The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-01-24

~ Vhe Neneial ASSEMBLY OF UelaWare'
A citizen and taxpayer respectfully
asks your Honorable Body 10 consider
with fair and candid minds the justice of
making an appropriation for repairs and
additions to the buildings and apparatus
of Delaware College.
His Excellency, the Governor of the
State, whose duty it is to acquaint him
self with the interests of our Common
wealth and communicate his views to
you. has very clearly and emphatically
recommended such an appropriation
The public press Of the State has ap-
proved of the Governors recommends
ton. The many friends of the College
scattered through the State, are anxious
for such an appropriation The public
mind is prepared for it and there is no
opposition anywhere. The State is now
abundantly able to do it.
Delaware college is not Il denomina-
tional institution--it is not scctarian-
it belongs to the State, and, therefore, has
peculiar claims upon you, the guardians
and lawmakers Of the body polite.
The institution has never received any
direct aid from the State. As there are
some erroneous impressions in regard to
this matter it may he well Just here to re-
move them The $4,000, the income
from which is received by the Colc-c.
was derived from the general government
under the act Of Congress Of 1862 The
sum just mentioned, which was Della
wares portion under the grant, was given
to our State ON the condition that She
should provide the necessary buildings,
for one College at least Not one dollar
of the principal or interest of the grant
can be expended for this purpose The
terms of the act explicitly prohibit it.
When this grant was being utilized by
other States Delaware was in no condi
ton to take advantage Of it, She was in
debt and could not afford to appropriate
from $4,000 to SlUO.GOo, forbuildines, an
paratus, &c.
But according to the terms Of the act
the grant was to lapse if not availed Of bv
the state within five years. Four years
had already passed and nothing had been
done, and there appeared to bc no pros
pect of securing the benefit Of the act of
/ Congress.
! Such were the embarrassing rircum-
stances when the old Board of Trustees
of Delaware College came to the relief of
the Legislature and offered to il the build
ing, grounds, library and apparatus Of the
| College in order to save the congressional
donation The offer was accepted and
the College passed under the control Of
| the State.
The members of the Board of Trustees.
who have the supervision of the affairs OF
the College, accepted tn cir trust in good
faith. They receive no compensation for
their services and even have to pay their
own expenses when transacting the bust
ness Of the College. They have no fund
whatever which they can draw from ia
make the now necessary repairs and i'm.
prOvements.
For fourteen years they have executed
their trust without aid from the State
but now reason and justice require that
they should receive substantial help t.
enable them to perform satisfactorily the
duties to which they have been appoint
ed. Should these Trustees become dis
cOuragrl by manifest want Of intcrcs
on the part Of the Legislature in thci
work, and thercupon surrender thci
trust into your hands. you would he ralle,
upon Immediately to return the $500
to the general government or to appro
pirate at the lowest calculation $4,000 il
order to comply with the requirements q
the act Of Congress. \ timely appropri
alton Of 5000 year for two years ut thi
juncturc would have the effect to con
tinuc and extend the benefits of the in
, stitution, and, probably, render it I'm
Q necessary to make another appropriate
= for twenty-five years to come
This simple statement and appeal
=. made to your Honorable Body with til
= abiding confidence that you have bot
! the disposition and courage TO do.
r RGuT AND JUsrGcE.
pas+or, +,va Wipa