Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-12

0tnts ~. we eleetorate cS the
thirS. s = right 70 assume that tvs.
annrnvo' sne Legislature has put ito
AZ opce comes with the adva ~
sne legislative sanction now. then
uoes two-thirds OF this body des,n ~
.rSSe.sasys ! say It 10 unnecessary.
Wv 90 not. ask you to take INV
woro. think that IL ts unneoessarv
,.,S causs u 10 already provided for.
What ooss the gentieman's argument
resoiVe itself into. Is IL that the
STATE should have absolute control
y. .ne purposes and policy OF any
"sutuuon to which II gives public
lunosf Have not fairly stated his
posi!lon: 10 u not that the money
VI your constituents should not be
uesoteu 10 any purpose unless 1t IL q
PURPOSE under State eontroif Now
Iair statement. let Us look at the
Constitution Of Maine a. n 1. TO-DAY
ana which we have worked under
since ISso. you gentleman have on
s"ur aesks. undoubtedly, copy of
.he Constitution. and l ask you TO
turn 70 Article VIII and peruse IL
quietly. and see what your deduc-
tlons are. Now it does not need ID
lawyer to interpret that section.
You do not need TO hunt for law.
whether bound in sheep or calf, to
ma out what IL meant by that sec
uoh. The section reads:
"A general diffusion Of tho ad.
Vantages OF education being essential
10 the preservation of the rights and
iinerties OF the people; to promote
TINS important object. the Legis.
iature are authorized. and 1t shall be
their duty to require. the several
towns TO make suitable provisions at
their own expense. for the support
ana maintenance Of public schools:
and it shall further Be their duty
10 encourage and suitably endow
from time to time. as the circum-
stances OF the people may authorize.
ff-not some-"Academies, COL
reyes, and seminaries of learning
wlthin the State: provided that no
donation, grant, or endowment shall
at any time be made by the LeRis-
iature. to any literary Institution now
established or which may hereafter
be established. unless, at the time
OF making such endowment. the
Legislature of the State shall have
the right to grant any further
powers to alter. limit. or restrain any
Oh the powers vested in any such
literary institution. as shall be
Judged necessary to promote the
best interests thereof
Is that separation Of Church and
state? 1t shall be the duty of the
Legislature. Article VIII says, from
time 10 time. In addition to the public
schools. the common schools which
the towns Themselves must keep I'D
and which the State is to aid,-it
shall be the further duty of the
Legislature from time to time az the
circumstances of the people permit
ana as the occasion of the times per-
NIT, TO endow all our academies.
seminaries. institutions of learning
higher than the common schools. and
colleges If necessary; but, and 1t is
the most important part OF 1t, nc
donation shall ever be made unless.
when it is made. the State of Maine.
through the Legislature making it.
shall have the power to alter. change.
increase. any of the powers of the
institution observation-disclosures ac-
ceptlng-aid from the State as the
Legislature shall deem necessary in
order TO better effectuate the pur-
poses of that institution which is
taking money from the State. The
decision forever and aye ia with the
branch OF the government giving
away the particular stipend, for
under Article VIII it possesses the
control. Oh 1t has been suggested at
a committee hearing as | read in
the papers, did not hear it-that
there was some obscurity and that it
was not exactly clear what was
meant by that Now ! do not know
how it could have been hazy. or
doubtful what was meant by that,
and If anyone wants to know what
was intended by that. why do they
not nave recourse to the source. the
origin of it: Gentlemen of the
House. that particular amendment
was not the result of any chance.
any haphazard, it was not the
creation Of any pigmy mind William
King, the first Governor of Maine.
was interested enough in this
particular subject. and in it's far
reaching possibilities. that he
journeyed to Monticello. and there
had discussion with one of the sages
of America. Thomas jefferson:
and in the Congressional Lii
brary at Washington. where any
man may see who desires to go the
original of Article VIII of the Con-
stitution of the State of Maine in the
handwriting of Thomas Jefferson.
Someone may say, your authority for
that? ] say go and see it. and if you
want authority today on it you turn
to the documents of the Maine
Historical Society. Volume seven. and
on Page 81 you will find the follow
ing:
During the session Of the Legis.
lature of 1884. as a member of the
House I attended meeting of the
s,,,, Ton 1s.l1
subject of making a grant to one of
the Seminaries Of Learning was
under discussion. Governor King
being present was requested to give
his views to the committee.
HE went very fully into the aues-
ton. taking strong ground in. favor
not only Of providing for Common
Schools. but also of endowing our
higher Seminaries. After speaking
at considerable length upon education
generally. and the means of promot-
ing it. he stated that Article VIII of
our Constitution was drawn by Mr..
Jefferson. under these circumstances:
after the vote of separation was
passed and Governor King was
elected a Delegate to form the Con-
stitution; but before the Convention
was held business called him to
washington. WniIe LneTe, IL oc-
Cured to him that he should be very
glad to see Mr.. Jefferson and get his
views Of the best Constitution for
the State. So he took a turn down
to Monticello to see and converse
with his old friend as he expressed
it. He spoke Of the interview as
affording him a great deal of pleas
ure. Mr.. jefferson seemed to take
deep interest in the new State. and
said 1t was very important to start
right. They talked about the general
provisions OF the Constitution. but