The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1863-02-14
OUR TOPEKA CORRESPONDENCE.
topeka, Feb. 11th, 1Sf

TOPEKA, Feb. lIth, 1868.
The great question of the session thus far
considered, has been decided in the House.
The Agricultural College has been located at
Manhattan without much difficulty. The Uni
versity bills then came up as special orders.
The Emporia bill was taken up, and the motion
was made that when the Committee of the
Whole should rise, the bill be returned with its
passage recommended. A motion was made to
strike out all the bill after the enacting clause,
and insert the Lawrence bill. Mr.. Emery the
great champion of Lawrence, opened the fight
by a speech of some length.
Mr. Emery is a small-sized, big-headed man,
with small blue eyes, sandy hair and ruddy
hued, mutton chop whiskers. He was born in
Maine, is desciple of Coke and Blackstone,
and holds his seat as a Unionist. Although he
is supposed to be hostile to Jim Lane, yet he
seems to have absorbed large amount of Jim s
peculiarities, both of tone and gesture. He
speaks in a nervous, forcible manner, yet seems
to be tolerably self composed, and indulges in
flights of eloquence rather than in any close
logical train of reasoning. 1t is therefore not
easy to report what he did say, nor, were few
salient sentences quoted, would their force be
evident without the context.
The truth is, he made no argument, but de-
claimed with some flucncy and INDUCED in a
few assertions, vague promises Of what Law.
renee would do, and matters of that sort.
He was followed by Mr.. Eskridge, the solita-
ry champion and animating soul of the Emporia
interests. Mr.. Eskridge is a Virginian by
birth, was from Illinois to Kansas, is merchant
and quite young yet. He is generally quiet,
but an incessant worker.
His speech was plain statement Of facts
and arguments spiced with some caustic hits
and pointed illusions which made the ranks of
Douglas quail. He showed that the offer of
Sl5, 900 make by Lawrence, is really claim
on the Appleton University of Wisconsin, an
| impoverished institution never before heard
Of 1t seems that Mr.. Amos Lawrence
of Boston, loaned the A. U. the sum of $4,000
| taking their notes, and renewing them as they
fell due, but never getting cent of principal
or interest. He handed these notes to Pomeroy
| and Chas. Robinson, in trust for educational
purposes, as stated by Mr.. T. H. Webb, of Bos-
ton. for the benefit of each organized settlement
where good schools might be established. And
these notes, with the accumulated interest, con-
stitute the fund offered in the Lawrence bill as
$4,000.
The fact that the Penitentiary, Capitol, Ag-
ricultural College and Insane Asylum (which
it seems will 60 to Wyandot), are all in the
Kaw Valley, was urged as a reason why some
thing should be yielded to the Neosho Valley
which asks only one thing-the University
The sectional dissatisfaction caused by this
injustice was presented clearly. The Consti-
tutional requirement that the University must
be located at some central and eligible point
was shown to include Emporia, but to exclude
Lawrence by many miles. The frauds, violence
| and immortality associated with Lawrence, the
ballot-box stuf1ng, the delinquent tax list, and
animosity to all neighboring towns, that dis
grace Douglas county, were referred to, to show
how unfit that place is to educate youth.
In word, this speech was the marked one
Of the session; but it was so late when deliver
ed, an adjournment was demanded. The bills
were then made the special order for the next
Monday afternoon. Again the battle ragged
Emery had been to Lawrence in the interval,
and was armed with letters from Mr. Lawrence,
offers from citizens and . new statement as to
the facts of that fund.- 90.
Again Eskridge rejoined; and again night
came on. A night session was called. After
. few speeches, the vote was taken-33 to 80.
The Chairman, Mr.. Russell. Of Doniphan. .
Henderson Amendment man, was for Lawrence,
and 50 Emporia was lost. The result was that
on Tuesday the bill passed by 80 to A@he
Speaker, Mr.. Kellogg. and Mr.. Christie. who il
seriously i'll, not voting. but both being claimed
by Emposia. 's'8.'3a9 So
There are eleven " Henderson Amendment
men," and eleven Atchison Road men, and
nine Leavenwcsth men; al hostile on nilruad
mstters, and evidently not to be found joined in
The sspport Of any measure without . sssoss
necessity forces the opposing elenents togstbsr
temporarily. as ei.T' issEl9 1880 1850
The Henderson Anendment nes, were nnani-