Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-05-27
To he Editors of ne Enquirer


To lie Editors Of ne Enquircr:
Gentlemen: An article in your paper of the
I3lh inst. which has Just fallen under my obser-
walton, contains an impnlation upon the charac-
ter Of New England students, 50 unjust, that
canno. refrain from asking you 10 allow me,
through your paper, 10 protest against lis correct
ness. Indeed. as one of her sons, and educated
in her schools. / feel il both duty and q privi-
leye here in The land ui generous and chyarous
strangers. 10 defend her institutions and sons from
such q charge as The article headed "Ihe Uni
yersity oi Virsinia-itS peculiar advantages ana
claims upon the South" contains
Thai article is in the MAN, characterized by
the most enlightened comprehensive ana liberal
view: the author seems 10 haze shaken on nose
territorial prci.niceS, by which loo many al both
ends Of The unicn are influenced, and 10 have
arisen 10 \ loiiy and noble elevation, whence with
a penetrating and toTeseeng vision he surveys Inc
pas present and future; and as he descah;s upon
The advantages the University has already, ana
may yet confer upon Virginia the SCUM, anu
the whole country, he carries the entire mind ana
heart of The reader along with him. But when
he comes 10 compare Tie advantages of North
ern AMI Son,hern education, although he does not
exagncraie The advantages OF home education,
ye, in making the contrast, he attributes trait
of character 10 the body Of Northern Students
which if true. ought 10 render them e1ecrabie 10
the whole social world. "Their readiness 10 be-
come infnrmersn &C. i, as he says 10 be a,llbnt-
ed 10 early assoc iatiunS. &c. Now, if there is
one character more 10 be deiested than another, il
is tha, of The injo,1el; il there is any one better
calculated Than another 10 break up all the Social
harmonies of a generous and friendly ih!er-
course, il is The iRtBmf; one Whn, alter havih5
been admitted to the privacy ol Inc hit-sne, or
perhaps 10 Tie sanctuary Vi Inc near, PuuiishcS
10 the world what he has there learned. ANA
hence ii the impulaion ol Il. upon Northern
students he Just, il forms not ohly one oi 'ne
strongest reasons why no Southern youth shout !
I've sent 10 Northern college, but is sufficient
reason why those institutions themselves should
he broken IN, rather than remain the gathering
places of So much social baseDess. But This i'm
putalion is unjust, and will be received by those
upon whom il is cast il received at all, with &C.
neral feeling Ct Indignation. H"ud meTpcJtuS
Lguor-I have been acGuain ed with every grade
of schools in New England, from The primary mp
to The university and knor, 50 far as my ex-
perience and observation have extended, That
there is peIvadns adherence fell towards the
character which has been imputed TO them III The
article alluded 10. | am aware that there are
bows and Young men in the New England schools
anu coileses, Ddse enough W a'1 ID P''S az" ~
formers upon their associates. Are they 10
be met with no where else2 But in every
instance, where these Arnold, appeared in The
schools with which ! have been connected,
they became the objects Of general dersion and
contempt have in my mind now an individu-
al, who, while member of the same primary
school with myself, was employed on one occa-
sion 10 act as secret spy and iniormer; but, nc
sooner was il known, that he was acting in that
capacity than he was scoiled at and pelted by
every boy in school, and compelled to give up his
commission as nspecior-general, or quit The
school, Irecollect another individual, who, while
al Cambridge, became SO obnoxious 10 his class
Ina, every member Of il refused 10 hold any inter
course with him, OF even board at the same house
land for no clher reason than because he had vo
UNFAIRLY communicated information TO the iacul
", OF The conduct OF some OF his class mates :