Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-03-12
Sale of Government Property at Har-
per'g Ferry.
Donation TO Storer CoHege-Swplas 10 60 TO
the Vest Trginia Free School Fund.

ment property at Harpers Ferry was passed
by the Senate short time since, the provisions
of which possess some interest for our West
Virginia readers. The following are the sub
stantial provisions of the bill as passed:
1t proposes to direct the Secretary Of War
TO make public sale Of TIE lands, tenementS,
and water privileges belonging TO the United
States at and near Hsrper's Ferry, in the coun-
~ Of jefferson, West Virginia, except as pro-
yided in the Cd section, in such parcels and on
such terms as shall, in his opinion, be best a
dapted to secure the greatest amount Of money
therefor; and the proceeds of the sale are to be
applied by him as follows:
Frst-ln deiraying the expenses Of making
the sale.
Secona-In refunGing to the United States
the principal sum of purchase money paid for
the lands and water privileges by the United
States; and
Third-lf any surplus remains, he is to de-
liver it to such agent as the Legislature Of the
State of West Virginia shall appoint tn receive
it but upon condition that such surplus shall
he received by the State of West Virgioia. to
be set apart. held. invested used. and applied
as part of the school fund Of that State, I'M
der, and by virtue Of, and in manner and form
as provided in section first Of the tenth article
of the constitution of West Virginia, and for no
other purpose.
The Secretary Of War is authorized and d.
rected by the "a section to convey by deed to
Storer College an institution Of learning, char
tered by the LEGISLATURE of the State Of West
Virginia, all those certain portions of the afore-
said property and buildings, with the lots on
which they stand. numbered thirty. thir:y-one
and thirty-two, and also building No %, with
enough of the lot on which it stands to give a
breadth of ten rods on High street. otherwise
known as Washington street; all of said build
ings and lots being situate at Harper's Ferry
aforesaid, being the same which have heretofore
been assigned by the War Department to the
Bureau Of refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned
Lands, for educational purposes; and also to
convey by deed to the proper persons all such
other lands and buildings, portions of the afore
said property, as have heretofore been SET apart
by the proper authority for religious, charita-
bic and town purposes.
During the discussion. some interesting facts
were elected respecting Storer College to which
a specific donation is made by the foregoing
bill
In response to an inquiry made by Senator
Howard, who wanted to know something about
the institution, Mr. Fessenden said:
Il can give You the foundation of it, 1t is
founded by the religious sect who are known
in our section Of the country by the name OF
Free-will Baptists-a very excellent set Of peo-
. pie, who have been trying, Of late years, to do
all they can to educate their people Their
doctrine heretofore has been that their ministers
must speak from the grace of God, and not
from any human learning and that if they
gained anything from books it was rather an
injury than otherwise Lately a set Of men
have sprung up among them Of contemplation
who have been matchmaking their people with
p the idea that education was Of advantage
They have established an institution which is a
very promising institution. They became in
tcrested in the subject Of education in these
States in view of the many people to be educa-
ted white and black. and they went to worl;
to collect funds hy contribution among them
selves rs far rs they could, and among other
, people who would aid them. to found an inSti-
tuition FIR the benefit of learning in one Of the
States. land they selected West Virginia. which
should be free to all persons, with Mt diStinc-
, ton Of color, white or black They have rails
ed. as stated. a considerable sum of money
One man gave the amount of $4,000 and
, they have carried it mp to some forty or fifty
thousand dollars They have bought n terri
tory there. They began first Ivy establishing
, a school and were permitted by the Secretary
of War To- occupy certain lots on this territory
, and certain buildings that were there. which
f they improved for the purpose; and now the
, institution has been incorporated by the State
: Of West Virginia. where it is situated. What
, they ask is that those three or four lots that
o have been set apart to them. with the building.
r on them. may bc given to them by the Govern
, mcnt Cor the purpose Of education. II is land
which the Government has a right 10 give. il
, is small matter The oti er matters connect
ed with the bill my friend from West Virginia
. can explain.
In the course Of his remarks upon the bill
r Mr.. Wiley explained:
! This land was purchased originally by the
7 Government for a specific purpose; the Gov
, eminent went on and erected buildings there
for the manufacture Of arms, and in doing SC
I attracted capital and skill and population &c
, that place and It's vicinity. and occaSionei the
, people Of Virginia in the vicinity to invest
p their capital in the erection of buildings there
and to make their homes there and to COM
menCe their business there. When, unfnrtu-
I nately, the rebellion broke out the Govern
, ment works were destroyed, and now, in the
opinion of the Government, it is not any longer
q proper 10 continue those works at that place
f To ascertain what the opinion of the Govern
mcut was in that respect introduced a reSo-
luton in the Senate in May, 1866, referring
the matter 10 the War Department to ascertain
what the condition Of things at Harpers Ferry
was and whether it was the purpose Of the
War Department any longer 10 carry on the
construction Of arms at that place. The mat
ter was referred to tie chief of the ordinance
department. who made the following report TO
the Secretary of War which was transmitted
to Congress:
The Government owns at Harper's Ferry
; about seventy-fve acres Of improved land, and
has the right of cutting wood on large tract
of unimprovcd land on the south side Of the
Shenandoah river
That is not included within the operation Of
this hill because that is not in the State Of
West Virginia:
On the improved land there arc twenty-five
dwelling houses, powder magazine, public
stable, repair shop. nine store rooms aud the
ruins Of the former armory shops. Eighteen
Of the dwelling houses are in fair condition :;
the residue rs well rs the main shops the old
armory, have been much injured during the
war, aid are in bad order The powder maya
zine, stable, repair shop, and store rooms are