The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1822-05-14
COMMUNICATION.

| Ma. SHIRLEY-Two letters, which purport
| TO be from the HalloweLl Advocate, addressed
to Gov. King. appearedin the last Argus These
letters are upon the subject of the controversy
between Gov. King, some of the Trustees of the
WaterylIe Institution and myself. AS any CON-
munication from me, upon that subject is inter-
dicted by the Argus again solicit the indulgence
of your paper-Tbe first letter, dated Watervillc,
1st May, 1922, is from Rev. SILAs SrEARKs and
Col. JOHN HovEY, who say
1--WE feel il an imperious duty devolving on U.S. both
with regard 10 Yourself and the College, of which
have for considerable time been honored Trus-
tees make Of few facts to the best Of
recollection"
They then state
We were present at meeting of the Trustees at
Brunswick, when conversation took place respect
ing the that should be adopted by the Board
so aid the funds Of the Trustees as to commence
tuition at the earliest day possible. 1t finally de-
ternlined as the most expedien measure that memo
rial should be presented 10 the Legislature OF Massa
and committee Of the trustees accordingly APP
pointed for the purpose"
1t at the meeting Of the trustees, express
ed the opinion Of gentlemen Of the board that in the
event OF memorials efecng the object prayed for,
the spring session. that petitions should be forwarded
the several societies in Massachusetts and Maine
for the signature Of individuals Of the Baptist denom
inaton generally"
They proceed
Ifs far recollection it is impression
that conversation took place respecting the best
method offorwarding the petitions for signatures"
This is the substance of the letter of these
gentlemen, with regard to their Impressions and
according to the best Of their recollection, which
they feel it an ipsperious duty to state.
The only renly have IN make is that nothing
| in my Vindication or in any thing have ever
said or written, contradicts the foregoing state
ment of these gentlemen. The conversations
might have taken place, for aught that know,
or wish to assert to the contrary. 1t might have
| been expressed" as GO the opinion of gentlemen
of the board as Mr.. STEARNs and Mr.. HovEY
have stated, as far as their recollection serves
| them, and it may be their impression that
Uersdtion took place respecting the mode of Cir
culatlng petitions, &c.
! have only said, and the impression Of these
gentlemen, according to the best Of their recollec-
tion plainly proves, that those petitions did not
originate in any act Of the corporation that
they were got up without their knowledge, and
preferred without their consent. | refer the
public to Gen. Fessendens affidavit, in page 26
of my Vihdication. And although feel much
Difference for these gentlemen, still adhere to
the opinion that Conversations Of gentlemen, even
if some Of them are members of the board, do
not amount to a corporate act--and that the nm
pressions of gentlemen, even when according to
the best Of their recollection, do not amount to
record.
| These gentlemen proceed
Petitions accordingly gotten up, nee 5eliere
agreeably to the roses of the Board and printed"
And they add that they assisted in circulating
them.
! pretend not to contradict these gentlemen
when they say " we believe !" and whether they
mistake not pretend not to say but know
not how the ioishes of the board can be expressed
without an act of the board; and it manifestly
appears from the foregoing letter, that there was
not any act Of the board
| These gentlemen, however go on
q" We thought that there understanding
in the board. that petitions should be gotten up and
forwarded to the legislature and regret that any
person should Intimate that the board either ig
noant hostile the circulation of the said petitions
| really cannot comprehend how there should
be an understanding of the board, when there
was act of the board; but the expression is
| 6 an understanding an the board''-and all we
can gather from the letter is, that some uery feD
| of the members had such an understanding. How
this may be | know not. These gentlemen kept
| their understanding to themselves. II was new
er the subject of any act Of the board, nor even
| the report of any committee. | cannot but be-
lieve that these gentlemen, after further rehec-
ton, will lose their regrets that Ihave asserted
| what consider their olcn letter to prove, that
| these printed petitions did not originate in any
act of the corporation ifso it follows of course
! that they must have been preferred to the Mas
sachusetts Legislature wiatom its knowledge or
consent.
The letter from Rev. Messrs. OrIs BRIGGs
and RoBERT Low, also, bearing date Water
vile, May /, 1922 is very similar to that
have just considered. It's only necessary to no.
tice few particulars.
They say
a. We were present at the meeting Of the Trustees
when long and interesting discussion took place as
to the that should be adopted BY the Board
to aid the funds of the Trustees as to commence
tuition at the earliest day possible" &c.
BY this it appears they mean to be understood
the meeting at Brunswick for the letter of
Messrs. STEARNs and HovEY, quoted above, is
couched in similar language, and is of the very
same import--To my Vindication, and the GER
tifcate of the Rev. Mr.. RrPLEr and Mr. SrocK
BRIDGE, l refer the public.
They proceed
1T was at the same meeting of the Trustees deter
MIXED that in the Of the memorials not affecting
the object prayed for at the spring session the same
committee instructed by the Trustees gensroLly
at the meeting be forwarded to each Bap
fist Society IN the State Petition to be signed by the
members Of the several Baptist Societies."
" Detprminpd - theca rapfIo,uon nsy.y