be devoted to the accomplishment of so desirable an end. "Let us be just before we are generous.' The time may come when our State shall be fully settled, our public debt paid off, our citizens relieved from their embarrassments, are in happy and prosperous circumstances; when our beautiful Peninsula State shall have reached her destiny, and stands forth redeemed, disenthralled and regenerated, the bright particular star among the constellation of her sister States that Nature and Nature's God evidently intended, by the lavish blessings bestowed upon her, that she should occupy. If it should then be deemed expedient to adopt a more liberal policy, some, at least, of the objections that are now urged, will have passed away. Until then, we are most decidedly of opinion that not one dollar that can by any possibility be avoided, should be appropriated for any other purpose.

All which is respectfully submitted.

P. HAYDEN,

Chairman.

No. 6.

S

REPORT of the Committee on Public Lands, relative to the sale of certain University land.

The Committee on Public Lands to whom was referred a "bill to authorize the sale of University land in the county of Ottawa, to James Hudson, at its appraised value," have had the same under consideration, and ask leave to report: That the passage of the bill would be an innovation upon the policy heretofore adopted, dangerous in its consequences, and one that demands and should receive the careful consideration of the Senate.

No good reason can be perceived why the minimum price now required on the sale of University lands, or the policy of adopting such price, should be changed in the particular case provided for in this bill; and if any good reason can be found, it would be difficult to see why all the unsold University lands should not be forthwith appraised at their present cash value per acre, or why the same principle should not be adopted and the same course pursued with the primary school lands yet unsold.

The University and primary school lands have been especially set apart and donated to this State by Congress, for a specific object; the importance of which no one will deny, and in the accomplishment of which, this and each successive generation must act an important part, and be vitally interested in the results.

The case intended to be reached by this bill, is not one where real or constructive injustice has been done the applicant. The lands have not been purchased by him under any misapprehension as to their value. If the applicant is now the occupant, before he took possession of the lands he was bound to know upon what terms he could become the owner, and being himself a trespasser, your committee cannot see by what rule he can have any claims upon the

sympathy of the Legislature, or any just or equitable claims for relief, such as is contemplated by the bill.

It has heretofore been the policy of the State to reduce the price of each separate parcel of the University and primary school lands to a price at which they would be immediately saleable; and your committee do not believe that such should be the policy hereafter. Nothing beyond the interest of the fund should ever be expended; and with proper care in its management and an equitable distribution of such interest, it will for all time to come continue to meet the most sanguine expectations of those who established the fund and originated the policy under which it has been hitherto protected.

Aside from any constitutional provision upon the subject, your committee do not believe that we have the right to appropriate any part or portion of the principal of the University or school fund. It should forever remain sacred and inviolate.

We are but acting in the capacity of trustees; which trust is made, and should be regarded as perpetual and special, with an object as high and holy as any on earth, and we should be particularly cautious how powers not conferred are assumed.

It has been the policy of the State heretofore to so manage these trust funds which have been committed to our charge for the purposes of education, as to have the income increase in proportion to the increase in the number of those who desire its benefit; and your committee are fully convinced that the policy was founded in wisdom, and that it would be a departure from the strict line of duty to abandon it.

If the principle involved in the bill should be carried out, all the university and primary school lands would at once be appraised and sold, the income from which would thereafter be each year the same, whilst the number of those wishing its aid would be steadily but rapidly increasing; thus annually lessening the provision which has been made for their education.

Your committee are aware that this is not the first effort which has been made to establish a precedent, calculated to change the policy of the State in respect to the educational trust funds, and the yearly efforts which are being made, if not for the same object, must