Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-12-31

tS pUTttCUtUT SuS CSttOU QNi duCttc VI We I
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Your memorialists beg leave respectfully TO
to your honorable body, that it APP
Dears to them singular, why SO much anxiety
should be discovered for the removal of the
College at this particular period, when the IN
~stitution has hitherto suffered temporary de-
pression,- and has again revived, knowing as we
do, that the College, for the last ten years, has
ilourished beyond all former example, in spite of
the many obstacles presented to It's prosperity.
Ii is To the said resolution of the Visitors that
your memorialists object, and against which
they beg leave TO demonstrate. In the first
place, they take the liberty to remark, that a
power does not exist in the Visitors, even if they
were unanimous in the opinion, to change the
location, without a violation of the charter un-
der which they act; and they ask tue attention
of the Legislature TO that part of the charter
which fixes the site. BY this charter, power was
given to the General Assembly of the Colony Of
Virginia to build and establish a College, and
Ithe General Assembly did, in the year 1923,
pass a law by which the College was located at
lis present site. Being thus erected and esta-
blished, il was, in common and legal contein
plation, fixed by the charter s there to remain
III all times coming," as absolutely and COM
pietelv as if the charter had designated the loca-
ton. Should the Legislature grant the power
required, can the Visitors make the change
without resembling at once the whole charter, BY
NhiSh tlC SOiitEC Il cTCCttd. II lucy ittiiO
will the Legislature do 4 vain thing by passinga
law on the subject? Should the Visitors and
Governors design TO annul the charter, and the
President and Professors intend TO surrender
their rights. interests aud powers, let them do
SO in uneouivocal terms.
Your memorialists beg leave here to call the
attention of the Legislature to the. words OF.
the resolution, under which the petition Of the
Faculty has been presented. Ii states, that the
object of the removal, g is with a view to a
more EXTENDED diffusion of the benefits of the
institution" This admits that there is now
am extended diffusion of the benefits of the
institution; and if so, then the claim which the
College has 10 remain at its present location,
seemsto exist IN its full force by tie admission
OF the Visitors themselves.
Upon the interesting subject relative to the
removal of the College of William and Mary
from IFS present situation, for The purpose of
fixing it at some more eligible site TO obtain the
purposes of n more general diffusion of know
ledge throughout the State, your memorlaliSts
would ask, where could n location be selected
for this venerable institution, 50 well calculated
as ITS present one TO fulfil all these purposes?
The city of Williamsburg, at one extremity OF
which William and Mary College is established,
may be considered as the centre of a district Of
country from Richmond to the seabord, and
from the Putoymac to the southern boundary of
our State. Should Richmond, therefore, be
selected as the proper situation for locating the
* oiiege, II would be fixing it at one extremity
oi tins district of country, by which a majority
oi the people of this same district would be vir-
tuatiy deprived of the advantages of an aca-
deinIcai education. But, do no other objections
present themselves, in opposition TO the esta
olisimnent at Richmond of a University for the
education OF the youth of our country With.
out gong INTO a statement of the many reasons
winch might be advanced TO prove, that Rich
rnond, al all times, wonld be a most improper
situation tor such an establishment, considering
II ia relation TO the morals o. the Youths who
might be sent there for the purposes of educa-
non, your memorialists would beg leave to state
one reason, which would, in their opinion, make |
n ineligible, that the old and venerable |institu- |
iIon OF William and Mary College be thence
removed. Under the auspices and patronage of
your enlightened body, the University of Vir-
gihia has been established, which it appears, by
the late report of its Rector. will soon be put
INTO full and complete operation. From the iu-
dicious selection of the site of this University,
beng, as 1T is b believed, the central point of our
state, 1t IS well adapted TO answer the great
purposes for which it was intended, The general
diffusion of knowledge throughout the State.
II is TO be presumed, therefore, that the ;outh
from the western and middle parts of our State,
as low down as Richmond, will resort TO this
University Tor education. On the south side of
James River, in the county of Prince Edward.
the college of l1ampden Sydney is at ihis time
Iui iide OF succcSSiuI" operation. This |
institution, from the ,oiSe and pyqxdsat con6ac!
oil lis Trustees and Professors, and from IFS ne
ctiiar situation, being seated in "A rich and 20
puious country, will continue TO educate a la, gre
portion OF the youth Of Virginia. Were =
University established in Richmond, it NAV be
asked, from what sections of this State will the
youtl OF our country repair, TO obtain the ad-
Vantages OF education, in preference to resort
ing TO The University of Virginia, to Hampden
sydney, or TO William and Mary? The CITY of
richmond, and It's Immediate vicinity. may per-
maps furnish Il few young men but, will the
Legislature of the State, always governed
by general and enlarged views of policy, re.
move from the CITY Of Williamsburg its ancient
and venerable institution, thereby depriving, ia
TACT. The youth of a large and respectable por.
ton OF oui State of the means of education. TO
Tx Ut on any other spot, where, as it has been
attempted TO be shewn, so general a diffusion of
cannot be obtained Your memo
%rla'ists, confdingjn the wisdom of your Iionora-
bic body, and in the enlarged and liberal prin.
cipies by which you have been always cuided.
cannot for a moment entertain so bitter and
calling a reflection.
Your mcinorialists do not believe hat il is ne
for them to proceed in further detail on
,ii!s SUBJECT the have said enough to account,
or the present Condition Of the College, and 10
rove that ls present location ought not to be
fNa'ige1. Isn't they cannot conclude this their
without inviting. With all due defer
nhce' the attention OF the Legislature 10 the c
I"riner State and condition o. This ancient insti.
-uiIcn. WHAT valuable ad Iii ions SIC has made u
10 tln fund of human knowledge in her present J
&c uon; now much she has contributed in flo =