Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-08
Wiiiiam y Nary Coliege, /,
February ls,, isl7. )


suspended. hc iolo"ing are the cir
cumStances which lcdto tins result:
On Tuesday night laS, the College bell
was rung three diiierent,imes The Stu
dents were notified Of this by me, and The
persons who had thus wan,unly disturbed
the repose of the town, were required to
report themselves forthwith, that this af-
fair might be settled, as others had been
without trouble or difficulty.
No attention being paid 10 this regnisi-
ton, the Students were given 10 under
stand, that the offence would not be pas
sed oyer, and that the 9th Statute of the
Laws would be had recourse to If neces-
sary, in order 10 discover the perpetra-
tors. That very night, on which this no
tice was given, a second attempt was
made 10 repeat the offence but the stee-
pie door, though always kept locked, hal
in the meantime been Soefiectually secur-
ed, that it could not be forced Evcn.af-
fer all this, being understood, that the
well-disposcd part of the Students were
exceedingly avcrSc to the enforcement Of
the above mentioned statute, they were
informed that all which lad passed would
be overlooked, ai,d that the obnoxious
regulation should be dormant, provided
they would, in the first Instance, forewagn
such evil disposed young men, that upon
The repetition OF similar offences, means
would be adopted by their class mates TO
exclude them from the Institution. What
these means were to be, they were told,
WAS moi material the maintenance OF or
der being the sole object of the society,
the midcr the methods provided they
were cfieCtua) by which this could be ac-
ccuipi,shed, the more agreeable TO that
body:
This proposition produced no effect,
and OF course the Investigation proceed
ed. Every student at the College, who
was not confined by sickness, with tile
exception OF one, who was answered for
by d friend, gave the society "the most
solemn assurance on his honour, without
preyarcation OF mental resery alton, that
he neither directly, nor indirectly, aided,
advised, assisted, or abettod, or was in
any manner privy 10 The said transacti-
on"
Ten, however, among whom was Your
acknowledged, that (fhough
innocent Themselves they knew facts,
witch would enable the society to detect
the guilty but these facts they would not
disclose. The whole were accordingly
suspended.
How the affair will terminate, am una
bic 10 say-A severe sentence will UNI
d0ubtedly be awarded, should they per-
severe, us the young men have deliberate
ly refused to comply with a law which the
society have solemnly assured them and
the Public would be enforced. Their ca
SEES will not, however, be acted upon I'M
til they have an opportunity of getting
parental advice. In order 10 settle this
unpleasant affair as speedily as possible,
have TO request, that you will write 10
your and myself, by return of
Posi-.
The following is believed TO be a cor
rect statement OF the plot which led to
these evil consequences:
Some few of tie students entered into
a combination with a young man of the
town, but unconnectct with the College,
that he should do all the mischief, and
they would defy every test, which the so
ciety could devise, SO that neither his Of
fence, nor their guilt, should be brought
to light
Need it be asked, ought such persons
to be exposed, or are honorable but ms
guided youths TO he punished, llat such
characters may be screened 2?
You will distinctly understand, that
your was not suspended because
IiS HdS SuSiBcClSu Oh DeiHS dn dCCOlnpiICe
in this nefarious proceeding, but because
he refused to comply with regulation
which he mad promised to observe.
With due respect,
AOur Obedent servant.
The foregoing statement is so ample,
That few commeAts are necessary. A
difference ofcpniOn may possibly exist
as 10 the proprietyS OF law, compelling
one student TO act as witness, where a
class-mate is implicated, but after the
statute was enacted, by an authority pa
ramount TO that of the society, and its
strict execution enjolmed" upon that
body, and after thepubhc had been assur-
ed, and the Students, before their malri-
culatlon, had been warned, that the Rule
which II necessary, be enforced tie Pro-
lessors lad surely 90 alternative left.
The new Code OF EthIcks upon which
these unfortunate young men nave acted,
can scarcely find many adyocaies.-
There certainly can be but few who think
that vague and indefinite obligations are
to be preferred To those which are direct
and positive that fantastic notions of
honor are to subvert tie mmutablc laws
OF morality and that solemn. deLiberate.
and voluntary promises are To- he disre-
garded, because torsOoth the promjsces
are Professors
Some fermeni was, as NAV be supposed
produced, while tue affair was pending
but although there were SIS young men IN
Town, at the time, and the scenes Which