Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-04-17

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES OF THE STATE UNI.
vERSITY. THE DIFFICULTIES
THROWN IN THE WAY BY RE.
PUBLICAN OFFICIALS.
We surrender much of our space
this morning to the report OF the
meeting of the Board of Trustees OF the
! State University held in Raleigh on
Thursday last. Embodied IN the re
port. says the Raleigh Neacs, will be
found most interesting report from
Colonel Walter L. Steele, as Chair
man of the Committee, appointed at
the previous meeting of the Board, to
examine into the condition of the Uni
versity buildings, the libraries, etc.
. The Committee report the buildings
and grounds as having been greatly
neglected, and furnish an estimate
made by competent carpenter, as to-
= the probable cost Of placing everything
in thorough repair. The correspon-
ldence between Col. Steele and Mr.. Sol
onion Pool, the President of the Uni-l
1yersitv under the late regime, Will be
found extremely significant, showing
The fact that the officials the Unlver-
sity, under Republican appointment,
following the lead of Governor Cald-
well, refuse to recognize the present
Legislative Board, and thus seek to /
thwart the honest effort that is belngl
made to revive this institution. The
KEYS of the libraries were refused the
COMMITTEE as Representatives of the
Board of Trustees, although the aist-
ko,.s agere allOued as indiuiduats to
go through one of them, the keys OIL II
being loaned them as a matter of cour-
tesv to former graduates of the Uni
versity.. This favor was only extended
as to the Philanthropic Library, MIR :
Mason, who holds the keys OF the Col
leee Library, refusing to yield them. :
Messrs Pool and Mason were In pos
session of the keys only as agents OF s
the former Secretary and Treasurer. !
Col. r. ". Lassiter, who had recog-
nized the lew Board and had tw1cef
told them he would deliver all proper
ties under his control. subsequently,
however, and after seeking and obtain
ing legal advice to the effect that theE
present Board 1cos q adlid one, he saws
it not to surrender the property, and s
still refuses to do SO.
Prof. McIver had also formerly de-
clared himself in readiness to delivery
over to the new Board all papers, j
seals. &c, i'll his possession, and had
already delivered Il portion Of them, :
lou. when the demand was made uponI
him for the seal Of the University hes
declined to give it up, stating, we arel
Informed. that he was acting underS
written instructions from Gov. Cald
well.
The Committee recommend that the1
Board OF Trustees at once take steps,
to test the validity Of their appoint ]
lnent in order that these difficulties
may be overcome. In the meantime, ]
Mr.. Andrew Mickie, Of Chapel Hill, |;
a gentleman weli-known for his sterl
ing integrity, has been PLACID III;
charge Of all the University property;
in order to prevent further de 'truc-
ton by neglect.
The people of North Carolina Who'll
feel an interest III the State Univer-s
sitv, aui who desire to further thes
efforts that are being made to leyivei
it, CHI now see whu ii is that wouidi
thwart these measures; who it is that
is placing serious obstacles in the wayl
ii those who can and would makeI
Itl,,~' institution what it was in formers
,days-the pride of every North Caro-
|linian and an honor to the State. 1