Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-01-21
COMMUNICATED.
WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE,


COMMUNICATED.
WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE.
10 The Members Of the Genernl assembly.
AS one of the people of Virginia, I request
your attention to 4 few remarks on the petition
OF The Visitors and Professors of William and
Mary College, now pending before you.
inns Is document calculated to arrest srca.
attention, aud to excite much observation and
refection But under one OF lis aspects, it is
snSuiariy interesting; and it is under that as
pect, that now invite you to give il the most
serious consideration.
| aiude 10 the relation existing between the
Legislature and the College In what relation,
gentlemen, do you stand towards this institu
tiotG Is the Charter compact between the
state and the Corporation of Visitors and Pro-
lessons, which cannot be changed without the
consent OF both parties? Or, is the College a
public Cooperation, like Town, City &c;
or, like the President aud Directors of the Lit
erary Fund or the University ofVirginil, sub
lect at all times and i'll all things to the controul
of the General Assembly?
1t would seem from the style Of this singular
petition, coupled with its well known concorn.
tant circumstances, that the Visitors aud Pro-
fessors regard the College as private elenos-
nary institution, and the Charter as a compact,
not to be touched by the hand OF legislation,
except IN points Indicated by themselves. This
Inference seems Unavoidable.
The Visitors and Professors come before YOU
with a naked petition for rcmoyaI-they sub
init to You one and only one brief question:
''Wiil you give authority to the Visitors TO
change tue site of the College oil " iiiia,n and
Mary, with view to more EXTENDED diffusion
OF the benefits of the institution" The memo
rial sets forth no reasons to sIiew why so impor-
tnrrt OH n. - 4
view. IL docs not specify the new site TO which
IL is contemplated TO remove tho College. ii
seeks to take from the General Assembly the
exercise Of right of location, which, even the
king of Great Britain thought might be safely
entrusted to it.
From the tenor of the memorial 1t is aburd-
autiy clear, that the Memorialists regard your
power over the College of William and Mary,
as very limited; and tIat they seek to restrict The
range at even these very narrow and limited
functions.
Far different, gentlemen, are nv views as TO
the relation IN which yon stand towards tins an
cient Institution; the rights which you possess,
and the duties which you have To discharge.
The College of William and Mary has exist
ed for upwards of a century. TWAS chartered
FSat tie instance Of the General Assembly-en-
lowed almost exclusively with the lands and the
fponcy OF the good people OF Virginia; for char
Fable and public purposes. From time TO lime,
for more than one hundred years, have the g en-
ieral Assemblies of Virginia, bestowed OH this
Institution the property ot the people. Why,
ask, should If be beyond the power of the peo-
pie, or their representatives, any more than the
Literary Fund, or, the L University OF Virginia.
Such was not the opinion OF Jefferson, PEN
dleton, and Wythe, in the year 1879
Such was not tue opinion OF the Court Of Ap.
peais in the years 1887. and 1890.
invite your serious attention to two decisions
III our C0urto OF Appeals, III regard To the Char
ter of William and Mary College, which You
viii ind reported in the first and third volumes
OF Calls Reports; and least il NAV be inconve.
nIent to turn 10 those Reports, l beg leave tu
subjoIn copy Of the last of tho two decisions
referred 20.
Kermit me also, TO request YOU TO look at the
statute of the visitors OF tic College, reforming
the charter in The year l771. Look, / btscecl
you gentlemen, at the acquisitions of tie charter
- Then look at the statutcof I779. Look, pray
you, at the fundamental changes made bv thai
statute, aud then let me ask YOU, bv what au.
tiIorIty were these changes IBadr--Bt tho board
OF Vistors--one IF The 0ioreS1id coyiirncfing pm,
lies, and yet, this sacred Instrument this am
Gent roy al charter Is not TO be tonched b. YOU
the General Assembly ri Nirgina!
Gentlemen, YOU will hear with respect the
petition of the Visitors aud Professors The,
arc respectable public servants like Yourselves
You VIII listen with respect also to tic clairns o
tie metropolis of the state, which offers YOU :
premium tor the new location. II is tic frs
city OF the state, and deserves 10 tie heard viii
attention.
Permit INC, however, to remind you, that i
you possess, Is believe you do possess, = con
troubling power over TIC College, you are bouuc
IN duty TO your constituents, scattered ct or,
where over the commonwealth, To- pJtIsc-tO en-
quire-to consider well before you commit ia,
people of Virginia OH tins subject. Reflect,
besccch Won, OH the consequences OF the frs
movement ia this business. II YOU decide OF
removal, you abandon to almost total loss, build
! lUgs, which If now To- be erected, would proba
bly, cost $4,000 II is, to say the least, :; bolc
experiment, Suppose the question decided IL
the ailirinstiye--is it permanently settled? Ar,
you sure tiIa; the people will be satisfied will
your decision, Have they had n full and fa
hearing on This occasion, If they have not, vii
/ they not demand il at your hands, We're tht
/ proceedings OF the cOnYOcatiOn Of Visitors il
July last, calculated to excite an expectation
that This memorial would be presented to tn
present General Assembly, We're they mo
such az 10 lead TO an opposite conclusion? !
you pass the bill for removing the. College, wil
".sec Report fG.s Committee o. feSr.sto7, IN I77s