Huntsville gazette., 1882-04-29
Mr.. Slater's Letter.

To Mess.s. Rutherford B. Hayes. Of Ohio
Morrison r. Waite. Of The District Of Colum-
tia; William Z Dodge. Of Ne.e- FORK;
Phillips Brooks. Of Massachusetts,; Daniel C.
Gilman. Of Maryland; John A. Stewart o
Ne,o- York; Alfred II. ColquM, Of Georgia;
Norris K. Jesup. Of Nsu York; james P.
Boyce. Of Kentacky and William A. Slater,
of Connecticut:
GEsEl.xIEs WAszsss III hny DHHssiasss Hs1asas
and to put it into my power to apply to
charitable uses y sum of mOney 80 cOnsid.
srabie as to require the counsel of wise
men for the administration of it, it II my
desire ut this time to appropriate to such
invite you to procure charter of iucorpa-
ration under which y charitable fund may
bs forever held exempt from taxation, and
under which you shall organize; aud ill.,
tend that the corporation, ~ soon Az form
ed, shall receive this sum in trust to apply
the income Of it according to the instruc-
tions contained III this letter.
The general object which l desire to
have exclusively pursued is the uplifting
of the lately emancipated populations oi
the Senthern States and their posterity BY
comforting on them the blessings of Chris
tian education. The disabilities formerly
suffered by these people and their singular
patience and fidelity in the great crisis OF
the nation establish Just claim on the
sympathy and goodwill Of humane and
patriotic men. I cannot but feel the COM
passion that is due in view of their prevail
ing ignorance. which exists by no fault OF
their own. But it is not only for their
sake, but also for the safety Of our common
country, in which they have been invested
with equal political rights, that am desir-
ous to aid in providing them with the
.. means OF such education As shall tend to
make them good men and citizens -edusa-
. ton ia which the instruction of the mind
in the common branches of secular learning
shall be associated with training in Just
notions of duty toward God and man in
the light Of the Holy Scriptures. The
means to be used in tho prosecution OF
the general object above described leave
TO the discretion of the corporation. only
indicating. as lines of operation adapted
to the present condition of things, the
training of teachers from among the peo-
pie requiring to be taught, if. in the opin-
ion OF the corporation, by such limited &C.
lection the purposes Of the trust can be
best accomplished, and the encouragement
OF such Institutions O. are most effectually
useful in promoting this training Of teach
err. An vell aware that the work herein
proposed is nothing now or uDtried. And
it is no small part Of my satisfaction in
taking this share in it that hereby asso-
ciate myself with some of the Doblest en-
terprise of charity and humanity. and may
hepe TO encourage the prayers and tolls OF
faithful men and women who have labored
and are still laboring in this cause.
wish the corporation which you are In
vieed to constitute to consist at no time OF
more than IL members nor of less than 8
for longer time than may be required fol
the convenient filing Of vacancies, which
desire to be filled BY the corporation, and
wsen found practicable, at its next meeting
after the vacancy may occur. I designate
q the Arst President of the corporation the
Hon. Rutherford B. Hayes, Of Ohio. De
sire that it may have power to provide
from the income of the fund, among other
things for expenses incurred by members
in the ful6llment of this trust, and for the
expenses Of such officers and agents a. II
may appoint, and generally to do all such
acts ~ may be necessary for carrying out
the purpose Of this trust / desire, If it
may be, that the corporation may have full
liberty to Invest its funds according to its
own best discretion, without reference 70
or restriction by any laws or rules. legal or
equitable, OF any nature, regulating the
mode Of investment Of trust funds; only