New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-09
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
TIE NATION AND THE SCHOOLS.
GOVERNMENT AID TO KDCcATiox IN TINE PAST
YIRGIxIA's GREAT GIrr.

GOVERNMENT AID TO KDCcATiOx IN TuE fAsT-
yIRGIxIA's GREAT Girr.
tn fhe Fdifor OF The Tribune.
Sir: After reading the very exceilont aad able article
of Mr. John Jay In your paper Of the 10th insi. was
led to action OF United states ~ soon
ne in position to act II Ia Known that through
cut our Northwestern States there II In them all large
fund derived from school lands" How did this come
aLoutf In 1854 Thomas Jefferson was au horized by
the State of Virginia to tender to Congress yranias
deed ceans her vast Northwestern territory to he held
rs Tho common property OF all the states. This was
previous TO the adoption Of the Constitution SWne
other states followed this example and among them the
State Of CONNECTICUT that State however reserved tho
ownership OF tho land In what Is calod the Western Ro
serve and sold the tract In 1875 for 81 100000 and the
entiro sum apart for the public schools In that
, stste Taeso cessons wcre aeceissi by tho United
states. Tho rel Ort OF the Commissioner OF Education
for the year 1873 says:
The first great National educational act that we shall
10 tas bernniag VI TIE century now closing, and
tho that overshadOws all others, Is found IN the
ordinances OF the Confederate Congress Of 1885 to 1887
Liberty dccrced for that vast territory north OF the
OHIO River. the duty OF cdncation enforced. aud
from tho public domain section, were given ior
providing the means for the end proposed on thcse
acts we may say the history OF the country turns as Oh
n huge.
By acts OF Congress. OF the land In tho tatcs
138h part Of all he sixteenth section square mile,
In every sixmle township set apart to be converted
into permanent fund In each State for supporting CON-
mon schools. This the Law until 1853, when Min
nesota admitted and TO her and the States since nd
mited there have been two sections In town, the six
teenth and thirty -sxth.
The act Of Virginia ceding the Northwest to the Gen
cral Government the country comprised in
the great States of Ohio Indiana Illinois, Michigan and
Wisconsin, and also vague and unsettled claim TO an
unknown Northwest bnt it covered all tho title that the
United had TO the country west OF the Mississippi
River, previous to the purchase OF LOUISIANA The
writer has 10. the OF getting at the quantity OF
land the value thereof thus granted by the
United States TO these great and through these MEANS
Intelligent aud prosperous communities. II all came
the magnanmods and noble oct OF tho old stale OF
Virginia. called sometimes and properly sohe Mother of
Btates In those days there was no doubt In the minds
Of the great that tho United States had the night to
mako grants. Washington said: In proportion rs
the structure OF Government force to public on
on 1t Is essential tnat public opinion should be enght
ened" All the grea: men iu our early history were
earnest friends Of popular education.
Those opposing the Blair bill call II cndicant
BILL" II introduces nenicaney" websers Dictionary
defines meBdicant "a beggar. one taat makes IT his
mendIcon state" There Is not educated In our
country OF American biIh who has not been educated by
the public schools and coegos brought into being 10y the
AID OF states the benehcient gifts OF libcralminded
mon Ana m seems on insult to ea such INSTITUTIONS
delaney, and vet Tho Ncw-York Erening Post " las
ssas tn B b and M s Who
OF thu highest commemorative. " The Pest also says
disposition TO help themselves. AMI II Is better to let
them alone IL they succeed all WELL II not The Post
viii be very sorry. Does 1t not bet ter show the char
actor OF people that reach forth strong hand
and help These who trying 10 help themselves anu
hayo not all vital interest in the Intelligence OF all
fellow citizens. AMI IL II not well for Us TO call to
tho try The descendants of these Vrgpians who
noby conveyed tho great Northwest to the United
states scattered all the South and Southwest
The ali proposed viii stimulate them and create
beggars III that the influence of the gifts OF the
wha: The Evening Post /" calls inendicaney The
country has tho money aid the schuo In the
States. and { cannot but think Tie bill Is esnently
timely and proper.
cannot leave this subject without referring TO an
other. The State OF Virginia as 1t existed at the frsf
dislnemhered by act OF Congress IL was On aot OF
Western Virginia taken from her and became
state IL comprised about Onotbiri OF the old State.
The OF Con src-s did provide that tho state
should fair proportion OF the Stale debt! hut
left 1T all the Old state and was TO her people very
and embarrassing Vow. with tue memories
that cluster around ter. the great she has given 20
and le~ noble and liberal action in convey
ing the great Northwest 10 the General Government.
aud the narshncss Of the measure 10y which Onctbfd or
her area tax frou her. without compensation.
would he creditbe ard just thing for the United
give OF money equal 10 onethird CT the
debt the State excluding what may have been caused
by the Wharf.-The state 20 ice the money IN nqudating
her debt to that extent The writer believes IL would
bc most popular measure lie Is not interested IN
dollar OF her indebtedness. VETERAN.
New York, Feb. 81, 1888.