USA > Missouri > Boone County > History of Boone County, Missouri. > Part 26
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PROCEEDINGS OF - THE CURATORS RESUMED.
Meeting January 29, 1849. - Dr. Abram Litton, of St. Louis, elected to the vacant chair of Physical Science at a salary of $600 per annum and $2.50 per session on each student. On motion of Mr. Rollins a committee of three - Rollins, Lathrop, and Robards - was appointed to call the attention of the General Assembly to the necessity and propriety of making an appropiation out of the com- mon school fund of the State for the purpose of establishing a profes- sorship in the University to be devoted to the theory and practice of teaching.
President Lathrop having been called to the presidency of the Uni- versity of Wisconsin at a salary of $2,000 per annum, and it being deemed probable he would resign, Thomas D. Grant offered a resolu- tion, as an inducement for him to continue his connection with our University that his salary be fixed at $1,650, per annum (it was then only $1,250) with use of the president's house and grounds, and $2.50 per session on each student over 80; also $100, as heretofore, for servants' hire and that the present term of service of the President be extended four years after the expiration of the term for which he was last elected. Passed unanimously, and a committee - T. M. Allen, J. L. Mathews, and Moss Prewitt - were appointed to request his acceptance of the above proposal.
RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT LATHROP.
Meeting May 14, 1849. - A communication was received from President Lathrop stating that it was his intention to send in his resignation at the next July meeting of the board, to take effect at a
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day he will then designate ; and that he gave this early notice in order that in the interval such measures may be adopted for filling the vacancy as may be judged expedient ; whereupon a committee was appointed to obtain and report to the Board at its next meeting such information as in their opinion may aid the board in making a proper selection of a successor. Committee : Eli E. Bass, Addison M. Lewis, William D. McCracken, Robert Brown and Turner R. H. Smith.
On motion of Mr. Brown it was resolved, after much discussion and various amendments that, after the first Monday of April, 1850, the president's permanent salary shall be $2,000 per annum with the use of the president's house and grounds, and $2.50 per session on each scholar above eighty, with $100 for servants' hire as here- tofore.
Meeting of September 3, 1849 - Present -C. S. Stone, president of the board ; J. L. Matthews, W. H. Duncan, F. R. Palmer, W. D. McCracken, William Claude Jones, Alton Long, H. C. Dunn, A. M. Lewis and T. R. H. Smith. President Lathrop tendered his resigna- tion to take effect September 22d. In his report to the board, after giving a detailed account of the condition and wants of the institution, President Lathrop concludes as follows : -
During my first term of office, in consideration of the depressed condition of the- finances of the institution, I remitted a considerable portion of my salary for a series of years. The sum total of these benefactions ranges between $2,500 and $3,000. This sum which is now in the treasury, has been abstracted from the patrimony of my chil- dren. 'It is just to them, that this fund should be set apart, and appropriated to some- valuable university interest, which shall stand as a perpetual memorial of their father's. bounty. Should the board agree with me in the principle of this suggestion, there. will be no difficulty in ascertaining the amount of the fund, nor in settling on some- valuable interest, to which it may be appropriated.
ELECTION OF JAMES SHANNON AS PRESIDENT.
On the next day the board proceeded to the election of a president. Mr. Lewis nominated James Shannon, president of Bacon College, Kentucky, and Mr. Jones nominated Dr. Hiram P. Goodrich, of St. Louis. The vote stood : Shannon, 9; Goodrich, 1; whereupon Mr. Shannon was declared duly elected. Professor Hudson was au- thorized to act as President until the President-elect entered upon his office.
The next day Mr. Long asked permission to change his vote from Mr. Shannon to Dr. Goodrich, which was granted.
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT FOR PRESIDENT LATHROP.
The following resolution was introduced by Wm. Claude Jones : -
Resolved, That we have the highest confidence in the learning, talents, integrity and upright moral character of President John H. Lathrop, and while we deeply regret the loss of his valuable services to our State University, we cordially recommend him to the confi- dence of that community wherever his lot may be cast.
W. D. McCracken offered the following amendment to the above resolution : -
Amend by striking out all after word "and" in the third line down to the word "we" in the fourth line; that is, the words printed in italics.
The vote being first taken upon the amendment, the ayes and noes were called, and stood as follows : -
AYES -Stone, Duncan, McCracken, Palmer, Lewis and Smith - 6.
