the idea for a public university in the kansas territory was first mentioned by territorial governor andrew reeder on july 3, 1855. he gave a speech to members of the first territorial legislature, saying: "to enlarge upon the necessity of general education for producing good government," he told the lawmakers, "would be at this day a work of supererogation, and i leave the matter in your hands, confident it will receive the attention it deserves." after his speech, the session responded by creating a system of common schools for the territory. they also approved a charter for a "university of the territory of kansas," proposed to be built in douglas, kansas (near present-day lecompton). however, this proposed university was never built.