Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-08-07

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speak for themselves With ali who know
any thing on the subject The Alabama
College has ever beea proyerbial@ for its
disorder. Look at the Athens College.
But. last summer. whensfhousands were
assembled for Commencement occasion,
,tliePresidentand a Profe were knocked
down by certain students, and both most
severely injured. IL has been bur liIlle:
while since a Professor Of a Virginia Col
lege was killed by Student, and mere
recently old Yale was called upon 10
mourn the death Of one Of her Instructors,
in similar way. These are ou,rages which
happily have no parallel in our College,
for. 10 The credit Of our people, be it said
that since its foundation no personal iDjua
ry. ! believe, has been inflicted upon a
Professor, These facts are moi mentioned
with view of casting imputation upon
the Institutions alluded 10, but simply 10
show, that other Colleges, besides the 81
Carolina College, exhibit disorde con. )
fusion. We have no. doubt that the req
speclive Faculties discharge their. duty 10
The public most tconscientiousIy and. from
personal knowledge ofsome 0fthe Pro-
lessons, we hesitate not 10 say, that every
securitysis offered which can come from
eminenl pie,y, untiring devotion and rare
learning. But, is it "a fact, that our. Col
lege is in worse condition that in olden
times? ] was member ofthe ColIegein
the days Of Dr.. Maxcy, and Iskaop tEea Z
fact, that there was far more dissipation
then than now. Drinking and Gaming
prevailed 10 q most awfulextent, and, even
the Sabhathwas desecrated 10 these most
demoralizing practices. Far be ii from
me to reflect upon the distinguished bead
Of The College at that Time; for in common
with The hundreds who had the pleasure
ofreceiving instruction from him, cherish
bis memory with no ordinary devotion -
There is now in the College a Chair Of
Sacred Literature, and the Professor, ia
addition TO morning g. afternoon services in
the Chapel, is required to preach twice
on every Sabbath. In the special ,proyi-
sion which is thus made for the religious
instruction Of the young men, the public
have the highest security that this great
interest is not overlooked. -. -. sS:5.St s.55
But let us cali attention more .t,a7ricu.
larly to The subject of drinking in the Cot
Lsge. IF Col. MELVILLE is right; The COL
lege is In fact but large dram.shop. He,
has in efectcalled upon parents to aban--
don it, until a reform can be brought about
in It's walls. DO l misrepresent him I.
am sure | would not inientlonally.s II
gave me great pain TO hear what i did
from that most worthy gentleman, for of
his numerous friends / doubt whether. he
has better than myself. That he spoke
honestly, doubt not, for he would not
speak otherwise; but be spoke under mis-
take. Col. Melville win be regarded as
authority IN this matter, for he is most fa- !.
vorably known throughout the State, and
is Trustee of the College. Does IL not
follow, as matter Of course, that the Col.
lege must lose tho public confidence, if
the Trustees withhold their support? Col.
McWilie's declaration that he would not,
under the present circumstances, send a
sou TO our College, was most startling, and
| know if moi counteracted the effect must
be most pernicious. Let US meet it by
few facts. The Temperance cause q as
never as well represented 10 the College
as i, is now. Several of the Professors
have addressed The Students publicly, on
The subject, and urged them to become,
members Of The College Society. Stno
idea may be formed of the degree of en-
couragement which drinking receives from
the Fnculty, when / state the fact that
unanimous suspension has in euery instance
been the punishment for taking single
drink euen, or introducing it within the
walls. This is an offence which The Fac
ulIy never pardon, and the most ultra
Temperance man would rather be disposed
to complain, were 10 give some cases of
discipline which occurred duriAg the past
session. But The Professors are MT WASH
ngtonians-Gthey take; a glass Of wine oc-
casioually. aAud has it come to this that
they are 10 be abused because they will
moi attach themselves 10 Temperance
Society? One of the speakers took the
ground that they were the creatures ofthe
perple, and of course that the people had
right to do with them as they please.
Well, the Governor is the creature Of the
people, and so are The Judges. Are they
10 be lei alone? Should they be permit
led 10 fake their glass? Is not the exam
pleegually pernicious 10 the youth oflhe
State iell the friends Of Temperance
that this is dangerous ground. They have
noright TO talk ofany body Of men as they
did Of the Faculty of the College. They
will provoke opposition. This too, in the,
teeth Of the assurances which they have
often given the public. How can men be,
made friends of cause by denunciations?
Ills most surprising ihai Col. MELVILLE
should have suffered his zeal 10 have car
ried him suchlengths, for be has been dis
linguished BY. the moderation Of his course.
But the day bef6re, he made a. speech Of
uncommon power, in which be took ground
against aliyiolen, measures. and depreca-
ted; the ultraism of some men as certainly
fatalio The cause. He was the last man