The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-31
WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE AND PRO
FESSOR BEVERLY TUCKER.


We have received great number of letters
from students and alumni of William and Mary
College, in Virginia, indicating that institution
and particularly Professor Beverly Tucker from
| the charge which has been made against him
in recent publication, of intoxicating disaffec
ton to the Union. We have not attached any
serious importance to the charge, considering il
as made only incidentally, and evidently under
misapprehension or transformation. We have
not supposed that the character of SO ancient
and renowned College, which has educated
more of the truly great men of the country than
any other institution in it, could be injured by a
mere passing blow, not aimed particularly at it
nor have we supposed that the well-earned and
established reputation Of such man as Judge
Beverly Tucker, could possibly suffer, under a
general charge from whatever source it might
emanate which, in the opinion Of those who
are correctly informed, is SO plainly contradcted
by the whole course of his writings his actions
and his teachings. Hence we have considered
it altogether unnecessary to publish all the tes-
timonials which have been sent to us, touching
this subject Nor shall we do it now, for they
would occupy much more space, in more than
one impression of our paper, than we could
properly devote to them. 1t is due to the writers
of them, however, that they should not be pass
ed by, without some notice. We therefore Sc
lect from among them, the following, with the
single remark that they all assert the same gen
eral fact, and breathe the same sentiments of
respect and gratitude to Professor Tucker.
We have not the pleasure to know Professor
Tucker personally, but we have read many of
his writings, and heard much of his character,
as jurst and politician He is decidedly among
the most forcble and polished writers of our
country. AS politician, we have been often
struck with the expansiveness of his views, and
with the deep philosophy on which his princi-
pies are founded. He evinces a much more
thorough comprehension Of the true nature of
our Government and institutions, than most
of the other distinguished men who have made
them the subjects of public discussion. He at
taches high importance to the federatiue
character Of our system, which he regards as
the only conservative principle of our Union
and this he illustrates Gf we may judge from
such of his published addresses as we have
SEEM in manner peculiarly happy and forcible.
Apart from the evidence contained in the letters
now before us, we have seen abundant proof
that he is not only warm and sincere lover OF
the Union, but truly enlightened friend; one
who seeks to place it upon its true founda-
tons, and to pressrpe it, by pointing out and
guarding against the dangers to which it is
exposed.
We are led to make these remarks by the re-
spect for Judge Tucker, which the letters before
us have inspired. it requires high order of cha
racter and endowment, to be able, in discharg-
ing the difficult and delicate duties Of public
instructor, to win the love and confidence of the
pupil, without any sacrifice of the proper dig
nifty of the professor. This he seems to have
accomplished in eminent degree; and we
have no doubt that it is true, as we have otter
heard, that to this, and TO the other influences
of his teachings and example, may be attributed