Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-01-13
Ton rng CoxsrrrurIoNAL wnre.
"A house dipiaed agains, Itself cannot stano

mons and venerable Literary Institution of which
nginta Il might almost say the United Statcsl eau
hoast, the good people of Richmond would not have
such an opportunity il the uliness their zeal pro
U"no publco, bitterly lament the useless state OF
i'c 'uais belonging to w illian s Mary. Ahcr hay
iiS rtin@J Cr prospects, by appointing the Office of
Ifesident know lodged TO have neither inor.
nation, nor taensnor reputation Tor cithcr-as en-
trcIy united for that office for any, how ns
uihcant, which c Lad held since the Atlantic wave had
Gt'i separated him from the Island of his nativity, the
Visitors OF William Mary, length reluctantly dis
placed him. and sought for one better suited the Of
flee. They found Of standing the literary
vo5h, aud him they placed the head of the Insti,u
ton. The different professorsips were occupied by
those who were qualified TO discharge their professional
duties aud the visitors cvnced zeal for the pros
parity Of the College. Public confidence was rcganed
AID the College walls were again filed h the
most promising young men from every quarter of the
State. Strict discipline seemed TO he the order of the
day and accordingly yorous statutes enact
ed for the government OF the students. The visitors
Illus put into the hands OF the Faculty for as might
well say o! Tie Prcs;denth the means of preserving order
by wise discretion III the application OF their rcgra-
tons, Of tinning t.e classes and finally running the
College by a too rigid exercise of their po: crs II
would strike the mind Of the unreccting man. that
III would be duty necessarily incumbent te trus-
ee' alter rePosins this confidence iii tic Faculty
watch them with the most vigilant and that the
Statutes we're not enforced 10 deprive the College
OF her pupils. The duty they owed the state rcqui-
rcd H. As public agents they had gone very fa.; they
had abaa med themselves To the system proposed by
fir Smith They bc!iercd lie consulted the, good of
proposed; ami that they consulted its best interests
"Len they yielded 10 his wish and clothed him aud the
Faculty with all the powers required. Were the powers
thus conferred rcsu,tCd by the President frequently
and in ri' al matters. only when great de
naDded? and were they exercised with the miidncss Of
parental authority "r with the rigonr of ty Fanny? Let
lac ask 1t there were not at one period nearly hun
drel youths OF the finest pronisc* collected at w am
AMI Mary: Let the enquire how many suspended,
expelled, and dismissed rom that time urm ard until Ly
sd experience il was found that Young i'll Vngi
line, there were not pupils enough try pcrncnts
Let me ask ii many very many OF these students were
not suspended dismissed, expelled for the most
tritling causes? If they of for ringn
bell, throwing putty ball at citizen of Richmond
lwho pestercd them by too frequent attendance lee
lures OF which lac understood nothing save the process
hi extracting gold from objects naurc?l and fer
the ptodgious offence OF refusing tell on their com
iades who hat committed the original And FUR
Ner the studcnt"io on one occasion had ung the bell
did acknowledge he had done So aud vet the son
tence OF expulsion pronounced against The YOUTHS who
refused 10 tell on him. suffered TO unrevoeA
although the expelled students were still in Williams
burg at the time OF the cuIprit's disclosure? Let
ask If tins culprit who had first denied either
that he committed the offence knew the oncnderl
was expelled, or only dismissed? If DR.. Smith did
not al his mere pleasure dismiss any young man
from college? In doing which | SAY he acted without
authority, and boldly challenge the production of the
statute or rule cohterring any such power. IL these
enquiries are truly answered, the wili be- WHY
have The visitors permitted these things? Have the,
conhded SO much il Or. Smith, believe he cuu d
Uot err Are they satisfied that they have faithfully
discharged the important reposed il. ,hem, by
abandoning themselves the systems and plans of Dr.
Smith not only as to the regulations they have lnade
but even IN The manner of proceeding under theE?-
Arc they not the very persons who peccd to con-
troll the President and Professors and shall they only
10 shield them from responsibility, by nerpong
their names between them and the of the pub
lie? Should they have placed in Tie hanos of ano
ther the deposit they held only trustees? Certainly
in doing they committed capital error This was
not the only error committed by the visitors. The Pre-
s;ent clothed With powers dsagreeaLlc to the other
Professors and for long while the circumstances of the
Professors dsrcgarded. In consequence of this
i'll feeling towards the President enecndercd among
tie professors and as book often sensitive
considerable MISUNDERSTANDING in that
body. The visitors removed the cause of compliant
when Was almost too late and something like lar
In"ny restored. They further neglected the mite
rcsis OF the t"Ilcgc in most shameful way, by permit
ing two PROFESSIONAL Chairs remain vacant during one
session, ami another for considerable time. Has this
accounted for TO the satisia ctianof the pub!ic
BY their neglect and mismanagement the College hay
lg fallen thus low, let what steps have been Ia
Ken DrIs the plans determined
III, have been pursued with the of succccding-or
whether fairly infer from the experiments
pretended have becn tried If NOT us enquire into
se divisions among the visitors, and whether the i
lure Of all their cXpc necessary 20 tie al
f,intncn of that which! is the prime object it'll the ma
I0riy, l. r. tie rcnovd oil the College. Let u, enquire
whether tiu continued agitation by the visitors of the
abjrc' "i rcnoEal not entirely incompatible viii.
is prosperity and tlIcr duties These enquiries and
ingny other, connected wtil them wall be made in sub
ecqnsnt number, if Mcss,s. r. & G.. (of &Icnon are
.Jt iamc occupied TO listen any enquiries on this
subject made by CITIZEN OF WiLLIAMssURG.
s'rhry were generally men Of talents and of the best
families IN Virgina. Some Of To he found
the ubc coHncis, and many of them, may venture
prophecy, 81" bca0comc eminent aud distinguished public
agents
t2Gjms on Fra"ca.-Wc have been politely favored
l,ays the Dostou P4uio) by an oLigng friend with the
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