Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-03-05
The Harper's Ferry Property.

In the Senate on the Both of February, the
following proceedings took place
Mr. Wilson called up the bill providing for
the sale Of the lands, tenements and water
privileges belonging to the United States at
llarper's Ferry.
Mr. Wilson, from the committee on military
affairs, reported an amendment to donate GER
tain portions of the lands to a college chartered
by the Legislature of West Virginia, and that
other portions now occupied by religious and
charitable societies shall be donated To them.
Mr. Hendricks did not know for what reason
this property should he given TO West Virginia,
and also objected to the sale being made under
the direction of the Secretary Of War, with no
restrictions whatever.
Mr. Ramsey said this place was the scene Of
the exploits Of John Brown, deceased, and in
order to meet the objections of the Senator, he
would move ,hat the land be given to the heirs
of John Brown deceased.
Mr. Hendricks Senator from Mime
sofa has perfect right to give away his own
property to the heirs of John Brown or any
body elses heirs, hut he Mr.. H. objected to
his night to give away the property Of the peo-
pie of Indiana and Of the other people of the
United States; property which had been bought
and paid for 10y the peoples money.
This episode shows that Ramsey has the
basencss, but not the courage of John Brown
After some further discussion about grants
Of lands to Western States,
Mr. Wiley explained the provisions of the
bill. 1t WAS not proposed to donate any of the
improved property OF the government and be-
fore anything was given, the original cost was
to be returned to the government.
Mr.. COukliug asked what was the value of
the property.
Mr.. Wiley said about million of dollars
This WAS for the purpose of increasing the
school fund of West Virginia. they were poor
and ignorant there; they had been the outside
barbarianS Of old Virginia. They were striv-
ms hard to educate their people, and hoped
the governmentWould give them this assistance.
The amendment Of the committee was then
adopted.
Mr.. Wiley offered an amendment that the
sale shall be by public auction, of which sixty
days notice shall be given by advertisement III
one newspaper in each of the cities of Wash
ingtou, New York and Cincinnati, and that
the credit SHALL be one and two years, with
bond and security satisfactory to the Secretary
of War.
In answer to a question from Mr. Howe, Mr..
Wiley replied that he had no doubt the prop
erty would realize all the amount the govern
meut had expended upon it.
The amendment Of Mr. Wiley was agreed to.
Mr. Buckalew offered an amendment secur-
ing to the United States the amount of money
expended Adopted
The bill was then passed.
1t would have been more just and equitable
to provide that the government should indem-
Nifty the poor inhabitants of Harpers Ferry for
the outlay made by them in the purchase of
lots on the implied faith thatthe Armory would
be continued there. The United States gave
the Harper and Wager families but little more
than seven thousand dollars for property which
lIr. Wiley admits to be worth million of
dollars. No one can doubt that this low price
was taken on the implied pledge Of its perpet-
ual Use by the government as an Armory.-
But why give the proceeds to a college? Why
not dihuse the benefits to the common schools?
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