Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-09-16
FOR THE SPECTATOR.


Capt. HARPER--Dear Sir: Having lately read
three publications in the Waterman Of the South,
respecting the management and condition Of the
University oil Virginia, the first and third strict
ly editorial, and the second adopted by the editor
as his own, would ventura to beg place in
your paper, for a few remarks upon those editori-
ais. 1t Is certainly question of Importance
with Christian parents TO know whether they
may, with propriety and safety, send their sons
to our University for education. The impression
may be made, that it would be extremely DANCE
rous to the religious principles and morals of our
youth, TO subject them TO such influences as the
Watchman seems to suppose are operating there.
am professor of religion-a Presbyterian,
and few persons, perhaps, have a greater dread or
adherence OF the corrupt system Of Romanism
than myself In this particular, cannot yield to
even the respected Editor of the Waterman him
SELF And whilst ask the liberty of rcmarking
upon his publications, feel love for either the
Jewish or Roman Catho'ick systems of religion
nor do feel myself deficient in esteem or BROTH
erly love towards him.
LIST. 1t should not be forgotten that the Univer-
sity is State institution: and it is, perhaps,
strictly christian aud protestant in its character as
any State institution could well be. Ii is ncith
or an lnfdel, Jewish, or Roman Catholick in
sttution. Provision is there made for the instruc
ton of the students in protestant christianity by
Chaplains appointed from four evangelical de-
These Chaplains the Pastors of the University
during the time of their respective appointments.
They preach every Sabbath--hold praycr-meet-
ings, teach Bible classes, and have every facility
afforded them of doing the duties OF Christian
pastors amongst the Professors and Students. In
this respect, the religious means enjoyed at the
University appear to be fully equal to those of
other Colleges in the State, not excepting those
which are purely sectarian in their origin and
government. twill be remembered, that all the
other Colleges more or less sectarian in their
character. They are not objected to by me on
that account; on the contrary, approve Of diff
erent denominations of Christians rearing up
colleges for the education of their youth, and their
religious instruction according to the principles of
their own faith but the University being an in
stitution of the State, and as it were belong
ing to all the sects in the commonwealth,
whilst il cannot from the nature of the case favor
one denomination more than another, deserves
appreciation, if it providesas believe it does,
for the instruction of its members in the acknowl-
edged doctrines and prCccpts OF our common
christianity, without interfering with the particu
lar creed of any one.
fear that all, even tho best regulated colleges
in the land, are places of danger to the principles
and morals Of youth (; but rdo not believe the
University Of Virginia to be more than most
others; and perhaps none of them have a better
provision for the religious and moral instruction
of their members, exercise a more vigllant dis
cpine over their students.
2nd. The Editor of the Waterman says that
the University belongs to the people of the
State. This we pretend not to dispute; but in
what sense does it belong to them! This point
should be fairly understood to prevent mistakes.
Certainly it does not belong to the people in their
individual capacities, but only in their corporate
capacity as state or body-potick; that is, it be-
longs to them in the same sense as the Capitol at
Richmond does, as the Pcnitentary and the
-. 4 4 ,.,.l IL,
Pile have nothing to do with any of them. They
are under the immediate control Of Trustees APP
pointed by the Legislature, or by the Governor
and Council. The people may, indeed, have
their vanity little Hattered by the idea of having
right to so large property, but their connection
with it is remote and altogether indirect
3rd. The management OF the University has
been entrusted to certain gentlemen, called Visi-
tors. tmay be, perhaps, question with some,
whether the gentlemen now composing the Board
of Visitors, are entitled to the confidence OF the
people in managing the interests of the Univer-
| sity. If they be not, it may well be asked,
| where can others be found more entitled to their
| confidence? The intelligence and moral worth
of those gentlemen are known to many, and some
of them, am informed, are professors of religion,
and protestants, and have not heard the consis-
| tency and sincerity of their christian character
called in question. We should, therefore, Judge
them with candor and charity in their late APP
pointments. l freely admit that respect should
have been had, in making those appointments, to
the religious sentiments of the large majority of
the people of the State, far not to fill any of
the vacant chairs in the University with persons
whose religious principles are obnoxious, or OBJ
| jectionabe to large majority of our citizens
But as rumor appears to be all the evidence TO
| which the Waterman refers for the truth of the
fact, it may not be true or correct. AT any rate,
would it not have been better to have something
more positive and certain to rely upon In case
of such delicacy and importance. think it very
probable that the Visitors never thought of enqu-
ring into the religious creeds of the applicants for
the offices they had to bestow. Their literary
qualifications, and moral character,were probably
all that they looked TO in making the appoint
ments. Papists and Jews are so few in our State,
and especially amongst us who live at distance
from the sea-board, that may well suppose
the Visitors never suspected any of the gen
tlemen applying for any of the vacant professor
ships, and recommended to them as being either
Jews or Catholicks; hence person of either of
those religions might have been appointed. with
out any design on the part of the Visitors to out
rage the religious sense of the community.
18th. 1t might be supposed from some things
said in the first publication, that secret nfdety
is still at work abouttle University. The Watch
man says it was thought that the Universe
| ty was designed to favor particular party, mean
ing, as suppose, the infdel party, Il here write
from memory, but hope shall not misrepresent
! the sentiments Of the esteemed Editor OF the
| Watchman.) and as few are willing to avow,
or openly acknowledge infdel opinions, it had
been said or predicted that the same party would
ally themselves with socinianism. or some other
ism unfriendly TO protestant christianity / was
sorry to find any thing said in the Waterman
which might imply doubt, at least, of the friend