The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-11
THEcETTYsRURc ASYLUM
ENTERPRISE.

Although there as been a good deal OF newspaper
and legal discussion upon this subject yet the genera
public do fully comprehend the matter In allls
details. The following plain statement OF facts VIII
shed light upon the whole affair, and enable tho
community to Judge for hemselves;-During the
excitement incident to the Crosby opera house
scheme II occurred to several patriotic gentlemen OF
this city and New York that by similar enterprise
sufficient funds might be raised to erect soldiers
National Home" IL was settled that the oatue-held
of ofGettysburg should be selected as the site.
While the matter under discussion, these gentle
men heard that during the war a large quantity Of
diamonds and other precious stones had been pur-
chased by different parties in the North from the
people of the SOUTH and that this whole valuable col
lection was then the possession OF one gentleman IN
New York 1t proposed to at once announce
the project the public purchase these jewels, and
distribute them among the subscribers.
There were two difficulties in the way OF making
the scheme a success-E FIRST, to find person or
persons willing advance the necessary capital
purchase the Jewels and thoroughly advertise the
enterprise in every Journal in the loyal states, aud
assume all risk of failure; and, second, to secure
charter the purpose from the Legislature of either
New York or Pennsylvania. Two gentlemen vouu.
teered to provide the capital provided the enterprise
was properly chartered by the Legislature and they
were permitted retain profit for themselves as
consideration for the risk and labor Incident to Its
management The plan was Immediately laid
before General Meade; he Informed of the method
by which the funds we're to be raised, that the
gentlemen who undertook the risk were TO retain
profit for themselves, and that when the enterprise
was organized its management was to pass Into the
hands of those who had agreed to incur the
of its conduct With this distinct understanding
General Meade consented to the of his name as a
corporator. Generals Beaver, Peunypacker, and
Sicke also cons ened to the of their names A bill
was drawn and submitted to Senator McConaughy, of
Gettysburg, who, after altering and amending itin
many material points, read 1t in place, and 1t passed
unanimously. 1t afterwards called mp in the
House. and after considerable discuss on passed
by that body. Three days afterwards, 1t was
messaged back to the Senate and signed by the Gov
ernor. Had it been necessary to Smu0gLe this bill
through the Legislature, would. after its passage
have been quietly buried, to be exhumed after the
adjournment. But such not the case The cor
poIators were Immediately notified to assemble
the l4th of March at p NJ. (the bill passed the
8lh), and Generals Beaver and Pennypacker
teegraphed to also. General Meade waited upon
| personally and urged to be present. but pre-
vented by reason of a previous engagement to visit
| New York. Generals Beaver and Pennypacker
were also prevented from being present, the
former by painful accident On the l4th of March,
at the time appointed. two corpOratOrs present
in person. General Sickel and Mr.. Bergen, and Gene
raj Pennypacker was represented by General Coils.
under power of attorney. At this first meeting the
whole object of the enterprise and the means to
accomplish the end fully discussed aud The gen.
| tlemen who were to advance the necessary capital
| and assume all the rick of success failure
| elected members of the corporation, and some of
| them appointed Board Of Supervisors
duct the scheme to raise funds for the erection and
maintenance of this Institution, as provided for by
the actor the faithful performance OF which duty
! they filed their bonds for S25,OOO each.
The act provides that before exercising any OF the
privileges conferred by the charter the corporation
shall pay into the State Treasury the $4,000
which is to be at once applied to the preservation of
| the battlefield. When this amount was paid in by
the Board OF Supervisors, General Sckel directed
| in wiring by George q. Meade, President" pay
said amount to the state Treasurer. in compli
anAwith the act but the State Treasurer declined to
redefve tine money, and in this he sustained by
the Honorable Benjamin Harris Brewster, Attorney
General.
In consequence OF published letters of the Attorney
General, second meeting of the corporators was at
| once caed-at which al the original corporators
present. and the minutes of the previous meet
ing were adopted-at this meeting General Meade
the President that "h fully understood that
the fumes the erection of the institution were to
be raised by gift disl rbution that he knew that the
parties who undertook the management of the
prise would realize profit fkr themselves and that
he knew the management OF the affair to pass
| into other hands upon the organization of the
| corporation. But he objected to the proba-
bilty OF the Board of Supervisors reaping "a
large and unlimited profit for themselves" He then
rendered his resignation, which accepted stating
that the Attorney had informed him that the
! duty withdraw; which, of course, neither the
poraton the Board of Supervisors could object
! General James A. Beaver who has lost leg in his
cOuntrys service, was a0ih his fL consent, immedl-
aely elected TO fill the vacancy, and General Scke
was, eOih his f CONSENT retained Treasurer. Gen
eral Pennypa cker who had received orders report
at Nashville that account, and other, resigned
his membership, first entering upon the minutes his
ratification of the action of General Coils under his
! power of attorney. SO much for the allegation that
/ The Corporators have repudiated the enterprise.
The foregoing Is the history of the conception,
design, and organization of this Enterprise. Now
! few words TO the IMMENSE PROFIT TO be realized
by the Managers. The Board of Supervisors having
already incurred heavy expense have based their
yertisement for their "First Disposition" upon their
Intention reimburse themselves for large expenses
of printing engraving, and advertising which will be
materially Iessened the enterprise is thoroughly
known and appreciated and therefore have been COM
peed to ask for 200 subscribers at IS These
subscriptions will be received by about 2OOO agents,
and when the books ordered TO be closed,
$4,000 certificates will remain undisposed Of scattered
amongst these different agents-and even this will be
! esteemed grand success.
! The receipts and expenses will then stand thus
| Cross receipts from subscribers...... S325OOO
| Commissions to Agents ~ per CENT. $4,000
! Government Tax per cent.',.,.,.... l6,25U
/: Cerihed value OF property distr-
! AdyertiSing in every Northern news
! SO each .. ............. $4,000
4 Printing, engraving, postage, eLc..~. 1880
! CLERK 4,OOU
/ iii rIy acres OF land at GetlysOurg.. 1900
, Rent and office expenses. .........."... 1850
! 10 the state OF Pennsylvania; TWO
! payments OF $1,000 each. ............... 10000
4 PhoFlT.",.. lS,20O