PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR 481 consideration some views and suggestions in relation to it which are the •results of investigation. As the neglect to establish such a system by the Mexican Govern• ment, was one of the causes of complaint set forth in the declaration of Independence of this Nation, and as the matter was neglected both by the Executive & the Congress, during the administration of your predecessor, notwithstanding a very strong Memorial was presented to Congress, at its session in the Spring of 1838, it was with feelings of sincere gratification that your call of the attention of Congress to the subject, immediately on entering on the duties of your office, was regarded. ·with no less pleasurable feelings have this community witnessed the response which was promptly.& liberally made by the Congress to that Call. · There are some features of the late law, 54 worthy of attention, in order to improve it to the best advantage, and on which I beg leave, with all deference, to make a few remarks, before entering on the subject of forming a System of Popular Education. The late law would seem, from its tenor, to have contemplated the provision of a separate fund for Academies and Schools for each County in the Republic. It does not expressly [provide] thuswise[ 1), and very fortunately so, because it must be evident that such a course would be unequal in its effects upon different sections of the Country. There are many Counties, where very valuable and choice lands cannot be had at this time, and if such Counties (which are the most populous and therefore in most need of good schools and financial aid, immediately) are compelled to derive their funds from lands located in other counties less populous, they must make a sacrifice of those lands, and receive less benefit from them, than the less populous· Counties would do, which will not need aid for some time to come. In addition to this consideration, every County will have a separate organization and mode of disposition of its funds, and [some will] have a much better fund for the purpose than others. If the appro• priation were made a General fund under the Control of officers ap• pointed by the Government, it would seem a uniform System of Edu• cation and a uniform distribution of the benefits of the fund. In the locat1on of land for this fund, much advantage might accrue from the appropriation of some of those valnable lands that have been confiscated to the Government. Others might be obtained by making an exchange of school lands, with the owners of lands in the midst of compact settlements as there are few persons who own several Thou• sand acres of land 'in a body, who would not willingly exchange a few hundred acres for the same quantity of land more remote from settlements considerinO' themselves amply remunerated in the in• creased val~e of the re~ainers of their tract, by having a School or Academy established upon part of it. In the organization of a System, the following suggestions are re• spectfully submitted. . That a Chancellor of a University be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and Consent of the Senate who shall hold ,.The act of Jan. 26, 1839; ,see Gammel, H. P. N., Laws of Texas, II, 134.
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