Page:The formative period in Colby's history.djvu/20

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What were the forces which opposed the passage of the charter of the "Maine Literary and Theological College" in February, 1812? While we cannot answer that question with absolute certainty, 'ther'e can be little doubt that the friends of the infant institution at Brunswick were averse to the establishment of a second college in the District of Maine, and used their influence to prevent the passage of the charter submitted. Be that as it may, there was sufficient opposition to secure the overwhelming defeat of the proposed charter.

That Merrill and his co-workers were not disposed to relinquish their attempt to secure full collegiate powers for their proposed institution is evident from their next move. Had they now submitted a bill for a strictly theological school, there is every reason to believe that it would have been speedily passed. But they did no such thing. When the new General Court met early in the summer of 1812, Daniel Merrill was present as a member of the lower house, and from this vantage point continued his fight. On the fifth of June he presented a second petition. This was identical with the first petition presented the previous January, with the exception of the signatures at the end. These were as follows:

Why the change in the arrangement of signatures was made we can only surmise. The petitioners may have thought that the new method gave a better indication of their strength as representing a total of ninety-two associated Baptist churches. The petition bears two endorsements, written on a separate sheet and attached to the bottom by seals. The first of these reads:

""In Senate June 5th 1813 Read & Committed to the Hon Mess Phillips, Poor, and Foote—to consider and Report thereon. Sam. Dana, Prest.""