LAWS concerning the University of Michig LAWS concerning the State Agricultural C THE PRIMARY SCHOOL SYSTEM,...... For Populous Settlements, a better way THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS OF MICHIGAN! AND THEIR FUNDS. The lands set apart for the support of Public Schools in Michigan, comprise one thirty-sixth part of the entire territory of the State. Each township is divided into thirtysix sections of one mile square; and section 16 (a central section) was by an ordinance of the old Congress, in 1785, sequestered "for the support of public schools." The ordinance of 1787, for the government of the Northwestern Territory, declared that "SCHOOLS AND THE MEANS OF EDUCATION SHALL FOREVER BE ENCOURAGED." An act of 1804, making provision for the sale of lands in the Indiana Territory, comprising the present States of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, expressly reserved from sale section 16 in every township, "for the support of Schools." In 1805, the Territory of Michigan was organized, comprising the Lower Peninsula of the present State, and including what is now two tiers of towns on the north border of Indiana, and one tier on the north border of Ohio. In this act, all the rights secured by the above acts were confirmed. In 1828, Congress placed the School lands under the supervision of the Territorial Governor and Council, to protect and lease, so as to make them productive. Nowhere, and at no time, was any disposition shown by the General Government to annul these grants; and the Ordinance of 1836, admitting the State of Michigan into the Union, declares: 1 "That section numbered 16 in every township of tl public lands, and where such section has been sold, or ot erwise disposed of, other lands equivalent thereto, and : contiguous as may be, shall be granted to the State for th use of Schools." The first Territorial School Law was enacted in 182' the year previous to the above action of Congress givin the Territorial authorities power to make use of the Schoo lands. That law ordained that the citizens of any tow ship having fifty householders, should provide themselve with a Schoolmaster of good morals, to teach the childre to read and write. Any township with two hundred house 'holders was required to have a Schoolmaster who coul teach Latin, French and English. For any neglect, th towns were liable to a fine of $50 to $150. This law wa repealed in 1833, and another enacted, providing for thre Commissioners and ten Inspectors; and the managemen of the School lands was transferred from the Governor and Council, to them. This act also created an office of "Su perintendent of Common Schools." The original Constitution of the State declared that the proceeds of all lands granted by Congress for the support of Schools, should "remain a perpetual fund for that ob ject." The same specifications are found in our present Constitution. All the grants from Congress, and our first Constitution, speak of section 16 as sequestered for the support of "Schools," or "Public Schools." But by common consent, this has been construed to mean Common or Primary Schools; and upon this construction all our legislation has been based, for more than twenty years; and it is understood that no portion of the avails of section 16 can ever be used for any other purpose. The original design of Congress seems to have been, to make the avails of section 16 accrue to the exclusive bene |