SPEECH OF HON. JUSTIN S. MORRILL, OP VERMONT, 

 In the House of Representatives, June 6, 1862. 



The House being in the Committee of the Whole on the state of 

 the Union, and having under consideration the bill donating public 

 lands to the several States and Territories which may provide col- 

 leges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts — 



Mr. Morrill of Vermont, said : 



Mr. Chairman : I shall avail mj^self of the parliamentary privi- 

 lege to-day, of general debate, to make a speech without the pep- 

 per or spice of party or sectional politics, and yet I hope one not 

 without some interest to the House. I shall discuss a measure 

 which has heretofore received a generous support on the part of 

 Democratic members, almost the undivided support of the South 

 American members, (formerly so-called,) and with about two ex- 

 ceptions, the undivided support of the members on this side of the 

 House ; I mean the land college bill, for which I hope to obtain 

 the favor of a large proportion of the present House. 



Mr. Chairman, among all the measures before Congress, since I 

 have been a member^ there have been few, save those designed to 

 maintain the credit of these United States, which my judgment and 

 heart have more approved, than this measure, providing for the 

 education of the industrial classes of the young men of our country. 

 Just in itself, benevolent in its scope, demanded by the wisest 

 economy, it will add new securities to thfe perpetuity of republican 

 institutions. Wronging nobody, it will prove a blessing to the 

 whole people, now and for ages to come. 



The bill, or one like it, has once passed Congress by very large 

 majorities, but unfortunately, among other sins which President 

 Buchanan now has leisure to repent of, is his veto upon a bill of 

 this character. Under more favorable auspices it is now again 

 brought forward. If it passes, as I cannot doubt it will pass, Mr. 

 Slidell, were it convenient for him to be here, would hardly com- 



