Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-04-27

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 Under the head of Foreign News, this week, it will be that the peace of Europe is again ser- ously threatened.
 France is on tho eve of another Revolution, which has for its object the establishment of more repub- lcan government than the one now in existence.
 The States of Italy are every where revong and casting off the yoke of Austria The Legons of Russia have passed the Polish frontier, and sanguinary contest is expected soon, to decide the fate of that oppressed country.
 Spain IS recruiting her armies and making some feeble preparations, against the revolutionary cnthu siasm of her neighbors. England is preparing her ships of war to maintain her dominion over the seas should the affairs of Europe force her to assume hostile attitude; and Ireland remains distracted
 It IS with deep regret that we compelled to mo- tce the passage of an ordinance at the last meeting of the Board of Trustees, which we greatly fear will prove disastrous to the University fund.
 We refer to the act granting what is termed relef to the purchasers of University Lands, and which, whilst it entirely changes the terms upon which those lands were sold, contains principle calculated to endanger the revenue, which the friends of science had fondy supposed was sacredy set apart for the education of youth.
 The ordinance provides, that for debts due, by certain purchasers of these lands, the shall be divided into five equal annual instalments, without interest and making the first payable the first of January 1882.
 Considering the great caution and labor necessary to select these lands udicously and the still greater anxiety every where felt that they should be well sold and bonded it will be difficult account for the change of measures which sets aside so much expe- rence and vigilance, heretofore required for the safe management of our school property.
 It is a subject of vital interest to all the white part of society," but more intimately concerns the fresde of the parent.
 One of the most obvious objections which pre- sents itself here to the resembling of contracts will be found in the punishment it inlcts upon the hon. est purchaser who has punctually paid for his land and who is to share no part ofthe bounty, so strange ly awarded to the defautng debtor Of these lands which have been sold for seventeen dollars per acre. (and upwards) it is computed, that debts to the amount of t,co hundred housand dotla,s, may be af fected by this provision of the board, which either in bond, in suit, or in judgement.
 It has not been conended that any great amount of them can be desperately situated, or that any ex traordnary misfortune claims the charity of the secrated fund. Casting off the interest then which may until the year 1836 and substituting new bonds for the old ones and we are presented with direct loss of the interest, and an indirect loss of the principal, Such unwse provision could scarcely have been contemplated by the con tituted guardians of the rising generation. It presses heavily upon the University, in other words, upon the patrmony of the children; who rely upon for future usefulness. The act in truth amounts to an e1 post faoto Lato, and absolvcs the party from the obligation to comply with bargain, agreed to in good faith, for property purchased forphans and minors.
 Was it absolutely necessary to relieve either party from an unfortunate contract, justice and humanity would both earnestly plead, that the loss should not fall upon the dependant school hoy: yet, such will be its tendency in spite of our wishes. But in de- terlnnng all cases involving the rights of par ties, justice has precedence of lberay. It is in violation of this precept, that every parent in the State is called upon to remonstrate. It is subject that the Trustees have notdeliberated upon sufficient ly, and which we hope there is yet some means left for them to reconsider Our hopes rest upon the con sttutonaty of the act and the interpretation of le gislative authority. At present, are left to con- sider this abrogation of contracts bringing mis- fortune into the bosom of every family in the State
 Ii ruins the only State has for mpar ing knowledge to the coming generations. Ithods out relief to the man who does not want relief and operates like q bounty to the tardy paymaster. It cancels good contracts for doubtful ones, at the stu dents expense. It prostrates the hopes of parents and of the friends of literaure and by encouraging the ingenuity of deaulters, it destroys the pride of honesty Indeed all the deplorable consequences that may grow out of the principle thus introduced by the ordinance of the board cannot be easily ex- pressed. We consider that this subject is uncon nected with any party contrivances whatever. It has now become an unfortunate contest between Patron and Ward; between the legally constituted guardians of our literary fund.- and those who are de- pendant upon them for protection. We are bound to believe the trustees have erred and from our knowledge of them, that they will hasten to repair the damages, so soon they become satisfied of it's extent Having community of feeling and in teres in the welfare ofour leterary institutions there is no grounds for the belief that they will persist in error. They must be instructed however by expe- rence and by consulting with the great body of their feow-citzens, who only want light and knOuicdge, to vindicate their own cause, and to redress all their wrongs real or supposed
 aaIn addition to the two gentlemen, who signed the following protest Messrs Starr Richardson and Gin