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Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
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264 History University of Illinoi Metcalf endeavored to amend in favor of McLean; McConndl tried an amendment for Morgan county and, failing in this, endeavored to secure one for Lincoln. All attempts failed. Mr. McConnell endeavored then to get through an amendment looking to the protection of the scrip, which amendment also failed. Mr. Fort tried one in regard to deciding on another location in case Champaign county did not fulfill its promises and this failed. Finally Mr. Strain became quite facetious and moved that this act should not be held to be invalid by reason of its having ignored the superior bids of other counties, nor by reason of its having been passed by a combination with the new state house, canal, and southern penitentiary "ring." Needless to say this amendment was promptly tabled. The bill having withstood all assaults was read a third time and passed by the senate with a vote of eighteen to seven, and on February 28, the bill was signed by the governor. Thus the long contest on the question of location was finally closed. Immediately upon the passage of this bill both houses hastened to take action to protect themselves against their own work. In the senate a supplemental bill was introduced by Mr. Fort providing that if Champaign did not "pay u p " by June 1 the trustees " shall" locate the college in one of the other three counties bidding. Mr. Mack tried to turn the "shall" to "may" but failed and the bill passed twenty-three to nothing, and on the same day, February 25, it passed the house sixty to one and was approved by the governor on March 8, 1867. The results of the contest were the kind that usually and almost inevitably follow a long and bitter struggle. After the legislature adjourned in 1867, there were those who hastened to congratulate the winning county while some hesitated to do this for the reason that they doubted that Champaign would make good her promises. The Chicago Journal and the Republican which had championed Champaign's cause now came out in praise of the county and were particularly complimentary to its skillful representative Mr. C. R. Griggs. The attitude of mind of the Champaign county leaders on the question of their success was reflected in the Champaign County Union and Gozette:1B "March 15, 1867.
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