construction OF law, than 10 LAS done good
by aiding the cause of education.
tits ddcult 10 maintain The district school system Of
education established by the founders of TIE Govern
lheut' esptclaf lh r'ine on 'ht oi.tI o '4
try, under present high taxes ana nigh prices Ine sYs
is valuable Ouc 10 lies 40 the foundation Oh our
repuolcdn GOV. .luueht anu odEl hol l9 DC '4-tlto -
20 20 20 ruin when we have such ready ana proper
means for its preservation The writer Is heavily taxed
lh several Siles OF lAe Cu9u oL "a, VA
schools and s also paving heavy taxes pFopoTton~ly
Why make this debt pay the school taxesi Tie
Government squandcrs tlC common stock OF lands,
fostering secret rings the most demoralZug education
which the people could have It gives an Immigrant
who is Weahler Than veteran sOulera qdTtef ecOh
OF land for nothing, perhans beside thar OF the s0ufr
IN military service, and he pays more school tax
than the soldier though hc may nave three times the
number OF children. This use of the public lands, now
ever h very tger9be i'm c0mp8risJu with some other
that have been made OF them. It was "a iaWI OF
the general poty of the slave States 20 foster COetltc
education rather than that OF common schools. II
fault That ought 90 Doe corrected by the policy OF the
Government. and especially as the application OF the
principles u common school education national, UNI
vcIs.tl. aad equally bcuencunt % ull. y. W T.
Bf,ttlcICTJ', Vermont, Feb. Is, 1853.