Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-01-28

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tiicreupon
The College of William and Mary was iucor
porated IN The year 1851, and richly endowed
Inc place oil IFS location left to the discretion O
Tue trustees appointed by the charter, was limit
ed TO the lands of Col. Townsend. s.ncar the
port appointed, or laid out for York county; or,
II by reason OF unwholesoincncss, or any other
cause. the said place should not be anprove, nj
wheresoever the General Assembly of Virgir;.,
or the major part of them should think fin Ac.
cordmgly, by an act of the Colonial Assembly
IN 1873, Williamsburg, on the then iniddle plan
.a'ion, was selected as the site, and the insti-
,"lion soon put INTO operation. But, from the
various laws enacted by the Legislature down to
ue year 1874, IN aid of its efforts, it appears
that IFS proceedings had been much embarrassed
by failure in lis revenue and other ,.,uses IN
large funds which it possessed must have been
very unproductivc; and their annual profits.
whatever they may have been, seem never to
have contributed their full power in disseminate
ing literature.
ne incidents of Our glorious Revolution,
winch swept away the fortunes of SO many ci,i
zens, did not spare the sacred means appro-
priatcd m this institution to the intellectual
wants OF our country. But many private dona-
tons founding scholarships in the College, were
a'saipaied IN the struggle, and not yes,ipc is
ieit' save The record evincing the picty and be-
ie'olehce oil individuals. Since ,hat period its
'i''dS seem 10 have been more productive, al
though considerable losses have been sustained
ami now its capital amounts to Si32I61 co,
With such ample means, wl.at OUGHT to have
beeu The contribution of this institution TO the
Literary wealth OF our country. In examining the
history oil lis proceedings, YOUR committee are
pleased to learn, that il has disciplined many
oil The noble minds who have given dignity TO
the State, and reflected lnstrc ON the College;
yet, they regret To ascertain how few, cornpa-
ratiyelv, have received the benefit of IFS in
structun. They have labored assiduouslv TO
learn the causes which, holding these fnnis in
suspense, have left the genius of numerous
youths OF our State to enter upon the tolls OF
'nanhood without the advantages of cultivated
c 'ucAt'on It's an unpleasant necessity which
inpeiS Them 20 believe, that some of the causes
aIIeSed IN the counter memorials were induced
under feelings which they cannot approve; vet
they have been led to give them due considera-
ton. The Conduct of the faculty, although i'm
every instance 1T may not have been entirely
correct, does not, upon the whole, appear to be
hable To the ccnsurc, severe and personal with
which has been assailed. The anxiety ronsed
oy TIC agitation OF Il project crossing the long
indniged views conprehending the private in
'erest and most pleasing hopes of individuals
'n't be received as an apology for displays of
the nperfcctions of human nature. fl is moi
betting the dignity of the Legislature, the re-
5pect which the committee owes TO itself orihc
courtesy due to those directly concerned. 90 en-
terinto minute exposure Of these causes. They
must, from their nature, lave been temporary.
They may have conduccd, in some measure. TO
the present depressed state of the College but
cannot always have prevented the full, efficient
and bcupHfeDt ion, of it,
average animal number of pupils who have al
tended tbs institution from 1856 to 1923 in
clnSWe, amounts 10 10 1873, while its arnnlc
means were designed To accommodate double
That nIiRber; and, at some fourishne periods.
conid nave educated three or four times asinany
lakIng moderate estimate of its revenues and
thc ah1Ve average of scholars a. data, the cx
PenSc OF tuition alone for each scholar amounts
to the enormous sum of Sl7o pes annun.
When ttc wants of oiir society are so clear
~ manifest in lis intellectual condition and cha
ractcr, can such waste of means fail To excite
thc concern and rouse the attention of every
TREND oil literature, of every friend to his coun-
try, The College was situated at its foundation.
in the heart of the population of Virginia. Tho
wealth, the taste, the genius OF the Colony.
closely surrounding the institution welcomed
Its cheering light, and by their patronage, gave
II llsire and celebrity. But. in The cvolutioDs
OF society, population pursuing the salubrty of
or climate, and the allurcnents of eur soil has
spread itself through the middle and western
parts OF our State, and carried with il the largest
humber of our youths and the greatest demand
for education The thinned society of the lower
counties, seems not to have availed itself, 10
much extent, of the great advantages offered TO
ii through this College.
| The great interest displayed by Virginia, in
Tue public dissemination OF learning, through all
ranks in the Commonwealth, is scnsiby recog-
MED By your committee.-They see also, the
justice which requires, that in ali new arrange
ments upon such funds, a due respect should be
paid to the long settled expectations of those
who have been accustomed to look to them for
| tue means of instruction.
The present state of this College appears 10
be depOrable. In an aggregate of wears in
which 1t was most fiourislring, the number oil
scholars per annum, did not exceed
AT present, the number is only eighteen =
surely, then, the great policy of the State must
approve, the true interest of the literature of Uur
country does require, that the Visitors of the
College of William and Mary should be authori
zed TO change tie site of that institution TO ;
situation more salubriouS, 10 population moro
l dtnse, and where the demands for literary in
structiOn are likely TO induce into fuller anC
more complete operation, the large funds of tina
institution.
Resoircd, therefore, rs the opinion Of Mi
committee, That the petition of the Presiden
and Masters or Professors of William and Ma
~ College, praying the passage of law, to all
thorize the Visitors TO change the site of TN
College Of William and Mary, with view 10
more extended diffusion of the benefits of the in
stintion, is reasonable.
Resoired, That the evidence and information
obtained by this committee, in relation to tn
petition ofthe President, Masters and Professor
Of the College of William and Mary, be report