Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-07-02
THE ADVOCATE.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, FRIDAY, JULY ?, 1890.
Mr.. CHARLES +. MrRcER AND THE UElvlR.


Mr.. CHARLES +. MERCER AND THE USIvER.
Ont a singular figure in sketch of debate
which occurred in recent meeting of the d.
rsctors ofthe Ohio and Chesapeake Canal Com
Pany for the purpose of electing officers. The
question in debate was proposition TO roscind
resolution adopted al former meeting To ob.
tain an amendment of the Charter of the Com.
pany, so as to enable them tn proceed with tho
Western section before the Eastern section was
completed. The sketch of the debate is report
ed in a recen: number Of the Washington Tel.
egraph Mr.. Mercer had made a complaint that
the Sec'ty of the Treasury had not attended the
last meeting Of the board to which complaint
the Secretary Of the Treasury replied that in
his situation it was necessary that he should a.
void commitment by abstaining from voting ON
such questions, or, when present and called up
on to vote, that he should vote in the Negative
On the subject of the present project, he re-.
gretted to sec SO much impa,ience in the Pre-.
sident of the board, (Mr Mercer) to engage in
measures, which, Notwithstanding the splendor
ofimagination which might seem to characterize
their conception, would be apt to be regal, ded
as visionary by sensible practical ,nen, and sug
gested that it might be as we'll to restrain the
ardor of the President for new projects. The
President took fire at the charge of being Wis.
ionary, and repealed it with great warmth
Nothing was more unjust than to stign,atize
him as visionary. During the course of his
public life, which had now continued for 90
years, he had introduced some of the most inn
nj
and had never failed in any thing he had under
taken though others had got the credit of many
of his projects.
" He was the author of tho board Of public
works" in Virginia, and of the establishment
OF her education system, which hau been at
tributed to Gov. Barbour and others; he was
the founder of the Charlottesville University.
which had been run away with by Mr.. jefferson,
and was the author of the great revolution in
Virginia, which had eventuated in the forma-
ton OF the present constitution; and yet he was
to be stigmatized as visionary man. He re-
PEELED the charge unfounded, and challenged
investigation and scrutiny into his whole lIfe."
We have nothing to say to Mr.. MERGERS cha
racter as visionary; though were we so dis
posed we might regard some of his projects
with regard to the Ohio and Chesapeake Canal,
such. for example as tunnelling miles through
the Alleghaney, &c, as rather visionary and
we are not quite sure but that the practical wis
dom of others in the convention saved the
"great revolution in Virginia." of which Mr.
Mercer claims to have been the author from the
cons equences Of the widest ard most visionary
schemes. Without deciding on the character of
the establishment of the Board of public
works and the Education System in Virginia"
as visions AIRY or otherwise, we will leave their
paternity to- be contended for between MIR.
E Mercer, Governor Barbour and otheIs," and
only remark that if the claim of the gentle.
man to be considered as the founder of the Uni.
Vers'ty of Virginia is to be regarded as a spec-
saen of his character he must be regarded as
moi less visionary in his facts than his specula
tons.