Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-23

should pay moro regard TO his legal Gttainmonts,
than To his eloQucncc, or to his politics.
indulge in III" opinion that Mr. Davis's legal
learning is already too well established To need
defence. The inquiring public seldom need more
than two years tn form correct opinion OF
mans real abilities. This is his second session
Ia. class is almost double the size 1t was the last
session; il is composed of young mon from many
different States of the Union; some Of them
from the most distant States. Now, 1T ho bo made
uu,,c 10 th, duties incumbent upon Professor of
the difficult and important subject Of law, is il
not unworthy Of credit that ycun. men would in
cur so much expense and trouble, and DC so'prodi-
gal of precious tlmc az To seek instructions from
him
Ionoinus probably adheres with great tenacity
To the opinion of FortcScuc, who in speaking of
the great difficulty IN attaining an accurate know
ledge of the law, makes use OF tho following
words: .'riginti dnnorum iucnbrdtioncS." Truly,
this implies a deficiency in age, as | presume MIR.
Davis is not much above thirty years. but permit mo
To ask fonginms, what man ut an American Bar,ha
devoted to this study twenty years close laborl and
how many eminent men arc among us, who never
have studied the subject more than seven years!
His own candor will induce him to acknowledge.
that one can become eminent in his profession
without complying with Fottcscuc's maxim.
McsSrs Editors, | make no more than due tri-
butte of Justice to MIR. Davis when say, that he is
well worthy of the seat which he now fills. "A
generous publ deeply sensible of his merits, and
DESTROYS to sec assduty rcwa rdrd, have made SUI.
ficent manifest ation of the high esteem in which
they hold him, by approving the appointment, and
I trust hold out a sufficient induccncnt to pcrsc-
vcrancc, by very considerable augmentation of
his class.
Ic. us LASTLY inquire into tho justice of the charge
against Professor ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS evidently
alludcS To- him, he is the of Mr.. Long.
The ability of Mr.. Long Professor, has been
too well tested TO be now doubted. | believe it To
bo fact OF too general notor.cty to be now qucs.
hat ut Mr res on. lie
mendcd Professor Harrison as being fully qnaliii-
ed to occupy the chair of ancient languages. Who
could better be referred to- to Judge of ones qua
lifcations than Mr.. Long? This able Professor
did not form his opinion, from short ard super
fetal examination, but from long acquaintance,
which he had opportunity OF forming rs at that
time Professor Harrison was his pupit Can we
suppose that this recommendation proceeded from
Partially? The bare suppositon of snch motive
is truly opprobrious and is in conflict with the
general character of this learned man. Mr.. Long
was not tho only man who recommended this Pro-
fcssor; others, whom it is needless to cnumcratc,
and whose learning enabled them to Judge accu-
| ratcly, concurrcd with him iii making this recon-.
mcndation. The Visitors, who according to Lon
ginus himself, are learned men, approved this
| recommendation. TO upbraid all these llcrcucan
men with partial motives, is to indulge too much
upon tho scale of bare probabilities; and to insist
that Professor Harrison is not qualified for the
seat which he holds, is to tell all those who have
graduated in his school for the last several sessions,
that they wcrc not competent 10 Judge o! an in
sructor; and his present numerous class. that they
too are in error. STUDENT OF LAW.