Blue hens chicken & Delaware Democratic Whig. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1845-1848, 1847-03-05

70 whom was referred certain Memorials pray
ng the Legislature to annul and revoke the
Charter Of ST. May's College at Wilmington.
The Committee to whom was referred certain
praying the Legislature to annul and
revoke the charter of St. Mary's College, at
granted at tho present session, re-
specially report that, after due reelection, they
consider ii beyond the power of the memorial
;sisa -
Its a seiiled rule Of parliamentary proccel-
ings that proposition once carried cannot bel
questioned again at the same session except
within the limits allowed for reconsideration.
After bill or resolution has been finally acted
on and the paper has gone out of the possess
sion of the House, the time for reconsideration
is past, and no subsequent bill can properly bel
Introduced at the same session inconsistent with
the decision already made. This rule is found
ed on good sense and strong necessity; ior,
otherwise, as has been well said, the time Of
the House may be wasted IN repeated agitations
of the same proposition, so that it can never
know when question is finally determined.-
This rule may yield to extraordinary emergen-
cles, but the committee do not deem the present
to be crisis demanding its Infringement
The charter of st. Mary's college has passed
from the control of this General Assembly and
become the law of the land. 1t must stand as
the decision of this body, and can be revoked
only by subsequent Legislature. The COM
milee further entertain the opinion, that even
were the question again properly open, the
Legislature would be bound by every consid-
Grafton OF justice to maintain the position they
nave taken. The charter referred TO is an or
binary act of incorporation, the whole effect of
which is to invest an association of persons
with the powers, and subject them 10 the liza.
blities which pertain to corporations created
for literary purposes. Such powers have here
toiore been very literally bestowed by the leg
islature; indeed grants of corporate privileges
seem to have been limited by no other consid-
Grafton than the lawfuness of the object fol-
which the persons seeking them have associa-
ted together Hence charters have been freely
conferred upon associations for the purposes OF
internal improvements, for facilitating the pur-
suits of industry, 70. the diffusion of education
for the promotion of benevolent and religious
enterprises, in short, for all objects in the ac-
accomplishment o! which men may unite their la
Dor and wealth consistently with public poll
cy and the laws Of the land. In the present
instance, the Legislature has granted chartel
TO certain citizens of this state, OF highly re-
spectacle character, for the purpose of establish
ing a seminary of learning within her borders
Considered as a mere act of Incorporation there
is, therefore, no ground of objection. But II IL
urged by The memoralsts that the proposed in
siitution is to be under the control and manage
ment of Roman Catholic instructors, by whom
the principles of the Romsh religion will bi
discontinued among the youth intrusted to thei
charge. The committee do not consider this
valid objection. The Legislature of this Stat
has never to their knowledge, denied to any O
the various denominations of the Protestan
Church all the facilities which charter afford
for carrying out the purposes of education i
connection with the objects OF their eccleslash
i cal association. Schools and seminaries Q
learning originated by thepatronage and cor
Quoted by the direct control of the several Pro
! testant churches, have been incorporated. Del
ware College, an institution always under th
management Of ministers of the Protestant ialti
!. and at present greatly devoted to the interest
of the New School Presbyterian Church, ha
! enjoyed not merely the ordinary powers of il
!. corporation, but even the peculiar favor and pa
tronage Of the State.
: 1t appears, therefore, that in granting chai
= ter to Saint Mary's College, the Legislator
o only conceded to a portion Of our fellow cit
It zens of one religious sect, the same advantage
= for educating their children, according to th
? principles of their own faith, that have at a
e times been freely bestowed upon others. Thu
: much seems to the committee a matter of RICH
Is which the Legislature could not deny to the Pr
e TONERS, However at variance the religious {
e pinions Of Roman Catholics may be with thos
d entertained by the majority Of our people, the
I are nevertheless citizens subject to the commo
!, duties, sharing the common burdens, and 9her'