REQUESTING THE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS OF THIS STATE, TO SECURE AN APPROPRIATION FOR WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY

March 28, 1870

Columbus, Ohio

Sir:

I have the honor to transmit herewith Joint Resolution “Requesting the Senators and Representatives in Congress of this State, to secure an appropriation for Wilberforce University,” adopted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, March 22nd 1870.

Very Respectfully,

R. B. Hayes

Governor

WHEREAS, It is a matter of just national concern that the colored people of the south, at this time, as a mass, grossly ignorant, and for no fault of their own, be fitted as speedily as may be, by suitable education, for a more intelligent exercise of the rights, and for a proper discharge of the duties of citizenship with which they have recently been invested and charged, and

WHEREAS, Congress, sensible of the demand for such education, and recognizing the utter want of means among said people, to provide for it, has hitherto, at great public expense, established common schools among them, and

WHEREAS, The great need of such schools is now, and for years will probably continue to be, a supply of trained colored teachers, who, being of their own race, shall labor understandingly and sympathizingly for their improvement, and

WHEREAS, The collegiate institution known as Wilberforce University, situated in Greene county, in this State, has, for its chief object, the education of such teachers, being the only seminary of learning in the United States expressly devoted to that object, and being now in such successful prosecution thereof as its very limited means, made up of private charities, will allow, and

WHEREAS, A fund has been created under the management of the Freedman’s Bureau, that should not be distributed exclusively in one section of the country, and to which the colored people of the State of Ohio can justly set up a claim for their equal proportionate share; therefore,

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That our Senators and Representatives in Congress be, and they are hereby requested to use their influence to secure the passage of an act by Congress, appropriating, under such restrictions and conditions as may be deemed wise, fifty thousand dollars, out of the fund appropriated for the education of freedmen, and also such other aid as may be deemed proper to establish said University on a firm foundation.

Resolved, That the Governor is hereby requested to forward a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolution to each of said Senators and Representatives, together with a copy of the report of the Committee on Federal Relations of this House.

J. R. COCKERILL

Speaker pro tem. of the House of Representatives

J. C. LEE

President of the Senate