Smyrna times., 1859-02-24
F,Tee CUlith. =. Meeting.

A number of gentlemen ia vorable to the es.
| tabllshment of free college in Delaware, mel
in the Hall of the House Of Representative,
at Dover, on Thursday evening, February l7,h
and on motion of Judge Layton, HIS Honor
Judge Houston was called to the Char; and
on motion Of Lewis Thompson, Esq, s Nj.
Harrington. Jr-, was appointed Secretary.
Judge Layton introduced to the meeting
Professor Thompson, OF Wilmington, who, after
stating briefly the outlines OF the Bill propo, ed
proceeded to urge upon the consideration OF the.
Legislature, the necessity of InaugnratIng at
once some such plan IN order 10 meet the wants
OF The citizens of our republic.
Prot Il. spoke at length of the educational
movements, aud progress IN other States, and
especo ly IN the States of New York nd Penn
sy lvanla, IN which he had been laborer for
the last twelve or fifteen years He closed
with some remarks enforcing The necessity OF
Normal school, as principal feature in the
plan proposed, and argued the proprIety OF the
present movement from the reflex bene tic ia In.
huence of such an Institution upon tie primary
schools
Rev. George +. Wiswell. and Rev. Thomas
VI. Cam also addressed the meeting, after
which Judge Houston was called tor and re.
sPonded IN quite a lengthy speech.
lie was fully prepared TO say that the present
System was very far from what was needed, n nd
thai he believed the people of every part of the
State was fully prepared for a change for the
better The first great trouble Is the insuff- |
cheney of the funds for the support Of schools, |
aud another, the present method of raising
lakes Tor their support.
We now look upon our schools as fthey were
exclusively for the poor, and so long as such Is
he case, they never will become popular, and
% make them what they should be they must
'e so improved that they will meet the wants
u the entire community, and be supported by
direct tax, let il cost what it may. He said
was the business of the State to educate the
hlldren as they should be, and he believed
when such a system was thus established, the
'eople would willingly pay the expense.
Judge layton being called for, SAID that he
1Ily conceded with the views expressed by the
thor speakers, and would like to give his own
Jews at length, if they should be needed at
ny future time. He said i.e was a member of
he House when Ihe present system was ado pied,
nd he then sa the trouble that would arise :
nder it, but that it was the best thing that 6
Oud be done at that time. lie said he was
zen and always had been in favor of a system !
graduation in the public schools, from the
rImary school to the college, and the whole be
lPporled by direct taxation.
lie said ifthere was not time ut this session
mature and act upon plan, he would sug-
est the appointment of committee by the y
escnt Legislature, TO take the whole business "
charge, and report at the next Legislature, y
ERECTED system at an carly day Of the session. y y
George p. Fisher, Esq, being called for, said u
at he fully coincided with Judge Layton's u
ar for getting the subject before the next Le- a
stature. lie said that several efforts had o
en- made heretofore, but generally too late 10
e session to be properly considered. lie
ped and believed the present effort, if prop. T
y attended to, would be more successful i
N. b. Smithers, Esq, advocated the appoint
mt of a Committee of the Legislature to pre-
re and mature bill. He differed only in re-
rd to the time, not to the policy of establish be
such an institution. On motion the meet. ne
adjourned. co