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Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
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194 History University of Illinois passed the house by a vote of 45 to 34. In the senate, Mr. Lindsay proposed a second reading but it was lost by a vote of 9 to 12. Previous to this, on January 13, another bill on the subject had been introduced into the senate by Senator Lindsay. Back of this were the Champaign county men who had secured a copy of the bill formed by the Decatur committee, and striking out the eleventh section, inserted a clause which located the university between Urbana and Champaign. I t was referred to a special committee of seven, but when after amendment it came to a vote on February 6, it was lost by a tie, 12 to 12.31 Difference of opinion upon the question of location of the proposed industrial university had brought about the defeat of the whole project. On February 16,1865, immediately following the adjournment of the legislature, the Decatur committee made a report giving a full history of the situation. Upon the general plan of locating the institution the committee stated its attitude : " I . As an equivalent for the local benefits likely to flow from its being fixed at any point, the interests of the university demand, and the State is entitled to, not only a good bargain, but the best one obtainable; and that the greatest possible advantages, physical, financial, social and educational be secured. " 2 . If located in any manner which does not afford all portions of the State opportunity to make proposals, the sympathies and affections of the whole people cannot be expected to follow and bless it. §% The precedents of this State were in favor of the intervention of a commission of discreet persons, to be selected by the Governor and Senate, or appointed by vote of both Houses of the General Assembly. There could be no appearance even of want of equity in submitting the matter to a commission; there was nearly two years and a half within which to secure the buildings, and our friends therefore adopted this mode." On the question of division of the fund the report says: "Even before the first day of the session, the advocates of a division of this fund among several of the existing literary institutions commenced pressing their peculiar views upon the atten%1 Eome Journal, 1865, p. 122, 305, 670, 700-702, 788, 806-811, 1000.
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