Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-01-18

told by the gentleman from New Kent, (Mr.
Chiistan,) that no new information could alter
his mind. Not SO with the committee. They
had thought 1t right to investigate the question
fairly, and To keep themselves open to be con-
vInced by subsequent information. One reason
alleged In favor of adopting tins resolution, was
that much time had been, and would be con
sumcd, IN the further prosecution Of tue en-
curry. Mr.. III. said, he believed it was not
strictly IN order to- refer To what had pass, in
| the committee, but he believed he was au,nOriz-
cd to say, that majority of the co,nrnitte a:ycre
M favor of rc.noval, ani that they were at their
last meeting prepared TO make Il report TO that
effect t. the H,u,c. Why had they not done
so' Because, to accommodate the foes of the
removal, they had adopted a resolution calling
for new and extended enquiries. When these
enquiries have accordingly been directed, and
have actually commenced, the very gentlemen
who have been thus instrumental in prolonginr
the investigation sf the committee, complain of
the time which has been consumed, and move
upon tins very ground, to discharge the commit
tee from the further consideration of the subject
II, sand Mr.. III. It be the sense of the House to
reject the petition of the president and professors
OF VIM. and Mary let 1t do so--but let it have
the means of Judging impartlaly; and voting
understandingly upon the question. If the sub
| Ject was disposed of in this way, it would un-
que,tionaby be renewed at the next session.
Another reason of great weight, called for the
rejection OF the resolution. 1t was to give an
injured and amiable individual, (Dr Smith,
President of the College,) an opportunity o. APP
PearnS at the bar of the House, in vindication
oil his Character Charges of an infamous ma
ture Deism and Atheism-we would suggest
that the DIR. cannot be both Deist and Atheist, I
had been preferred against him. They had been
successfully repealed before the committee, and
were wholly unsupported by proof.
MIR. BRYCE, of Goochland, regretted that
the resolution had been introduced. The sub
Ject was serious Que, and one in which the
whole community, involving as il did, the inter-
ests of education, were directly concerned
The dignity of the House required that il should
be dIspasslonatcly Investigated; and deliberately
decided. How could members Justify them
selves to the community, for giving it the go bv
IN the way proposed by the resolution Were
| all the la5ours of the committee which had been
so long engaged IN InyeStIgatm this question to
go for nothing? Vas the trust reposcl IN them
thus to be withdrawn, without permitting them
to prove that they had meriled it, at The heads
OF tine House, In whatever view he considered
the effect OF the resolution, whether as virtually
! treating the Committee of Schools and Colleges
with dIsrespcct-as smothering enquiries which
the public interest required TO be tnadc-as
Z j,
aud inviting renewal of it at the next session,
he thought il ought 20 be rejected.
Mr.. DROMGOOLE, as a member of the
Committee of Schools ana Colleges, rose to pro-
test against course unprecedented in legisla-
ton. Had il ever been known before that a
motion should be made 10 discharge committee
IRON the consideration of subject, without con.
| suit'ng the wishes of that committee? The
question OF removing William and Mary Col.
lege, was Of grea' interest 10 the whole state.
/ Every Virglnianiool an interest in it, and wish
ed the prosperity of au Institution which had re
! Elected so much credit on the state. The ques
tion was, If = change of location would not pro-
mote the prosperity of the Institution How
coslld The t4ouse decide this question without
intormation' 1t was an application from an ole
and venerable Institution. Her alumni dis
persed over the state, we're watching the result
with the deepest solicitude. 1t was due to thc
Interest universally felt in the question-to the
responsibility of the Petitioners-to the charac.
ter of the Committee which had been entrusted
with the investigation, to let it proceed, and &c
give the question the fullest deliberatIon The
visitors of the College had petitoned for its re-
m3ya- The enquiry had been referred to a
committee, who had most laboIlousy prosecuted
1T. Vas ii respectful TO either of those bodies,
to smother the enquiry in this way? Was the
House IN possession of information sufficient ia
enable it to decide? Was it acquainted with
the situation of tue funds, the different source.
whence they had been derived and the various
intelligence called for by the last resolution Of
the committee, and the previous resolution OF
this House, How then was it possible Tor the
! House TO give an enlightened decision on the
/ question? If the humbost Individual in the
/ community had made an application to the Leg
stature, it would not be disposed of in this way
ara ado tn, t,,o l.
ccived Il most extraordinary one 10 be addressed
to deIiberative Assembly. 1t was that the
time consumed liz this enquiry would prolono
the session of the General Assembly If sucf
an argument is entitled to weight, it would scout
out every proposition which requires delibera
i ton or discussion. But Mr. ID. said he could
not perceive how the further prosecution of this
4 enquiry by the Committee Of Schools aud Col
leges, you'll delay the adjournment fthc Gen
cral Assembly. The siitngs of that committee
did not interfere viii, the business of the House
l and If, when the period Of adjournment shouIc
arrive, rt2 committee had not closed their Ia
bours. the General Assembly would adjourn
without regard 70 the cuisines, before the Com.
mittee of schools and Colleges On the othe
hand, If was certain, the labour, the Committed
would be closed in the course OF the next week
\ The extraordinary delay had been produced b,
the enemies, aud not by the friends of the re-
moval. For his part Mr. D. said, he stooc uu
committed either TO vote for or against the re
moyal. He was in need of lnlUrnatlon to cradle
hum 10 decide. He was prepared to- vote aC
cordlnG to the impressions produced on him By
the information collected by the Committee
II this resolution was adopted it would bt
equivalent TO a vote Of censure on the Com
nittec for neglect. II had been said that, the
resolution recently adopted by the Committee