, 1874-08-20
Territorial University.

At the last session of the Legislative
Assembly of this Territory was, by
unanimous vote, and without my own
previous knowledge or consent. elected
. Regent Of the Territorial University.
Holding to the doctrine that every citizen
Of popular government owed to the
commonwealth such service. civil or
military, as the public exigencies might
seem to require, his fellow-citizens be-
ing the sole judges of the requirement,
and that no individual could properly
ssek or had the right to decline the po-
sition or Office to which he had been
thus assigned, / accepted the trust with
The full purpose and determination to
discharge the duties of the same with all
che zeal. ability and experience at my
command. without private bias or per-
soual ends to serve. My associates in
the Board had all served through pre-
vious term, and manifested their conf
dence or partiality by electing me their
President. Subsequent events have
forced me to the conclusion that l can
no longer be of any public use in that
position, and it is due to the public,
measure of justice to others, and in vim
dication of my own official course, that
I should publicly state the circumstan-
ces which impel me to resign.
In coming into Office I found the af-
fairs of the University in most unfor-
tunste and unpromising condition. The
Government subsidy of seventy sections
Of lands the same amount from which
The Universities of Michigan and Wis
consin have each realized a fund of
over one million dollars-so far redaced
that the whole remaining assets, aside
from the buildings and grounds held
under a conditional title, would not
command twenty thousand dollars. A
President on salary of $4,000 and an
assistant on salary of $1,000, with
house rent free, with janitor, and the
furnishing and keeping in repair the
school rooms. with about fifty scholars
Of all grades below collegiate course.
The Regents were Borrowing money on
interest at two per cent. month, while
there were outstanding debts due the
fund sufficient to meet all liabilities,
which had been allowed to run from
three to five years after due, without an
attempt to enforce collection by law.
This state of things reflected no dis
credit upon the integrity of the Board
as then and now organized, but was the
result of careless or mistaken previous
management.
At the first meeting after my connec-
ton with the Board the proposition was
strongly urged to summarily dismiss
the teachers and close the school. re-
monstrated against this, upon the ground
that such a proceeding would bc
breach of public faith and the repudia-
tion of an implied contract with the
teachers, who were employed by the
year and not by the month or term;
that it would be better for the future OF
the institution to first meet all its obi
cations, express or implied. and then
put it upon a footing which would not
again exceed its resources. This was
reluctantly and partially acceded to by
. majority in consenting to allow the
teachers to finish the term then in pro-
cress, at the close of which the Presi-
dent was dismissed and temporary ar
rangements made for the second term
of the year. In the mean time l opened
correspondence with various parties
with the view of interesting competent
professional. educator who would under
take the responsibility of building up
collegiate school for the use Of the
buildings and the small subsidy which
the income from the fund would allow.
I deemed the friends of the University
very fortunate in finding such man in
Mr.. A. M. Nicholson, the Principal of
distinguished academic school on the
Hudson River, near New York; at my
request he transmitted testimonials OF
the highest character, from distinguish
ed educators and statesmen, as to his
character and qualifications as teacher
of the highest grade. These testimoni-
ais We will publish hereafter as small
measure of justice TO Mr.. Nicholson.
At called meeting of the Board, I laid
his correspondence before my col
leagues and by unanimous resolution OF
those present, was instructed to make
Mr.. Nicholson a definite and distinct
proposition, offering him 500 year
and the use and control of the buildings
and grounds. he to assume all liabilities
for teachers and running expenses and
to receive all fees for tuition. Strictly
according to instructions, l made the
proposition to Mr.. Nicholson officially,
as President of the Board, and request
ed an answer by telegraph, which was
received in due time accepting the terms
offered. Never dreaming that an offer
BY one party accepted by the other did
not constitute bargain. without con-
sulting my colleagues, none OF whom
were in Seattle at the time. publicly
announced Mr.. Nicholson's acceptance
of the Presidency of the University and
az the time was limited, telegraphed to
him to come on as soon as he could
conveniently. I never learned that
there was any dissatisfaction with my
action in this matter until I heard that
Mr.. Whitworth, who had in the mean
time lost his position as Chief Clerk IN
the Indian Department. was intriguing
for the place. Several weeks after the
public announcement Of the acceptance
of Mr.. Nicholson, I was one day sent
for to attend meeting of the Board
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