Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-08-16
THE MEETING OF CITIZENS IN
BEHALF OF sal FEslaFEsD
COLLEGE,.

number OF citizens assembled III So'-
lege Hall on Saturday evening last.
The meeting was organized by calling
HENRY SHEPHERD, Esq. TO the
Chair, and appointing Jos. S. FLEMING,
Esq, Secretary.
At the request of Hon. a. Il. Bote-
Ter, Geo. NJ. Beltzhoover, Esq, stated
the object of the meeting, which was
in brief, to consider the ways and means
of carrying on the school III the future.
The school was now dependent entirely
upon its own resources; the gratuitous
education heretofore given to young
gentlemen and ladies preparing them,
selves for teachers, had TO be suspended
unit, the State should again extend Its
aid for that purpose the purpose OF the
Regents is to keep the same course OF
studies as now, and to confer the same
honors and privileges, but the teachers
must look TO the patrons and friends OF
the school for their supporl-"iheir
bread and meat" Under these clrcum-
stances, it is essential for the teachers
to know what they may look forward
TO, and the friends of the school are ex-
pec,ed to give not only their good
wishes bat also something more sub
stantal. The success OF the school VIII
be a blessing to the community and
pecuniary benefit to the town.
The Hon. A. II. Boteler followed Mr.
Beltzhoover, heartily secording his re-
marks, and urging upon the citizens to
do their whole duty. He said this town
in days past had never failed to sustain
one or more good classical schools, and
that such is now the contest between
skilled and unskiled labor, that youth
are compelled to have better educa-
ton than formerly in order to compete
successfully in any occupation. The
very cheapness of the school places 1t
within the reach Of all and affords an
opportunity TO many that would other
wise he denied the means OF gaining an
education. The good the school has
already done is an evidence OF what 1t
will do in the future. Its graduates are
now filling important and responsible
positions in life, and as time rolls on
the influence of these will be felt more
and more in society and the good that
they will exert cannot lie measured by
dollars and cents. Mr.. Boteler closed
by offering the following resolutions:
WHEREAS. Next to the culture Of NOR
ais and religion it is the highest interest
of the community 20 extend education 10
all classes of the people, and in order to
do this it is necessary that il be made IL
its rudimentary branches FREE and III It's
higher branches CHEAP; and rs 1t has
been found absolutely essential for the sue
cessful conduct of education that there be
intermediate schools between the primary
schools and the University-sucha - acad-
emies, high schools and collrgcS-with,
of late years, Il normal department at
tachcd for the gratutous education OF
teachers for free schools, thus aiiOrding
to a large humber Of the young OF both
sexes, and especially TO the poor, the re-
quisite facilities for fitting themselves for
useful situations not otherwise attainablc
by them; and
WHEREAS, West Virginia, in common
with other States, having acted wisely
and in accordance with the advanced civ
iliZatiom of the age in establishing SIch
schools in different parts of the State, for
which the several Legislatures previous
to the last have annually and very prop
erlv made suitable provision, unintlucn-
ced by the objection which few have
raised against said schools that they are
''ocal''-an objection without either force
or Justice, since all schools are, in a like
sense, local; the benefits deriyable from
them, as also from the University and
other State Institutions, being necessarily
greater to those living in their immediate
vicinity, but no less valuable on that ac-
count TO the State at large-an absolute
equality in that respect being impossi-
bic; and
WHEREAS, We citizens OF Jefferson
County-and the same may be said of our
fellow citizens OF Bcrkclcy-are forced TO
submit 10 the unequal burden Of taxation
which the general school law imposes
upon the people of our county and which
annually applies to school purpose in
trans-Alleghany counties many thousand
dollars of the amount collected from us
over and above what is expended for our
own public schools; and
WHEREAS, OF the very large sums rails
ed by taxation, TO which we have always
contributed our full proportion and which
has been expended in school buildings
and cndOwmcnts west of the mountains,
together with the proceeds of the public
lands donated to the State for educational
purposes by the United States. amounting
in the aggregate to several hundred thouS-
and dollars, not one cent has been spent
in this portion of the State, our admirable
College Buildings having cost the State
nothing, though some $4,000 have been
spent in their erection, but have been
made free to the State for school purposes
under perpetual lease by the muniiicent
liberality of Shepherd Brooks, Esq, of
Boston; therefore be it
Resolved, That in our opinion-which
we believe to be the opinion also Of the
friends Of education throughout the State
and the unanimous sentiment of the in
telligent people in this part Of 1.-THE
Legislature of West Virginia, in refusing
at its last session to make any provision
whatever for the continuance of the Nor
nal Schools, was derelict in its duty and
deserves the reprobation of the people.
Resolved, That the thanks OF the public
are Justly due to the State Superintendent
of Free Schools, Prof. Pendleton, and his
associates of the Board of Regents, for the
personal interest they have evinccd III the
success of Normal Schools and Tor the en-
couraging assurances they have given us
in regard to that of Shepherd College.
Resolved, That the Trustees of Shop
herd College be and are hereby requested
to memOrialize the next Legislature
which we trust will be an Improvement
on the last-to remedy, so far as it can,
the lamentable omission of its predecessor
by making a reasonable appropriation for
Shepherd College and for such other
~ fn IL
vance the educational interests of the
State.
Resolved, That, meanwhile, VIC will
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