Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-16
To tie Editors Of the Wing.

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, March 9, 1892
'!"%srS Misunderstanding casually taken up
your paper the other day, not being a constant
reader of myself, article headed University OF
Virginia, Immediately attracted my attention, and
on careful pcrusal of the same found it related
to the change which the Visitors in their wisdom,
deemed necessary to make at their last meeting in
our office of Proctor. / being Il student of this
University, and having had occasion, more than
once, to view with discriminating eye, the wise
policy of the Visitors, both in their appointments
ana laws, and feeling, as do, great interest iii
the welfare, prosperity, and success, of this, our
lnstituton--yes say, feeling that l am Virgin
IAN, and that this is Virginia's Institutions deem
1t necessary to say few words on the subject.
The Visitors are a wise body, selected for their
wisdom, for the strength of mind, unaba,ed ardour
and economical zeal, which many OF them have
evInccd, i'll dischargmg the duties with which the
American People have thought fit to cntrust most,
If not all of them; and srs, seeing that they are
thus wise, thus distinguished men OF our country,
1t would seem presumption in me, to say any thing
against them; but | am actuated by motive of ii
private character; my motive is audablc one, as
L think; 1t Isl sirS, as | have mentioned above, Il
desire to sec our University flourish, and to
living monument of our iuStrious torciather,
stand forth iii land. Although the Visitors
have heretofore been celebrated, whilst in their
country's service, OF IIercuean intellect,
possessing minds sufficient to perceive at glance
the good or evil which to result from this OF
that measure, although they arc men of this char
acter, they have not in my opinion, sustained it.
in legslatng for this institution What could
have been their motive in divcsting faithful
servant of his office, and giving it to another
whereas experience has long since shcwn, that one
officer was amply sufficient for the duties? They
have not only by this act, brought officer into
the University, who is of manifest disadvantage to
it, but they sinking the University, already
nearly exhausted, still deeper in debt, and they
have officer whom they call Bursur-who
is he? what is his dutyl and what is his salary?
know not, though hc must have a salary. Could
| not the Patron the Office now exists, perform
the important duty of Bursur, and would it not be
some remuneration for the deprivation which Inc
has undergone! When the Procssorship of Law
| of this Institution, was rendered vacant, by the
resignation of Mr.. IomaX, many were the Sunni
scs and conjCcturcs as to whom the Visitors would
appoint to fill the office; tits important Office
/ said they, and will require of some CClcbri
! ty, and one who is well known over the United
States, as a profound lawyer, if VIC wish the Insti
tuition to flOurish but to the utter establishment
every person, and the rciutaton of tler own cstu
/ bshcd character whom did they appoint Whom
die they select TO fill that important office? and OF
which appointment, in great measure, rested tn
success or fate of the Institution? They appoint
| cd Mr.. Davis, a County Court Lawyer of AlbC
marlc instead Of Mr.. Writ, spoken of by ma
/ ny, Mr.. Davis sclected-what a contrast
! Was this wisc2 Could they have been actuatcd b
well wishes for tho success of the University
7 Reader, conclude for yourself These, Messr,
Editors are a few of the wise acts of our Icrisla
tive Body. | could mention Others such as film
the Proicssorship of Anticnt Languages, after tn
resignation of Mr.. Long, and many others but
forbear; and in conclusion, | would recommend t
that Body which has control over the Visitors,
investigate the matter. LONGINUS.