Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-01-29

quss'io, 'pruns IRON Mr.. B,rbour's brain, the hes
that conceived ~ deserves ehspe', and de,.rv.
me award Of praise and gratitude from Q free peorI..
A FRIEND TO AGRICULTURE.
Fax me. win dispute tho benefit. and bsaute. srcu,
s:,s, .s1s s e and
FOR THE ENQUIRER
TO the Legisiaf1e of Virginio.
One who has been FOR several wears Intimately ac
qusioted with The Affairs OF the Univer.iy, presume
70 edsr Tor your consideration few 'uggesSd' in
eeedinge OF your honorable body, Phave been enabled
discover only one resolution inquring into the ex.
Rsdleney Of adopting any measures concerning It,
That may be attributable to tho great press Of other
business which TO you may seem Of more important
nature But to me. appears that there Is no sutjec,
that can engage yeur attention OF more general lutte
rest, and which impe rously requires youf bene
6cIsl legislation. than the University Of Virginia
The Attention OF the public has been recently called
to this subj'ct by risr over the signature OF L. in
aae number OF the Enquirer: and II 10 in
Of some o his suggestions, that am induced at pre-
sent to trouble you. The object which that writer
proposes IL reduction In the expenses of the ins,tu
ton; that thereby the mddnx elias, of the community
may participate Ia its benefits. Toe means by which
ne woud effect that very desirable object far
the came grounds tina, they do to the Editor Of the En.
qursr And besides, there might another evil result
nom II. In different way Men are by nature prone
% adapt their and their actions to the si,ua-
hon 10 which they placed. The Professors seeing
thst they were no longer dependent the stud nts
Tor their support might to pay the students that
best interests OF the insu ion The better plan would
be to reduce tho fees to half their sum- TO rse
the Protessors salaries to abolish entirely tho D,mi.
tory rent, Library Ticket, and Patrons commission
~ thus substituting the Patrons commission, Ia term
OF which probably most you have hear for alt
the lees the expenses would DO much reduc as by
adopting the suggestions OF the writer above mention.
3D. And by this means you would avoid the evils aris
Ing from the total abolition Of the fees and at the
time do away with the Patrons commissions; which, of
all the expenses imposed upon the student il the mos
oppressive and unjust Bat, gentlemen, is useless
Tor to consume time in discussing the expedency
q one or the other Of these suggestions unless you
ere disposed to open your hearts, and confer lasting
ceneht on your country. For, Ia order 10 Justify this
reduction Of expense, II will be necessary for YOU to
make large and liberal appropriation to the instu-
don. And to do this. consider you as imperiousiy
called upon, by every motive that could influence
~ vrgnians aud as the representatives of the people
OF Virginia:
The sacred regard which you have for the f,ur.
reputation Of the Old Domnion-the lively YOU
nust feel in the welfare Of your chdr -n-,he exam.
pie OF your sister States-Qor nearly all Of them have
colleges well endowed-and even North Coroiina the
fast the list Of enterprise ha, recently granted
lief TO Its Unversty)-the interest Of a large majority
OF your consuentscalls loudly upon Won TO re nder
accessible to It's sons. Every individual in the State
has contributed hi. part to the mt of the u
niversy-but, at present, in consequence of the
EXPENSE few enjoy It, and those few but for shor,
time. Would not every individual. who has paid
any thing, rather, by paying liuie more reao
the benefit Of what he has already paid, than to
lose II altogether. What would any OF YOU Gentle.
men, think Of a man, who had gone to an expense oe
or 1000 dollars in erecting MILL with the Intention
Of cutting canal to it; bat alter finishing the mill and
finding that the canal would be an additional expense
OF $50 dollars, declines cutting it, thereby rendering
his mill wholly uselesss Proceeding on the principle
that he had spent enough money on the mill already
II might make the canal as il could! You would not,
surely regard him wise, prudent, or economical
man. But such is precisely the situation which the
people Virginia occupy in relation 70 the University
They have expen led nearly half million OF dollars in
Its establishment, yet are virtually debarred from
eeivng any beneh from il. Had they better lose that
sum. than. by giving small additional sum, receive
proht from the whole! In answering he former
question, you have answered his-ior the eases are
analogous But mere answering is not all you have to
do Ia the present cae-he interests OF your constituents
require you to act.
Independent of tho fore going eonside raon. there
to be ohsr, at eas, that would dictate to
you the necessity OF altering some Of the existing
Qufaons Of the University. Since the institution we M
Into operation, three Of lie able professors have al d
fereut times resigned. The natural inference to be
drawn from this is. that there is of di sai
faction, the most probable OF wi ich be an in
sufficient compensation. And recently two Of the pre-
sent Professors have been off rred situations, In the in
stituton Of aneighborng State, seemingly Tar more
advantageous than those which they boid-being
both more lucrative and less Iabosious They HAYS not
as vet, l believe, determined acce pting the Sc
offsrs; and presume their determination will de-.
pond, in a great measure, upon your resolves. And
will You, Gentlemen, thus permit yourselves TO
he overbid and the able Professors in your favo.
rita institutions to he drawn of other a,es! and
that too for the palry sum of few hundred dollars!
Ifeeifu'iy Assure that your constituents would jus y
you in almost any you might adopt to prevent
such event Toe people OF Yirginis are as a.
Bile, and, imagine, willing, to pay TOR the good edu
cation OF their youth, any 9th State. And Judge
you would egregiouy mist epresent their views and
their wishes, you to under different
sions IL impo 'sble to and keep able Pro
fessors, unless you pay them well. The first order OF
talents will command high salaries, and ii you will not
give them, others will. And, genti- n, the prnci.
pie Of universal extent, and true universal, ope-
rates with full force in this Nothing great can
be effected without adequate But besides these
Of complaint, the remedy Tor which exists in
your hands alone there others which arise from
rent jurisdiction, (Which to produce an addona
expense) The uniform law enacted by the Visitors
for the purpose OF curtsiDg the exponse has, like
the statute OF Gases, produced effect directly the
reverse OF what was anticipated There IL scarcely
Young who goes 10 the University, who has not
ntesst salt Of new clothes. As soon however, as
ne mariculates he is constrained to lay aside thes
clothes for months. by which time (as most of tn
students are growing) hey either small or are
out OF fashio, and consequently useless The loss SUI
tsined in this way more than overbaances the cheap
ness Of tins uniform. There are other objections "a
this law, independent OF the additional expense tina
would recommend it repeal. " IL very obnoxious Il
great majority Of the students, and is the most diff
cult to be enforced. Another law Of the Visitors
which, like the preceding, has operated diHerentl,
from what was intended, 10 the law comps sling the
students 10 have their clothes washed at the Hotel
The consequence Is, the washing being worry bad ny
of the students have their washing out AT the Add
tiousi expense of II dollars. Thereby, making the
washing cost them 1927 session; when, II this law did
not exit and competition permitted II might be hat
go or Sl2 have been thus minute, prrsumiog tls
60 know OF an evil and 10 remove IT, s iDseparabe IN
your resolutions. I wouIl sugge,t TO YOU the pyo
priety OF calling on the Visitors for eonv nj all IN