Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-02-12
FOh I'HE CIV QUIRER.
THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.

On motion Of MIR Gibson, the House adjourned.
FOR Iinh e., COURIER
THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
To the Legislature Of pirginiu:
Although the ready despacn Of business, by which
your session has been thus for characteris promises
an early termination OF your labort do not vet e.-
TEEN It too late to solicit your attention 10 lew sug.
gestions, which, It seems to me, might lead to some
desirable and needed legislation. The subject in re.
la,ion to which presume to o,r you thsse sugges.
tons, possesses an intrinsic Importance, which can
be her magnihed adorn sd by any art of
cal exaggeration. 1t is that por ion of our general
system tor the promotion OF Education, which has eli.
cited the most liberal munifceuce and the most
soci,ude OF the legislative assemblies of cur State
The University Of VII ginii has always been regarded
both a, home and abroad, their pecua nursing;-
the object Of their most splendid patronage Al nd
though the Enquirer has already iurni .hed YOU and
the public, with the thoughts of other writers 10
this subject, trust that this additional communic
ton will be received the evid ence of an unc,ur
teous and pernacious desire to force this sub CT up IN
your consideration. but rather the effect of it. para
interest, and the diversity oil views in to
| However uupalatabls the truth NAV be- n canro,
be disguised that this Institution has not earneJ
Tor isef that splendid success which the Leyisa,ure
might well have anticipated, in return for ia mum f.
cent endowment, and which it's grea, patron and oup
der in the warmth OF his zeal, bad often pr.dic,.d
IL would be an ungrateu task TO expose all the causes
aud trace the progress OF its de line Thew have bsn
too palpable to eude the observation of any who have
watched lite progress with the close and earne.t ear
81 those ympathZing in its fortunes Ii now bpcrm.
bafor IN
10 their inquiries into all lis concerns-s corpo
rate structure, its mt, its laws and
iary their fitness for the ends they were d,ssned IN
subs rve. Tae act of incorporation, whie.t puts the
poecuton OF such inquiries in the power of the g..
i,or., reserves to the Legislature a supervision and
control over all IT. affairs A. the Visitor, have NO,
thought proper 10 suggest, in tn ir last Repo T. any ex
pedenis Tor enlargng the utility, or Advancing the
prosperity OF his Iasnuon, dearly connected with
the sympatbes Of every scholar in Virginia 7 am in
duced to point out to your coordinate authority tn
/ al ttAr tyhi lev tn.
to require remedy at your hands OF these non.
been more prominen', or extensively luxurious than
the error OF placing The Professional Schools ON tn
same leve'-'utjected to the same regulations-wi,b
those which, Tor sake OF distnction may be termed
tbs Literary Depsrmr nts. In accorJauce with tbs
original plan for It's di-cip inc, the conduct of the SUI
dents was 10 be regulated by their sense II pro-
prety, or the DEGREES Of the Court of Honor TO be COM
posed Of judges selece from IN cir own number In
der this system, this part OF The structure did not ex-
hbi' all ts material disadvantages. But after warJs
WHEN it was found that s,hing m IRE than the coer
zion oil Honor was required to secure salutary d.
gree OF snoordinston among raw youths, who ever
APP, to ind the attractions of Minerva less powerfui
than those OF csrain other ciasic God the Visitor.
were driven frem this Axity of discipline very Tar into
the other extreme and commenced system OF trivi,
and rlSd legislation, descending far 10 regulate
under high academic penalties, even the taste Of he
young gentlemen in their dress 1t was then Ina, ali
the inherent Disadvantages Of suit citing hs Su,ent of
Medicine aud Law, to the restrictions which inn
posed upon the members OF the other Scbools uara
hrs felt in all their force. IL was soon seen that tbo.e
seeking professional instruction, re either grown
men, or else, had at least assumed the torn pirs
aud with it also its manly no i,ns and esesmed m
subl'cion to all the minue of COLES iate dscipoe
an insult to their real or ianc-d dgniy nor did thew
pear II without many unequivocai symptoms of rest,
lssssness and disatisiaction Ii was from the
ton 81 these sentiments. whether true or false sin
)inveteraie, that the Medical and Law School, hay.
not yet been hlled with the numbers which ohe,
wis, they would commanI. This anomalous f.,,nra
has also constituted point of DUAL competion h.
'ween our o~n University and similar institution, in
ne country, where exemption from all cole gate di T..
ephne' ana In many cases. oh-r advantages are held
out to allure professional students Under the opera
uon IN some measure, Of This cause has the School of
Medicine declined, in spite OF the reputation which
mas oeen given 10 IL by the varied erudiuon the in
quisiiVe and discriminating mind, the prof.ssion,l
science OF 'hs elegant gentleman who pre-
Connected with this scheme Of raising the Schools of
Medicine aud Law above the level OF the other de.
partments, is also that OF increasing the salaries of
those two Chairs S,ri-s OF this kind ought in iu.
tce, to be regulated by the commercial doctrine n,
supply and demand; or, 10 other word, those stations
which are with greatest difficulty suitably filed sboud
oher the greatest enoluments. But il il
,nomtei, whether the equality of salaries among the
Professors does not oppose this jidicious rule n
cannot be denied, that an alteration, prominent
he one here propose, nigh, induce many
ing changes 10 the whole structures but. doubtless
sneh as could be easily and judicously effected by the
Visitors. - Wv
Again, the want Of a regular and connected cour Sc
OF academic studies, has always seemed to ms a ma
teria deficiency Some course OF this kind drafted by
the deliberate wisdom OF the Visitors and commended
To tue students by their sancoD, calculated to Undue
me mind with general knowledge OF science and let.
ter and equally TO exercise and develope s various
faculties, has become great de for those Of
i's students OF immature age, who nov, 10 m my
case' abandoned to the merest caprice 10 the seIec
non oil their s'uies. Dependent 10 part as tbs Pro-
essors are for the amount Of their salaries upon The
tuition fee' il would evidently be indicate for them
10 profsr their advice in a case where il might 90 esiv
excite Jealouses and heart burDings among their bre
hren' The ISOLATED plan Of study pursued ths re
Il devoid OF those extensive benes de ived from he
cons i've prosecution Of studies judcousy arrang
ed and distributed, after the plan OF our most ancient
aod venerable Seminafiss Its worst tendency how
ever consists In tbis-that the young men being left
appear most attractive 10 them, are generally prone 10
attach themselves TO hjse where they have the leat
'sen'al labor TO spprehend; AMI hence, a powerful
temptation IL presented to the Professors TO render
their Lectures popular, rather than profound.
CoDsis'eDty with the breyity which I wish To main.
tain, pass over 9th r minor defects TO which the
Visitors will, no doubt, apply the proper remedy with.
out my AID or your incorporation, for the purpose o.
ofsrlng you my last suggestion. II has arisen from
an intense anxiety 10 devise expedien for APT ets
log the sectional jealousies which have initiated
against the prosperity Of this nsiuton and for serur
iog 10 It's behalf the favor Of every intelligent mind
AMI the fympa,by OF every patriot heart throug bout
me Commonwealth. IL ", perhaps, to be regretted
that the Board OF Visitors s not numerous: il 10
esrsioly mi-iotune that IL has rarely Moved the
s'tendnce, or the active services of any distant men,
Der oil The Board Hence, IN remote parts Of the STATE
aud particularly IN districts where other institution
nave excited spirit Of rivalry, and where lam snta
o,e though trus not toDtI, Ignorance has prevail