NOES-Matthews, Long and Jones-3.
Thus the amendment passed.
The vote then came up upon the resolution as amended, and the ayes and noes being called, were as follows : -
AYES - Matthews, Long, McCracken, Palmer, Jones and Smith - 6.
NOES -Stone, Duncan and Lewis -3.
Which was adopted.
The following is the resolution as amended : -
Resolved, That we have the highest confidence in the learning, talents, integrity and upright moral character of President John H. Lathrop, and we cordially recommend him to the confidence of that community wherever his lot may be cast.
C. S. Stone asked permission to have his, protest to the foregoing resolution spread upon the journal. The Board, after hearing it read, granted the request. The following is
THE PROTEST :
C. S. Stone protests against the foregoing resolution. He believes Mr. Lathrop to be a good scholar and a man calculated to do good. He does not entertain the highest confidence in the learning, talents, integrity and upright moral character of John H. Lathrop, there being other men for whom he entertains higher confidence in all these particulars.
W. C. Jones introduced the following resolution, which passed : -
Resolved, That a select committee of three be appointed to take into consideration so much of the communication of President J. H. Lathrop to the present Board as relates to the amount of funds which he claims to have donated to the University, and that said com- mittee report at the next meeting of the Board of Curators.
Committee - Duncan, Matthews and Smith.
-
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PUBLIC DINNER TO PRESIDENT LATHROP.
The resignation of President Lathrop, as many of his friends believed it to have been partly inspired by political influences adverse to his- administration, caused the deepest solicitude among many of the old- est and most steadfast friends of the University. Public and private discussions of the causes which it was believed, in part, brought about- his retirement from the institution, together with the proceedings of the Board of Curators, especially its raising the President's salary immediately after his resignation, and the adoption of the McCracken amendment, produced the greatest excitement and widespread dissat- isfaction in the community. Angry discussions followed in the news- papers, embracing the wide range of all the topics having any relation to the subject. We have not room in this volume either to reproduce the sharp and disagreeable issues which were made and discussed, or the discussions themselves ; suffice it to say that the proceedings of the Board caused the friends of President Lathrop, very largely with- out distinction of party, and wholly without distinction of sect, to ten- der him the compliment of a public dinner on Saturday, September 29, 1849, previous to his departure for Wisconsin, which he ac- cepted.
At a public meeting held in the court-house on Friday evening, Sep- tember 14 - Warren Woodson, Chairman, Jesse Kennard, Secretary- a Committee of Arrangements, consisting of thirty-two citizens, with Dr. Wm. Jewell as Chairman, was appointed, to see that the dinner was furnished on September 29, and arrange the programme. The meeting also appointed a committee of twenty on resolutions, as fol- lows :
James S. Rollins, Chairman; Thomas M. Allen, Dr. J. F. Buster, Lemuel Noble, Robt. L. Todd, Philip Crow, Alex. Douglass, John Slack, Thomas Wingo, Ishmael Vanhorn, Sam- uel A. Young, F. Wm. Hackman, Rollin Lyman, Dr. A. H. Robinson, Wm. F. Switzler, Dr. J. C. Page, Thomas C. Maupin, Robert Lemon, D. M. Hickman, and Wm. S. Mosley.
PROGRAMME OF EXERCISES.
The Committee of Arrangements made and published the follow- ing : -
1. Maj. John Slack, President, and Messrs. John H. Field and Dr. Wm. McClure, Vice Presidents.
2. Music by the Band.
3. Address, at 11 o'clock A. M., by Robert L. Todd, Esq., on behalf of the Alumni of the University.
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4. Music by the Band.
5. Address by President Lathrop.
6. Music by the Band.
7. Resolutions read, and an address on behalf of the citizens, by Maj. J. S. Rollins.
8. Vote on the resolutions by the citizens.
9. Music by the Band.
10. Dinner at 2 o'clock, Saturday, September 29th. President Lathrop, speakers and officers, together with the ladies, occupying the first table.
11. Chief Marshal of the day, David M. Hickman.
As ample provision will be made for all who may attend, the Committee of Arrange- ments hereby cordially invite not only the ladies and gentlemen of our county, but the citi- zens of the whole State. W. JEWELL,
Chairman of Committee of Arrangements.
