Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-13
II Hsf ~ 81 lLNOI-1RilR II

- 49, 'sify on q NN~NdN Dir,btg ohN on
ATTEMPT lHatse the succeeding night
lad Dr.. Smith confined himscifto this
amt She other fact, that Ten of Us were siis-
pended. because we would not bctray The
confluence ala feilow student, or disclose
10 him suspicious by which lie might be
able Ia trace the perpetrators, he would
have done iis duty, and saved us The
trouble OF appearing before The Public
Bat he has lidulgeo himselfin reflections,
and published to the world ungenerous
and unwaTrantabie suspicious, that may
lead disi1tcres'ed & HnSuspecting persons
TO form opinions, and prepare them To re
ceive Impressions uni;,vorable TO our con
duct.
His publication seems 10 he addressed
more to the Students of William a. Mary
shan to the world--lt appears 10 be his
desire rather 10 bring about reconcilia-
ton and calm the Just alarms ofthe Stu
dents, t:an TO give TO the Public a fair and
candid statement.
Our intrusion, therefore, needs no 9th
or apology than this DIR. Smith has moi
been candid.
The morning after the last attempt was
made 10 ring the bell, the thirteen Students
who sleptin the College were summoned
before the Faculty, where each one was
called upon to make a solemn declarat-
on Upon his honor, without prcyarication
or mental reservation, that he neither tii-
recfiy nor indirectly aided, advised, as
sisted or abetied, or was in any manner
privv TO The said transaction"
This declaration being made by each
one, and the pritremaiuing unrecogni-
zed, If became necessary to enforce the
latter clause of the 9th statute of the Col
legc, which runs thus" And should tile
perpetrators of any mischief, in order TO
avoid detection, deny their guilt, then
may the Society require any Student TO
give evidence upon his honor against those
suspected of such Il foul enormily, that tie
College may not be polluted by the pres
ence ofthose who are equally regardless
of the laws Of honor, of the principles of
morality, and the preceptS ofreligion. -
Upon being asked, therefore, il we were
acquainted with any facts that mi.hi lead
10 Il discovery, three among the thirteen
confessed they had such information, bnt
refused L. disclose lt-Ist. Because, ii was
not sach as went TO the direct proof of the
fact, but only afforded strong ground of
suspicion, which could never have been
contemplated by the trainers OF the law
as-cvi6ence winch we were to give ON our
hOnor-and 2naly. From the words of the
statute, ii was necessary that tie criminal
should be arraigned, and we called upon
as witnesses, and not as informcrs: for the
words are, then may the Faculty call
upon any Student TO give evidence against
those Suspected" The President, inflexibIc
in bis resolution, would not admit the LIST
objection. 1t is his nature never 10 Weld
his determination ne'er feels reiiringebb.
We, therefore, received lis usual reply -
lis imm2terlal, Conference.-The must
have the information" The end obiecti-
ON was slenced 10y Professor, with more
of ingenuity than .iustice-for, said he,
'Ihe law is complied with, because we
suspect all Of you-You are all arraign-
ed"
Thus forced 10 submit TO their own
construction ofthis statute, we h!nted 10
the Society. tbatit was illibera TO coniine
the'r enquiries 20 few only, because it
was very probable the mischief might
have been committed by some one not
RESTING ia the College, as the commuli-
cation 10 the steeple doorwa free 10 any
who pleased to enter-Upon this, the IN
vesiigaiion stopt as 10 us.
On that evening, DIR. Smith commuica-
ted 10 the Students the proposition menii-
oned in his Circular, that if any subse-
quent agSrcssOr should refuse 10 acknow-
ieu5t Tvs EhItt, tnSD the students should
take means 10 exclude him from the In
sttution, or else deliver him up TO pun
lsiiment Upon this pladge being given,
the present affair should be past over
AS Ihls was but rendering the former law
more severe, by placing the burthen Of its
execution upon the Students, thew unan-
inIously rejected it-and without adjourn
ing the Meeting, they appointed a Com
mittee to petition the Visitors, through the
Faculty, for repeal OF the obnoxious
rule which subjected one Student TO give
information against his fellow Students
Although this petition was couched i'm
terms polite and respectful, and asked no
thing but what was reasonable, vet thew
refused even to consider it, and accor-
dinghy proceeded To the Interrogation of
those, who had not been examined the day
before, who were called upon TO make the
same declaration of their own innocence
or guilt, and give any information of
wIIch they might be possessed Seven.
who had obtained their knowledge Of the
aggrcssor from his confession in conf
dence, or from his unguarded expressions
were asked TO betrav THAT confidence. or
take advantage % the lmprudence of their
fellow Student, which they refused to do
without lesitatlou--and as reason and ar.
Sument, however cogent or forcble, are ot
no avail where powerand oppression pre-
sides, they together with the other three
silently submitted TO the sentence OF sus
pension.
| Thus were fen innocent men under This
To- s.fs !. Il -