Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-03-18
Dailp Ker.nfttr :3ournal.
Rensrks Of Nr. wilson Of srsno.

OF, the remarks Of Mr. Wnsox Of Orono, in
opposition to the bill reported by the Joint
Committees Of the House and Senate in rela-
ton to the State College Of Agriculture and
the Mechanic Arts, delivered in the House,
Wednesday, the 18th Of March -
Mr.. WILSON said -
NJ. Speaker and Geatiemea III may look
iikegross presumption in me to interpose objec-
tons 10 the passage Of bill reported 10 this
House by 80 large and 80 intelligent a com
miftec. after mature and deliberate consider-
alton and yisi, 10 the college; but ] am
glad to learn that, instead Of the whole 20
comprising the Committees on Education
and Agriculture being present and uriting in
the report, twelve only were present, and Of
these only seven approved, and some Of these
with extreme reluctance. Bat, am free to
confess, I am amazed at both the bill and the
report, and am upquaIifiedIy opposed to both.
And know shall be pardoned if 1 speak
plainly. for ! confess TO deep interest and
an abiding faith in the good work this instr
tation has done and Is doing. and firmly be-
llcve in its ultimate triumphant success over
all opposition
But, Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen, II this
bill and this report Is offered IN n protested
spirit Of Friendship and kindness. say good
Lord deliver from such friends, and we
will try and protect ourselves from our enemy.
And, gentlemen, boldly Characterize tina, bill
and report, AZ .hrewd, cunning and well
devised printed stump sheet against the col
Ic9e, and IL. hole object and aim 10 prcju-
dice your minds against il, and fear its au-
thors have been actuatcd by unworthy and
improper motives. Why, Mr.. Speaker and
gentlemen. pass that bill. and you destroy
that institution. Change the present course
Of instruction, and allow only three Instead Of
four year. for the full prescribed course; cut
of . lending and prominent part Of the course
In mathematics and the modern languages en-
tirely, and you degrade II 70 the level Of an
academy, or high school; yon change its
character, you destroy its usefulness.
That bill strikes at the very life Of the col
lcge. And I am panied to be forced 10 de-
clare, fear snch must have been the design
Of its originators. Sure am, they can have
no love for the Institution. Gentlemen, !
speak a. feel in this matter and profess to
know something about this college, fOr was
ut IL. inception and location in our beautiful
village, have watched its growth and know
whereof affirm, and entreat your careful
and candid attention, while proceed 10 ex
plain somewhat fully. Mr. Wilson here
read the act Of Congress donating 100000
acres Of land 10 the Institution He also read
the act of our legislature accepting the land
and the trust and covcnnntiDg To comply and
fully carry cut the object and designs of the
donors, and read extracts from the report of
the legislative committee, made IN 1864. He
gave also brief history of its location at
Orono, aud of the generous contributions
made by citizens of Bangor. Odtown and
Orono, s25, 900 in all, and said it IL true.
the State has done something in times past
for the college. but nothing like what il
should have done and nothing like hat
many other States have done. WHY, gentle
men. the State of Illinois has given to her
college 1000. Pennsylvania, $4,000.
Massachusetts,, s3l3.000. Iowa, 1929, 900.
California. al 800, 600 while Maine has, as the
great parade in the report shown, given only
4ls0.7ls.
Right here, allow me to state, while Maine
sold. or should more properly say, gave away
her lands Ia spectators and political hangers
on, and realized only the small sum of 50
cents on the average per acre. selling some
st 81 to 81 cents per acre. Some other States
limited the sale Of their lands to 81. 80 and
o., per acre, notably New York and Mich
gan, and 81 % for the minimum price for
all public lands. At 81 % our college would
have had permanent fund of S262 500; Mt
$500 a fund of $3.50. 900; at $500 u fund OF
$3.50, 900; at $500 fund of $50, 900; at
a $500 fund of 81 ,0j0, 900.
Either Of these sums at & per cent in.
terest, would have proved handsome en-
dow ment and placed the college in independ-
eut circumstances. and in either event. there
would have been no need of the humliating
appeal to this legislature for aid especially.
when it Is given with such reluctance. And
the question ia often asked, how happened
such sacrifcef Who pcrpetratcd this great
wrongY BY what authority and when NAV
this strange transaction be accomplished?
The sale was made in 1866 BY the Cover
nor and Council. and happened to know
some Of the individuals who shared in the
spoils. do not charge it rs party transac-
ton, for democrats rs well as republicans
were concerned and some of each made a
splendid thing out of it.
Now there was no necessity of selling an
acre at that time. No location had been
agreed upon. and Of course no buildings had
been erected. The sale was i'll advised, pre-
mature, and in direct violation of the act of
Congress and Of this State. as gentlemen will
sec by the sections have read in YOUR hear
ing And now. gentlemen. it is by reason of
this breach of trust. this cruel robbery of a
noble Institution, that the trustees and
friends of the State College of Agriculture
and Mechanic Arts, are compelled to come
here from year to year to solicit your aid.
But, gentlemen, VIC scorn the accusation of
being "beggars." We have an equitable. if
not legitimate claim upon the State for
money dueus. We are not 'beggars." We ask
- and respectfully petition only for our honest
dues and 10 obtain our rights.
II is an undisputed principle in law, that
what one does by his agent. he does by him
self, and he must abide the consequences.
The agents Of the State disposed Of this trust
property contrary TO law. in plain violation
Of the true interests Of the party ow ming. and
to its great injury and loss. And in my hum
bic Judgment. there is no Jury, no court in
christcndom which would hesitate Ia pro-
nounce the act. under the facts and circum-
stances, fraud! And equity would decree
. restoration in value aud amount.
And. Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen. this in
stitution is not only not "beggsr" it is the
legitimate offspring of the State. and wor-
thy sou of noble sire. Will she iisclaim
and disowns Can this State afford to refuse
nccdfdl support in time of want and actual
need and especially, under the facts and cir
cumstances? I am unwilling-I will no, be
lieve our noble State win prove thus I'M
reasonable aud anwisc.
confess il is unfortunate and to be re.
GREETED, that this institution must be con-
stantly assaulted and its influence crippled by
men, and from sources that ought to promote
and build up. rather than iniurc. The cause