Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-31

GOD and Nature havo bestowed upon them.
a VIRGINIAN
FOR THE E.N"QUIRER
THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
To the Legislature Of Trgihid "A subject of pccu-
liar interest in relation to OF the most important Lite
rary Institutions Of the State has lately been brought up
Tor legislative consideration by petition from respectable
portion OF the people of Abemarlc. Planted the Uni
veriy of Virginia has becn in the bosom of this large
and popuous county-s intelligent inhabitants, deeply
svmpathziny i'm il, fortunes have been led 10 watch over
its concerns with anxious sooitude ednu from
their regard for the general interests of the State and
sincere desire TO it subServe the highly exalted and
useful purposes for which the patronage of its dstn gui
ed Founder aud the mGniiccnt favour of bOundul Lee
giSaturc had pre-cmnently prepared it, In seeking
for the causes of is decline, they thought that they dis
cerneu an ov oil no tue magnitude, in the present
ganizaon of its Poard of Visitors and were free to ex-
press their apprehcnsions ard suggest the remedy TO
the Body constu,ionally invested with the power of re-
an augmentation of the Board of Visitors by contem-
paton, not less of the evils of partial administration of
its concerns than of the incsnable benefits of thus in
crcasnE the most ellectual of a.ousng popular
sympathy i'm behalf Of this institutions and A,casinr the
sectional eaouSes. which have curtaed the sphere of
It's influences and have, indeed mostly arisen from
norancc OF its concerns and supposed dssmilary in
tere't, which such measure would greatly weaken and
ultimately But, i'm urging their views of the
evils likely result from the insufficient number of visit
tors they could not without dcrclicion of duty have
omitted TO detail certain recent transactions of the Board
which, at the time that they afforded striking cx
ample of these evils and powerful Confederation of her
apprchensions had also imbucd the public mind with de-
gree OF mlSrus which could not be diSSipatCd
OIL, pablo acknowledgements So far from having
only produced excitement in the village Of Char
ioue'vle, Gas the Hon. Chairman of the Committee
! OF schools and Colleges pleased TO say.) they
had created, wherever they known wide spread
ati'tction, and raised spirit of mstrust, which no
vague Legislative REPORTS of the 'nnf,iofisy,' of tho
Board can either ull concilate This petition thus
pedcaed on general reasoning, and supported by the col
lateral statement of these transactions, well calculated
TO throw the suspicion of improper motives the visitors
presented 10 the House, partly read and then referred
to Standing Committee, Of which two Visitors were
themselves members, "qWoSi GgRUm c0nlnitere IupO"
nat committee, with hasness that savourcd strong
~ OF disposition 10 preiudicate the petition asked to be
discharged from its further consideration. The request
granted by the House, and thus the PRAYER of no
ton proered by large and respectable portion not only
OF the Citizens Of the village of Charlottesville but
OF the people of Albemarle, dsdanfully evaded-
How Tar COMFORTS with the manly independence or firm
ness of Legislator 10 endeavor suppress an invcstpa
ton into the conduct Of public functionares when re-
Specy called for by the people, and how far it is either
prudent orpoic in those functionares themselves to con-
sent to se enquiry of this sort, questions which
commend to the conscientious keeping and reflection of
oSc most interested in their solution. Apart from that
courteous and satisfactory examination, which The re-
speciiu petitions OF the constituent would seem entitled
at the hands of his representative il NAV be well asLed
whether patriotic desire satisfy public expectaton
would not have required something than an eager
effort TO ttnk The questions presented by This peion-
mere Is one thing however, in the remarks of the wor-
my Chairman OF that Committee, which especially de-
serves notice. He says, that 90 the Committee had in
Shtned an enquiry into the charge of which the Board
5000 ra%ned and had received satisfactory evidence
mat the allegation not well founded.'' Without
stopping TO enquire into the character or nature of
that Satisfactory evidence" which could scarcely,
the individuals implicated it may be well to declare that
mere Is no single allegation in that petition in relation 10
the late proceedings Of the Board, which is not most
clearly and distinctly vouchcd either by the enacmens
OF the Visitors themselves, else by the public tcsmo
ny Of one oil their own number Indeed there is but one
'ci IN mat document dependent on UiUG evidences
and the history of he mode in which that fact was brought
to ght may not be nnineresting devoid of instruc-
ton TO the worthy Chairman who spoke of "he excite
CnarlOttcSyillp.' hose Late
engagements of the Board of which the petition complain
CO. preceded by short interval the annual election of
delegates for the county of Ahemare. Ii so happened
that one OF the Visitors, member elect for that conn
y, presented himself before tie People as a Candidate
Tor their uiaees. But general and loud was tbe ont
cry against these obnoxious enactments, that he was
called upon by the appeal Of the People and prudent
regard tor the issue OF the election to state most distinct
" what share II any, he bore in these transactions He
did so IN public speech the Hastings and in the most
indignant tone repealed The charge of his having assent
ca 10 me injustice inflicted the late Proctor He fur
Their stated that he had been made the organ of the Y
tors IN pedgins their faith 10 the late Proctor that if he
were willing to resign the Proctorshp they would confer
upon HIM The 3ursarshp in addition the situation which
ne Sready hcd as Patrons that this formal and solemn
pledge was violated in his absence; and that when bc
was st aPprzed OF it, he warmly and actively remon
suated against IT, not only unjust towards the Proctor
but dsrespectu TO HIMSELF reverse that in his absence
to which they had previously authorized him TO PLEDGE
'helr nith Not content with the bare statement OF these
occurrences he actually inveghcd against his brethren
OF the Board for their breach of good fah and thus
rbuted in no inconsdeabc degree add to that excite
v
having made such distinct statements i'm his excuDaorv
speech, this worthy gentleman, himself member of the
committee, must have felt it his duty the petitioners
who had relied on his testimony confirm bv the rene
uuon oil these facts, that portion of their petition which
purpors to have been derived from Guihentic noynr
Hon and in that event how could the Committee have
received satisfactory evidence that the allegation was
not wc-ounded without discrediting his statements
an alternative, from which, tits supposcd his high chaac
ter would save him. When the Committee then are in
formed OF these Facts resting the unimpeached cy.
dcncc Of Visitor himself which hundreds heard and can
bear witness TO, they will do the petitioners The Justice IN
believe that there is countervang testimony well cocu-
ia'ed 70 rebut the satisfactory evidence" upon which
they rested their conclusions The remaining details of
the petition were sustained by the cnactmens Of tho V
tors which, it believed, cautiously copied rerba
I tim. - we
In conclusion, therefore the writer would respectfully
appeal to That fearless independence that intrepd sense
OF Justice that ready spirit Of scrutiny into The acts Of
public agents. which should pervade the Legislature of
Virginia, 70 say whether petition of This charac,cr
from respectable and intelligent men. enbodyinp such
facts and based on such evidence should be yaguciy and
tnsaifacforiiy answered, and then suffered 10 sinber
indefinitely on the table Of the House. ID
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(From me CompiierJ