after debate and revision of the original proposal, the franklin society voted in favor of preston's concept. after a public relations campaign that included preston meeting in person with influential business, military and political figures, letters to newspaper editors from preston writing under a pen name, and many open letters from prominent supporters including alden partridge of norwich university, in 1836 the virginia legislature passed a bill authorizing creation of a school at the lexington arsenal, and the governor signed the measure into law.