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

nu;r,ber of them, acting as Prscate sssdtcid"ofs'
and without the knowledge OF their brethren
To show how far the committee acted, merely
state fact--that it consisted OF ntne, no tco OF
whom lived in the same town ; and from the nine
towns, in which the committee resided, only Nfte
petitions were forwarded to the Legislature
The letter proceeds
And they were accordingly prepared BY you and
large number were printed for the purpose taken tow
terve. placed tie table in the where the meet
ing heidi objections made 70 circulating Pc
titions the Baptist Societies. and according to our
recollection only person (Gen Rchardson) object
ed to the form of the presented and his obectlen
TO single sentence. He was told IN reply that
ifhe did not like the printed he could draft to
suit himself or make any alteration ne chose 70 the
printed ones"
This fully corroborates my Indication; and
now it appears admitted that there was only ONE
petition presented to the 6oard--and this was
done at Waterville, some time after the peti-
tons had been put into circulctton,!
The most, then, that these gentlemen-s state
ment shews, is, that after these had been got up
and circulated uittout the knotc!edge ofhs board,
and aoittou the knoleiedge ofhe committee, they
were, or rather one was presented to the board
and that being objected to by me, it was said
was not obliged to use it, but might write one
for myself, or might make any alterations |
pleased. And yet Gov. King would be under
stood to say that these originated in an act Of tie
corporation, and were circulated BY heirauthor-
fty, and preferred by their consent to the Leg
islature \,
The letter proceeds
In the face Of all the above facts did expect
that any person Ia this community could have been
found have stated that the above petitions were got
up without the knowledge and consent. and contrary
10 the pishes Of the Trustees of this College"
presume we shall not disagree here. If
these gentlemen apply this to me, l answer
that have never so stated. What have said
may be found in my Vindication, page 26.
The letter proceeds
And less had we to expect, for recording
the above facts the records of the College should
be accused of there recording alsehood and this too
as is innated IN consequence OF your dctation You
not present al the board when the committee re-
ported nor when the report was accepted You
absent by Illness
=. Ihave never asserted that this was in conse-
quence Of Governor Kings dictation. 1t il sta
ted, that the vote was passed in consequence Of
information received by the board. L would
ask, from whom did the board derive this infor-
nation, if not from Governor King If they
obtained the Interpretations, which produced
their vote in August 1919, from dny other
source, the stigma of making the misrepresenta-
ton will fall upon the true author, whoever he
is. But these gentlemen would have introdu-
ced the subject more intelligbly, had their let
ter contained the votes Of the corporation, next
immediately preceding the vote quoted, bearing
date August 1919. There quote the whole.
Voted, That John Hovey, John Hams and Benja-
min Shepherd be committee TO report vote con-
corning the statement of Gen. King"
Voted To accept the following report Of said COM
mittee -
Whereas this Board hare bee, Informed that rep
reservations made in the Senate of massachusetts,
that the petitions presented to that body from the Bap
fist Societies in Maine got up without the
and contrary the 1Oshes Of this corporation
therefore,
- ToteS That such representations correct
this Board did authorize the application be made
said societies and requested that the petitions be
warded TO the legislature they regret that such
***~* representations should have made as were
calculated deprive them of such equitable endow-
the present state of the Institution requires"
" Portland, May 9Th, 1922" The within copy of
votes have carefully examined and compared with
the original records, and find them
OTIS BRIGGS, Secretary"
would here remark that these votes were
passed ons year after the petitions were crcu-
lated, and sir months after it was asserted that
the petitions "did originate and circulate by
their consent and authority" and four months
after it had been publickly asserted that /" the !
votes of the Trustees would prove it,"
1t is proved, that the petitions did not origin |
ate from the board and that they were got up
and circulated irsttout its kaotcledge, and pre-
ferred to the Legislature without its consent. |
And yet the board have passed vote, declar- |
ing that they did originate by their authority, |
and were circulated and preferred by their re-
quest.
This is evidently contrary to fact. 1t is EVIL |
dent, too, that this was procured by miS5epre-
sentatssns, which deceived the board, or surely |
they would never have passed such a vote.
The letter proceeds
You will perceive, sir that recollection on !
this subject is in esery respect precisely sct you
hare represented yours to be. The public viii doubt
give to the unmerited attack upon Yourself and the
College, the character it deserves. We sincerely hope
that the Improper statements which have been made
TO be attributed to of information on
the part of Gen. Richardson and to any improper
motive"
1t is not surprising, that the recollection of |
these gentlemen should be, precisely, and IN
sCery respect, like Governor Kings, if he made
the misrepresentation which induced them to put \
a falsehood on their records.
If he had the address SO to becloud this trans
action, to deceive Them those impressions
must be perry strong, and must be, precisely, like |
Governor Kings representation of has o.sn !; 9TH
erwse it could not have produced such an eff
feet will, perhaps, for long time, fill the pub
lie mind with astonishment.
! can truly say, that sincerely hope the in |
correct :" impressions" of these gentlemen, are !