Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-02-13
LETTER FROM DOVER.
DoyEn. Fobrnnry am 1s0n

DOVER, February 9th, 1866.
On Thursday afternoon, the bill to pav
the debt due the General Government ont or
the School Fund was called up for consider
alton in the House Mr.. John A. Allderdice
opposed the passage Of the bill, and de-
nounced the project with great earnestness.
He considered the fund sacred trust, and
implorcd the Legislature not to disturb or
divert Investments, which for generation
had been devoted 10 an object SO inseparablv
connected with the welfare and prosperity Of
the state, 1t was not merely that this bill
proposed to take one-fifth of the whole School
Fund, and appropriate it to othcrand foreign
purposes, but that, by its passage, they open
ed Il door which could never be closed -
Future Legislatures, with the example of
such an act, would resort in their financial
extremity 10 the same means Of extrication.
The measure once adopted, destroyed forever
the inyiolabiliiy, which good men had fond.
ly hoped, had long since attached itself TO
the endowment Of the Public Schools. The
bill proposed that the Trustee should use TO
pay his own debts the trust funds placed in
his hands and depend upon his future in
come for the faithful execution Of his trust.
The execution Of the trust for thirty years
was n conEecration which should not be pro
ianed. Mr. A. pleaded on behalf Of those
sections oft State where the Public Schools
were weak, and needed all the support and
encouragement the State could give. He
thought it the duty Of the Legislature to
foster and improve our system of schools,
and not to deal blow the result Of which
would he evil, and evil only. | do not pre-
tend TO give even synopsis of his remarks.
but merely few Of the salient points as they
now present themselves. The bill was nut
upon its final passage, and defeated by the
following vote
Yeas-Mcssrs. Adams, Causey, Douglass,
Dyer, Hitch, Messick, Stuart, Todd and
Houston, Speaker, 30.
Nays-Messrs. Allderlice, Eliason, Fow
Ter, Harrington, Hickman, Hoifecker, Jack.
son, Jones, Moore, Paxson and Wilson-11.
But, alas on Friday morning, Mr.. Hick
man moved TO reconsider the vote, which
was accomplished, and the further consider
alton of the subject was postponed until next
Tuesday, Outside politicians, of the ''demo
cratic persuasion, say the bill must and shall
pass, and the prospect now is that it will be
forced through the House.
The Act TO extend the limits of the city of
Wilmington has passed the House by a vote
Of 10 to /, and is now in the Senate, where
it has been referred 10 the Committee on
Corporations.
The Act TO tax the shares of the National
Banks has also passed the House, although
great doubts were expressed as to the validity
of such Il law.
The Senate bill to dispose Of the stock Of
the Farmers Bank held by the State to the
Farmers Bank has been indefinitely post.
poned, and a new proposition has bcen%ub.
mittcd to get rid of the power ofthe State as
a stockholdcr, in case the Bank becomes one
of National character. Imay alludc to this
matter more fully in my next
The Senate has passed bill increasing the
penalties fora violation Of tile license laws
Of the State in the sale of intoxicating
liquors. The frequency of tie offence, and
the impunily with which men violate the
law, render IN increase Of the penalties
ngnly necessary; and it Is =" be hoped the
House will agree with the Senate. and nro.
vide something to check the illegal rnn
traffic