The dinner was served in magnificent style, pursuant to programme, Thomas Selby, Superintendent, and in a sugar-tree grove adjoining and north of the residence of Hon. J. S. Rollins. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the day, occasioned by repeated showers of rain, between two and three thousand people, male and female, assembled to do honor to their distinguished guest.
The Columbia Statesman, of October 5, 1849, thus notices the dinner, addresses, resolutions, etc. : -
Maj. John Slack, assisted by John H. Field, Esq., and Dr. W. McClure, Vice Presidents, presided on the occasion- Wm. F. Switzler acting as Secretary. The assembly being seated at the stand and called to order, the programme of exercises was announced - after which Robt. L. Todd, Esq., on behalf of the Alumni of the University, delivered a very chaste and beautiful address, full of pleasant memories of the past, high esteem for the honored head of his alma mater, and fervent wishes for his usefulness and prosperity in the new field to which he is called.
After music by the band came the cardinal point of interest, the speech of President Lathrop. And what shall we, what can we, say of such a speech without doing it injustice ? In elegance of diction, scope, and power of thought, and caustic rebuke, we never expect to hear its like again. Feeling that those who are " clothed with a little brief authority," had attempted an everlasting libel upon his fame-had, in voting the "McCracken proviso." done great violence to his reputation- he proved himself equal to the crisis, and by a sar- casm that scathed and blasted like the sirocco carried everything before him. His speech was frequently interrupted by rapturous applause, while smiles of approval and evidences of regard marked the "sea of upturned faces " before him. It was perfectly evident during the delivery of his speech, and before the vote was taken, that the people, believing it a high moral duty to protect the reputation of literary men, were prepared to "repudiate, condemn, and reverse, with one voice and with emphasis," the judgment of the Board of Curators, and nobly did they do it!
President Lathrop having concluded, the Secretary reported from the committee appointed at a previous meeting the following resolutions : -
1. Resolved, That the resolution introduced at the meeting of the Board of Curators on the 5th inst. by W. C. Jones, Esq., and which was mutilated by a majority of said Board by striking out a material part of it, be adopted by this meeting without alteration, amend- ment or erasure, in the exact words it was originally introduced, as follows : ".Resolved, That we have the highest confidence in the learning, talents, integrity and upright moral
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character of President John H. Lathrop, and while we deeply regret the loss of his valuable services to our State University, we cordially recommend him to the confidence of that com- munity wherever his lot may be cast."
2. Resolved, That this community, en masse, without distinction of party, sect, or condi- tion, having had ample means of forming a correct judgment of President Lathrop as a scholar, officer, and citizen, cannot consent, either directly or indirectly, to indorse the pro- ceedings of a majority of the Board of Curators on the 5th inst., in striking from the above resolution the expression of regret at the loss of his valuable services to our State University, but on the contrary we hereby repudiate, condemn, and reverse, with one voice and with emphasis, this proceeding of a majority of said board, as an act of injustice to President Lathrop, believing it calculated, where the facts are unknown, to injure the char- acter and standing of a highly meritorious gentleman and eminent scholar.
After the reading of the resolutions, and another air by the band, Judge Woodson de- livered an address expressive of the views and feelings of the citizens, and in favor of the resolutions. This address embraced much of the written and unwritten history of the University, from its organization to this time, and was a powerful vindication of President Lathrop's administration. It brought out facts new and old, and placed men and things in their proper light before the public. To a few men it was perfectly overwhelming, for it . traced their inconsistencies, measures of mischief in the Legislature and elsewhere, and their petty personal prejudices with a master hand. This address, too, was received with repeated demonstrations of applause.
Next in the order of exercises was read an admirable letter from Elder Thomas M. Allen. This letter was greeted with marks of satisfaction and approval by the audience. It breathed a spirit highly creditable to its honored and much esteemed author, and expressed in felicitous style and language not only our own sentiments but the sentiments of this community in regard both to President Lathrop and his successor. As for ourself we indorse every word of it.
The vote upon the resolutions being about to be taken, Dr. T. R. H. Smith, one of the curators who had voted for the "McCracken proviso," asked if the resolutions were debata- ble. It was then moved and carried by acclamation that leave be granted any one to speak who wished to do so. Dr. Smith then took the stand and made a brief explanation, personal to himself, in regard to his vote as a curator, protesting that his motives were pure in what he had done; after which Wm. F. Switzler made a few remarks upon the resolutions them- selves, contending for their adoption. The President then stated the question and put the vote, and there arose from the vast concourse almost one unanimous aye! but three to five persons voting in the negative -just enough to save President Lathrop from the Scripture malediction : " Cursed are ye when all men speak well of you."
