The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1843-11-15
FREE TRADE DOCTRINES.

The following letter upon this subject we find
in the Fredericksburg Arena. Mr.. Peasants,
well known as the late editor of the Richmond
Wing, deserves and will receive, much credit for
his interference in this matter. Our own inn
preston, in which however we may be mistaken,
is that the judges and literary professors gen.
orally, in Virginia take too active an interest in
the politics Of the day--an interest unbecoming
their stations and inconsistent with their duties.
To The Editor Of the Wig.
DEAR SIR: Having some reason to suppose
that casual remark of mine gave rise, incident
ally, 10 the late controversy the subject of the
course of instruction in our colleges, and that, at
distance, am regarded, by particular persons,
as having represented you, IN your recent abb
sence from the city, as being the author of the
Structures on the Colleges, beg leave, with your
permission, to say word in explanation.
The remark alluded to was, 81 should as soon
think of sending son of mine TO st. Omar's to
learn hberaiiy in matters OF religion, as to Will
liam and Mary, to be crammed with the abstrac-
lions of Adam Smith and Say, which, often theo-
retically true, every man of experience knew to
be almost uniformly false and delusive in the ac-
lual condition of the world" This observation
was founded upon what had heard and supposed
to be true, that the doctrines of free trade were
Zealousy inculcated from the chair of political
economy al William and Mary, while the oppos-
ing arguments were withheld from the consider
alton Of the student altogether, or so feebly ex-
hibited, as to make no impression upon his mind.
| did not question that the fact was as stated,
because knew Professor Dew to be an enthusi-
astic, as well as most able and distinguished, adj
vocate Of the plausible, but utopian theories of
freetrade, and because had, of late years, never
met with, or heard Of, an alumnus of William
and Mary, who, with whatsoever predictions
or party affinities he had gone thither, did not
return flaming, and in many instances, bigoted
and intolerant disciple of that school. If so,
that instead of breaking up the mind of the stu
dent, as Mr.. Locke expresses it, and qualifying
him, by general knowledge, to form his own
opinions his understanding was to be fettered by
the incubation of scholastic. dogmas, and parti-
cular creeds and systems, thought it was high
time that the community Of parents should be
put on their guard against an institution, better
calculated, if this was the case, to form monks
and sectaries, than TO fit their sons for the coun
try and Institutions which they have the happi-
ness to enjoy.
Subsequently | saw Professor Dew, and
think he assured me Tor some other person did)
that had been msinformed, and that although
Say was the text author, the arguments of the
anti-free trade party were candidly stated, and
the student left to model his own opinions by a
comparison of the'two Relying upon the high
character Of that eminent person, I relinquish my
intention of making formal appeal to the peo-
pie Of Virginia upon what deemed the grave
complaint against the chair Of political economy
at William and Mary Of teaching creeds instead
of knowledge, anu the matter was taken up In
this paper by others, not by me.
Some information | have received rendered
this communication proper. Very respectfully,
yours, JOHN H. PLEASANTS.