American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-12-13

rated upon the outline of principles set
forth. This summary way of obtaining
our consent, aud making it the grounds
for obtaining law to sell our property,
is doctrine, and precedent, that we
feel bound to protest against.
Aside from the very Objectionable plan
for obtaining the consent of the citizens
Of the county, to this proposed consolida
tion, it is still not clear of sectaran bias,
nor of sectarian suspicious notwithstand-
ing the denial contained in the address.
We are not told how our money is to be
used in this consolidation scheme. We
would like to know If it is to be applied
20 the extension of the WitherspoOn
building, or for the purchase ofan exten-
siye library, or the sallarys of professors,
and assistant teachers, musicians, &c
We suppose the "Butler county Insti
tute" is not TO be an endowed institution
the Academy fund could uot make it
such. If the small sum of $1,000 is to
be applied to the sallsries of professors,
and assistents it would be of little use to
the people at large although it would
doubtless be desirable for the professors
themselves. We feel bound to guard
against such disposition of our proper.
ty. We have not been told the reason,
why the presbyterian presbytery desires
an equal number of trustees in this con
templated institution. We can see that
if these four presbyterian trustees can.
not have their way, in the choice of pro-
iessors and teachers, they could bring the
institution to dead lock We see that
religion is to be taught, now if the peO.
pie of the county should elect presby-
terrain for trustee they could dictate the
kind of religion that must be taught, aud
thus give religious bias to the institu
ton. If those who assume to control the
policy of very respectable Sect of the
christian religion, desires to strip this
contemplated Butler Comfy Institute, of
all taint or suspicion of sectariansm, let
them make it a Butler Couty Institute
not only In name, but in fact by allow
ing the citizens of the county to elect six
trustees in the usual way, at their annu-
al elections. whose duty it would be to
conduct the Institution under a well
guarded charter of incorporation. This
would place the presbyterian sect, in a
high position for liberality in regard to
education and religious opinions
We agree with the trustees in but one
thing, and that is, that it is time some
disposition Of this Academy property
should be made. In their address, they
have stated, and answered in a very brief
way, number of propositions for the dis.
posal Of this property; but no one seems
w NuiI tHcif ttSte Dut lllls one OF cUuSul-
ida''aD The proposition, that this prop.
erty should be sold and together with the
other funds, invested in a small farm, or
site, to build poor house for Butler coun
ty, is disposed Of by asking question
" Would this be carrying ont the original
design p We say much more so, than
the blending it with $ ctarian Institu.
ton. We say that this proposition for
poor house, is the one for which the peo.
pie of Butler county, are in favor of, by
an overwhelming majority their inter
ests, and their benevolence, both prompt
them to it. The Butler Academy has
served its day, and has fully carried out
the design, of the noble men, who found
ed it. 1t was necessity for the poor
emigrants, who cameso Butler county, 10
the beginning of the present century
This necessity no longer exists. We have
our abundance Of common schools, and
more higher institutions of learning than
are well patronzcd. The next greatest ne
cessity.in the countyis Poor House, We
find a precedent for 1t, in all the surround
ing counties.
If the Trustees of the Butler Acade
my, wish to represent their constituents
fairly, let them exercise themselves, in
fair way, by getting petitions, Gunner.
ously and respectfully signed) to the Leg
islature Of Pennsylvania, asking the pas.
sage Of law authorizing the Trustees Of
the Academy to call an election of the
citlzeus of the county, at their spring
Notwithstanding it the duty of the of.
fcers, to conduct the election, under the
laws regulating elections, in this common
wealth; for the purpose of deciding, be-
tween a poor house; aud this proposition
for consolidation, with the Witherspoon
Institute. In this way on y, can fair
OF the citizens of the county
be obtained. There are thirty.six
townships and boroughs in the county,
and there are probably an average of two