The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-01-16
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.

Va iuei.lay MT. ocUpic aked tor leave to
bring in a,bill, to eftablifh "the Univer(ity of
Virginia" Much, he ebferved, had been al
ready done to improve the face of our coun-
try; and multiply the productions of the earth
Surely it was time to do fomething for its peo.
pie; fomething that might conhuce to the
Improvement of man, and multiply that mott
valuable of all productions; an enlie htened
understanding.
The adyantagesynf education were not to be
denied, fit was con6dered in regard to the
morals of a nation Ignorance was the parent
OF vice, and it would be idle to expect men
to do what was right, until they knew what
was reallyfo. Con6dered in regard to a re-
publican government, the wifdom of the peo-
PIE mutt be conidereds az its firmeft fupport.
The very exiftence of that form of government
depended upon the people having information
enough to penetrate into the defigns of the
rich and the powerful 1t is wifdom alone that
contributes the check 'upon all thofe active pow
ers, which are driving to overthrow the Eber-
ties of the people. ~.
1t would beimpraefcable perhaps to intro
duce at oSYe into the commonwealth general
fytem of education. Difficulties might at pre-
TENT exit, which would require the hand of
time to remove. But was this any reafen, why
the Legislature ihould fink into complete lit
lefsneis! 1t was time to fet about the work :
other legislatures taking it up, svbere they
left it, might contribute to enlarge the fyftem
Mr.. Semple explained the details of his pro.
jea it was deGrable (he thought) that the
unworthy fhould be eftabliihed in fome county,
that was below the South-Weft mountain, in
central lituation, recommended by the IA
Iubrityof the climate, and the cheapnefs OF
proviGens. 1. fhoud be far removed from G.
very fcene of buale, dif1ipation and vice To fup.
port this inititution, II was contemplated to
raite the fun of 100000 dolls. At Ieaft one
fffb of this fun twas to be collected by velun.
tary contributions /: $4,000 dolls. every yea,
by a lottery, and the fate Mould pledge itfeli
to authorize no other, until this plan was &C.
compliihed; and the reit of the capital, by a
tax to be laid upon fuch articles as are princi.
pa'ly i'll the handsof the rich. Tbree-ffb5 OF
this capital were to be employed in conducting
the inftitution; tsve-ft7bs in purchaGng pro-
per fcite, and in erecting the necefIary buildings
In the purchafe of fcite, he conceived that the
land attached to it ihouid be in 70 large a body
as to keep at diftance, by the jurifdiefion to
| be given to the Univeriity, every perfon that
| might iujure the morals of the pupils, at the
| fame time to admit Of a certain number of lots
being eafed out for the benefit of the inltituti
on.
Mr.. Semple hoped that leave would be Civ.
en- to bring in the bill.
Leave was accordingly given, and MefIrs
Semple, Tazwel, Smyth (of Wythe), Harvie
| Miller lNorthumberland) Jones' (Nottoway)
Woodil.g, Reedcr, Moore, Minor, Garland
Harrifon (Amelia), and Carter Harrifon were
appointeda committee to bring in the bill.
Mr.. Semple then afked leave to bring in a
bill "to open fubic ription for the benefit OF
the Univerity of Virginia" Referred to the
fame fele2 committee.