Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-01-20
FoR THE CONSTITUTIONAL WulG.
No. Q.
81 koASe HiriinH Ernnillct it.cLc cnr-nl cL..,s

".7 ho~se djrided against Itself cOanoi sianS'
In my lrst number | ATTEMPTED 10 show that the un.
prosperous condition OF William and Mary College, was
produced by the neglect and mismanagcment of the
visitors, and the t!rannica rule of the faculty. or ra-
Their OF DIR. Smith the President. In tins number Twill
take the liberty OF examining into the eIatciy pur-
sued by te trustees or visitors by way experiment.
with view 10 the renewed prosperity OF The institution
There mad existed tor many years sla!ntc empower
ing the faculty to call any student 10 give evidence
against his fellow. This bad been rarely TcsoItsd to by
the President and Masters, and was almost dead let
ter on the Statute book. DR.. Smith. who ,rhrn f,
mined TO manage young men, by the power of punish
ment alone, without resort 10 hat moral influence b,
which the youth oil this Land most easily GOV
erned applied 10 The visitors for such explanation OF
this old regulation would eiectuav ansn er lis
purposes. The visitors made such enactment as he
solicited, certainly not anticipating, presume odi
Gus and tyrannica application of it, the most riyo
ious cases Besides there were certain regulators
which calculated to constitute the President an
overseer to the professors, and imposing on him .hc
duty mot very dsagreeable 10 DR. S. of reporting re
gularly OH the subject of their duties; while ihey were
not permitted 10 report to the visitors that subject
the state, progress and condition of their respective
classes Whether the first regulation properly en-
ceptlonahle at the time of its adoption, consider eX
tremey doubtful; but certain is, after the frequent
and unnecessary applications of hy the President
applications made in the most harsh and sacI cgablc
manner 10 the Students and with the injurious eff
fecs TO the interests of the institution that statute be
came Unpopular with both the youthful ana the aged
and was exec acd by three f1uIts Of lower Virginia as
olons. and yranniCsl. The other regulations on the
subject OF the powers, and duties Of tlc President
which have Just alluded to- il the write : csl-
nation very nudicous-ca!cuntcdt to work ii,ury and
Injustice To each OF the professors, might COMFORT
with The views and feelings of their ovcrsccr President
Having it ever in his power to msrepTescB and disco
lour their actions when they in any thwarcd
him. hc suspected Of Doing SO. And rs he is
Of warm and irritable feelings. and not always
mindful Of the precePts OF his philosophy when in an
gee TO be feared that in his frequent collisions iih
the Professors he sometimes nsrepfcscucd their con
duct TO the visitors In consequence of these fringe
the faculty did not ALWAYS act with that CordalitY, and
unaDimiiy which Is absolutely necessary 10 preserve
among the students respect TO tie masiers-wibout
which no literary institution ever flourish. At a
convoCation bei in July 1924, these statutes Tor most Of
tben) were repealed, and a luminous and accurate
port, made by committee Of which Mr. Tyler was the
chairman, adopted by The visitors To this report
which published tie reader is respectfully referred.
this meeting OF the visitors the subject Of remoy al
aGitatGd, but agreed that icy would adopt
the new and more mild system recommended by MIR.
Tyler and other members, calculated 10 benefit and
revive the coiegeand that they would give fair ex-
pertinent. On tie Goth day Of November following
another OCatIOn held, and IT then resOiv
ed bata petition application should be presented 10
the General Assembly of Virginia PRAYING the reno.
val Of the site OF our venerable college better IFS con
diGon. Let us here pause and enquire whether this OK
pertinent fully and fairly trICd' Less than five
months had elapsed since they had changed their sys
tenn, and Of that time, tie Vacation consumed nearly
-four months. Had there been sufficient time 10 weigh
ie probable advantages olthe new syscm2 Had there
been TN, for an aIte alton IN artanq made Nv ia
rents and guardians? Would tic, not be dcsiro;is Of
learning from those who might attend the next course
at William and Mary, what were the practical advan
ages of the new ysem, before they would withdraw
their SONS and wards from other colleges? Had not
many of youths LETT Virginia 10 be educated at
hern colleges and would ties not be unwilling TO en-
counter the inconvenience necessarily incurred IN
changing their and system Of education. TO be
instructed at different place and by different masters
And can we presume contrary oal experience, patat