Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-01-19
FoR THE INTELLIGENcER UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.

GENTLEMEN-Some time since had seen in youi paper an account of resolution offered by one of the trustees of the University, appointing n com mittee to report the most udicious plan of dsposing of the surplus fund of the University. The resolu- ton admire, and is one which does much credit to its author; but cannot approve of the report the plan recommended by the committee cannot be pro- ductive of any thing like general utility. The plan, us 1t appears to me, Is objectionable in toto: lst In consequence of it's selecting the boys by lot By this plan the boy entirely destitute of genius and merit, has as much chance to obtain free place in the Uni- versty, as the boy whose genius would rival that of Pit Fox q Milton, or d Burke. in fine, what utility can the public derive from educating collec- ton of blockheads, who, perhaps might be selected by lo2 Will they be more learned at the end of their course? No but they will be moro proud and moro naughty, and inclined to believe in the common proyerb, Tine bigger fool the better ucl.'
 The plan is also defective, inasmuch as il only re- qulres that portion of knowledge, with which stu dents could not enter college; and even they eoud would be useless for them as there is no person, as yet, appointed to instruct them
 With all difference to the author of the report, on which have made these few remarks, would sub siitute the following plan in lieu thereof:
 lst That the trustees, after ascertaining the num-
 v Of students the I,aiversty could support free of expense, should render it the duty of the Faculty publish preparatory course, embracing all the stu dies necessary to enter the Freshman Class.
 2d. That they should publish certain time at which every student in the whole State might attend and be examined by the Faculty, who should be bound by oath to be governed by merit, and merit alone, in awarding the free places
 Sd. That at the end of the Freshman year, each student of that class should stand an examination with his fellows for free place during the Sophia more year; and so on, to the end of the collegiate course.
 Should the trustees adopt this plan, it would add degree of laudable ambition throughout the whole State, which cannot be conceived at the present time, by the trustees disposing of the free places the broad principle of merit and merit alone. Thus, the obtaining free place would be, not only object of interest, but of the greatest honor Any other plan, as it appears to me- will open door for in- trgue and bribery, the fatal effects of which time, and time alone, can tell.
 But the powerful effects of interest and influential men being removed, every parent and guardian would cherish the fond hope that their and wards would enter the literary contest with credit to them selves; and should they fail to have their brows crowned with the laurel the emblem of victory, they would console themselves that they had been surpassed by genius alone which tyranny itself can not suppress Yes; the youths of Alabama "would wing their way through the blaze of every science, with an eye that would never wink and wing that would never tire" Then indeed, the trustees may say with the poet
 "Egmus monumentum perennius."