Dinner was then announced, and the assembly retired in perfect order to the sumptuous tables. By universal concession, the dinner was the most magnificent affair of the kind ever witnessed in this part of the country.
After dinner the crowd reassembled at the stand, and listened with high satisfaction to a speech from Col. Samuel A. Young. It was one of the Colonel's happiest efforts, and called forth repeated rounds of applause.
The newly elected President, James Shannon, reached Columbia, to determine whether he would accept or decline the office, on Monday, October 8, 1849, and President Lathrop and family left for Madison, Wisconsin, on the following day.
TRIBUTE TO PRESIDENT SHANNON.
On June 12, 1850, the students of Bacon College, Harrodsburg,
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Ky., met in Newton Hall, W. J. Miles, Chairman, and D. R. A. C. Hundley, Secretary, and passed the following resolutions : -
1. Resolved, That we deeply regret to part with our talented and highly esteemed Presi- dent, whose gentlemanly demeanor and Christian conduct, whose unflinching adherence to just principles and fearless advocacy of truth have endeared him to us all, and gained for him an extended, lasting and enviable reputation.
2. Resolved, That the citizens of Kentucky, and especially the friends and students of Bacon College, have lost in him a successful teacher, a clear, faithful and uncompromising expounder of the Word of Life, and one of the brightest and purest ornaments of the age in which he lives.
3. Resolved, That we most heartily congratulate the students of Missouri University on the selection of such a man to preside over their institution, in whom they will ever find a faithful instructor and a feeling friend.
4. Resolved, That he carries with him our most ardent prayers for his future success and happiness.
Curators' Meeting, November 9, 1849 : - A letter from James Shan- non, dated Paris, Mo., October 23, 1849, was presented and spread upon the record, accepting the presidency on certain conditions. His appointment was for six years. He desired it during good behavior, and that there should be no objection to his " continuing as hereto- fore to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ." Continuing, he said : " If the Curators deem it advisable to change the tenure of office so as to make it during good behavior, they may regard this as my acceptance of the presidency."
Mr. Long introduced the following : - 1
1. Resolved, That the Secretary of this Board be required to inform President Shan- non that he is requested to enter upon his duties as President of the University of the State of Missouri, subject to the restrictions of the Laws of the State regulating said University.
2. Resolved, That the resolution passed at the September meeting of the Board of Curators, fixing the term of office of President at six years, be, and the same is hereby re- scinded.
Dr. Smith moved to amend the first resolution by striking out all after the word " resolved," and inserting the following : -
That the tenure of office of the President of the University of Missouri be during good behavior.
Mr. Long moved to amend the amendment as follows : -
Strike out all after the word "during," and insert "the pleasure of the Board."
The vote being taken the amendment to the amendment was rejected, as follows : -
AYES-Corby, Matthews and Long-3.
NAYS - Stone, Lewis, McElhaney, Duncan, Smith, Brown and Dunn - 7.
-
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
Mr. Long then introduced another amendment to the amendment, as follows : -
Strike out all after the word "be," and insert " the same as that of the Professors of the University."
Vote the same as before : lost, whereupon the question being upon Dr. Smith's amendment, it was adopted, as follows : -
AYES -Stone, Lewis, McElhaney, Duncan, Smith, Brown and Dunn -7.
NAYS-Corby, Matthews and Long - 3.
The second resolution offered by Mr. Long was then withdrawn. Mr. Corby introduced the following :
Resolved, That in the election of President Shannon to the office of President of the University of the State of Missouri, the Board of Curators hereby neither affirm nor deny the right of President Shannon to exercise his functions as a clergyman during his continuance in said office, subjecting the same to the operation of the laws governing said University.
Dr. McElhany moved to lay the resolution on the table. Carried - Messrs. Corby and Long voting against the motion and the balance for it.
The Board having complied with all his conditions, President Shan- non was therefore President of the University.
An important resolution was adopted (on motion of Dr. Smith), concerning the education of poor young men in the State, substantially as follows : -
Resolved, That indigent young men in the State of Missouri, possessing good moral. character and respectable talents, and not under fourteen years of age, be permitted to attend the University of Missouri by paying the contingent fee of one dollar a year, and the Treas- urer of the Board is authorized to furnish certificates to all who may present satisfactory evidence from the Curator or Curators, approved by the Judge of the Circuit Court of his- or their Judicial Circuit, from whence recommendations must come as to the worthiness of the applicants desirous to avail themselves of the benefits of this ordinance.
Meeting March 18, 1850. - George C. Pratt tendered his resigna- tion as Professor of Languages and the thanks of the board were tendered him for the able, faithful and successful manner in which he had discharged his duty. The president ad interim, Prof. W. W. Hudson, - President Shannon not having entered upon his duties. until the beginning of the next session, - was requested to make such division of the duties of the Professor of Languages among the faculty and tutors as may be least onerous to any individual member until the chair could be permanently filled. Dr. T. R. H. Smith, expecting to. be absent from the State, resigned the secretaryship of the board, and.
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
Elder D. P. Henderson was elected Secretary pro tem. C. S. Stone resigned the presidency of the board, and at the July session Elder F. R. Palmer was elected in his place. George H. Matthews, of Bacon College, of Harrodsburg, Ky., notified the board of his accept- ance of the chair of Ancient Languages at a salary of $1,000 per annum, with the perquisite of $5 per student over 80.
INAUGURATION. OF PRESIDENT SHANNON.
[From the Columbia Statesman, July 5, 1850.]
In addition to the ordinary exercises of the occasion, the interesting ceremony of the inauguration of President Shannon took place. The assembly in attendance was immense .. A very large number of strangers honored the day by their presence. The following is the-
PROGRAMME OF EXERCISES :
Prayer. Music. Salutatory Address in Latin, by Charles B. Allen. Oration on the Progress of Science, by James D. Head. Music. Oration on International Copyright, by William S. Hyde. Oration on Difference of Opinion, by Henry Slack. Music. Oration on Fanaticism, Political and Religious, by Calvin F. Burnes. Master Oration, by Thomas B. Read. Music. Degrees Conferred. Valedictory Address, by Lawson G. Drury. Music. Address on Behalf of Curators, by Rev. Addison M. Lewis. Inaugural Address, by President James Shannon. Music. Benediction.
We regret the lateness of the hour at which the exercises closed yesterday evening pre- cludes the possibility of comments upon the 'address of President Shannon. Suffice it to- say it breathed the right spirit, enforced in the main the right doctrine, and was well. received.
The inaugural address of President Shannon, together with the one- delivered by Rev. Mr. Lewis, was requested for publication and 3,000 copies ordered to be printed.
On motion of James Ellison, it was resolved that it would conduce to the interest of the University for the president to visit the various. sections of the State and lecture on the subject of education, and that he be requested to do so.
After an ineffectual effort to secure the attendance of a quorum at. the December meeting, the Board adjourned to meet in Jefferson City on January 8, 1851.
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
PRESIDENT LATHROP'S PORTRAIT.
The following communication from the ladies of Columbia and vicinity was read to the Board : -
SATURDAY, December 21, 1850. To the Board of Curators of the University of the State of Missouri.
GENTLEMEN : Mr. George C. Bingham, Missouri's gifted artist, prior to the departure of President Lathrop to Wisconsin, painted a most excellent and accurate portrait of that gen- tlemen and kindly presented it to the ladies of Columbia.
Associated as is the name of Dr. Lathrop with the University, as its first President, indebted as this community feels to him for having laid broad and deep the foundation of that institution, and identified as is his name with the cause of education in Missouri, we deem it most appropriate that his portrait should find a permanent and conspicuous place within the walls of the University.
We, the undersigned, therefore, a committee 'appointed on behalf of the ladies of this place, respectfully request that it be hung in the Chapel immediately on the left of the Presi- dent's desk, not only for its excellence and preservation as a work of art, but that the young men here educated may study his character, imitate his example, and thereby elevate and enlighten their minds.
A. B. Woodson, Camilla Price, Mary Jane Switzler, Hannah Hardin, E. A. Bast, C. A. Lynch, S. A. Daniels, E. E. Branham, S. C. Powers, E. B. Selby, D. E. Todd, M. Gentry, M. Guitar, M. A. Wilson, E. V. Provines, C. E. Child, L. A. Matthews, P. W. Royall, M. E. Rollins, C. F. Todd, M. L. Parker, S. F. Prewitt, E. Richardson, M. A. Garth, M. Clarkson. M. PHILLIPS, President.
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