Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-06-17
THE ENQUIRER.
Richmond, june Ia.
THE CAUSE or EDUCATION.
TO rHE ALUMNI or THE UNIVERSITY.

10 devote some Of our space 10 the affairs OF me
University Of Virginia. We do !, al lhis l''''e'
moi because the subject comes TO rs in regular pi-
der, bu, on accoun, OF The approaching close o.
the session al the Institution. Our purpose ID ad
dres ing the Alumni is 10 enlist their exer'iohs III
behalf Of the College, and 10 urge The attendance
of as many of them as possible al their next an
nual meeling-lhe coming Sd OF July ne
Alumni are men who can appreciate me aaSah-
lages. understand the workings, and discern me
necessities, Of their Alma Mater, better than any
other class Of persons. Therefore, when changes
in lis system and management are talked OF, they
deserve 10 be consulted. When called upon lor
counsel, they will not turn deaf ear. Many OF
them live within striking distance of the onlVeI-
sily, and journey lhither would cause lille or no
inconvenience, whilst il would afford them all the
numerous advantages and pleasures OF a reunion
with old friends. Others in the Eabi, OF spend
ing portion of The Summer in the mountains, or
a, the Virginia Springs. How easy for them so
to arrange their time Of starting as 10 take the
! University in their route, and there spend The ST
I or 4th OF JULY The Society OF Alumni was es-
lahished some six wears since, for useful and noble
| purposes 1t has Constitution, and II has ON
GERS Ii has regular meetings appointed 10 be
| held and orations 10 be annually delivered. bnt
these things alone can never give il efficiency and
| influence, unless there is a considerable annual
attendance on The part of the members. Iii not
as a !od not as an association, hearing al
dresses and passing resolutions that the Alum
nj can expect 10 exert an important influence.
The association collects them together, and its
records tell Tho are members; but their num-
bers their intelligence, and their weight Of char
acier alone must be looked 10, in order 20 give
them influence in guiding The desinies oil The
University. is individuals who have spen,
some portion oi their youth within lis walls,
and earned is honor> ana dcgrec,-who have en-
tered society, ana have some stake in lis welfare
they may confer. by means OF their presence and
their counsel, many benefits upon the Institution,
in encouraging he students 10 higher intellectual!
aims, and i'll enliehtenins both The Faculty and
Inc Visitors upon lis wants and the state oi public
opinion, with regard 10 il. We invoke Z full al
tendance on their part a free inquiry into The
situation Of the University, and frank and mn.
reserved conference between themselves, the Fa-
Guilty and The Visilers.
The recent cmCnt at the University has been
made The occasion OF suggesting, in various quar-
ters, Sundry changes in lis management. Some
of these propositions had been long before thought
OF By their authors, whilst others were the on
spring Of The moment. Some Of them have APP
peared in print; but the greater portion have only
! been talked Of in private. Some OF them may
be adopted BY The Board Of Visitors whenever
they think proper others would require the ac-
ton OF The Legislature itself We proceed 70
specify few that have occurred 10 us.
The first change proposed is that Of making
the presiding officer Of The faculty permanently,
instead Of an annually elected officer, as Is The
case al present AID changing his name from
chairman" 10 PRESIDENT" ;longh we ca not
see tia, the name by which he is called makes
any difference in his character. II is supposed
that where the post is made permanent man OF
greater talents, more experience and more disnl-
" Of character, can lie Obtained 10 oil il. The
general interests ri the institution, and lis rtpu-
lalion a; home and abroad would heccmc his
become inbed with his own ambition Tor distinc-
ton Should the Board of Visitors at their en-
suing session, think proper 70 make this aliera-
lion in Tie tenure 81 office If The Chairman, they
will, in addition 10 the several members OF the
present facul,y, have wide range oil selection
before them, from The fact that Two proIessor>hrs
-empiia,ically tie first in dignity and import
- ~ md u,ill have
10 be ed We trust 10 their wisdom 10 select
men OF known standing and abilities in The Com
,nonweallh and we venture 10 hope that they will
look beyond the mere letters Of Recommendation
which may be presented 10 them; for their eXPe-
rience must tell them that these testimonials are
often The result OF mere personal prediction, or
family influence, or of the assduous arts used in
obtaining them. Should competent man be Sc
lecet 10 preside over The institution, and hold one
Of The two vacant proessorships- Moral Ph;lo-
sophy, and Political Economy or Law-,hc
change in MIR. Jefersons original plan OF The
University, in this particular will not be regret
ted.
1t has also been proposed TO divide the collie
giate year into Two sessions in place Of one, as
now; bu we have not heard what reasons are
| assigned for The change. In densely populated
| sections where railroad and steamboat commu-
ncation is frequent and easy, The journey OF
student to and from college is a mailer OF small
import and, therefore, two vacations year at
such places cause no Inconvenience from loss Of
time and expense Our State, however, is differ
emily situated, as regards her colleges, from the
! Northern States. The facilities of communca-
ton with the University are neither 50 great nor
are The homes OF our students so near. as al The
| Moth To establish two sessions year at The
! University, willis, it might accommodate the pro-
| lcssors, would canse much extra travelling and
| expense 10 the siuden,s-not TO speak OF The loss
OF time and the interruption of continuous study
which il would occasion.
Another scheme was set on foot, having for lis
object the establishment, Of paramount civil an
lhorily within The precincts OF the college. 1t
was proposed 10 substitute for The discipline OF the
faculty the weapons Of the law, and introduce the
machinery Of court, sherif!s, wris, &c, into he
Unirersitv The advocates oflhis scheme thought
10 apply the same laws to the young men a, col
leee that wonld be applied TO them, afterwards, as
members OF society," and ,hey reasoned very cor
rec,ly, that, being member OF college should
give no exemption from The laws Of the land
But they were hastily resorins 10 extreme medi-
cine and proposing 10 make it daily TODD. An
introduction OF the civ | authority wonld always
produce incalculab!c excitement and il would be
no more potent 10 suppress disorder (nnless il
broke up all siudies) than the resolves Of The ia
Guilty, sustained BY The just sentiment OF The com
mun,y. Processes from courts arc nothing in
this country, unless backed by tie moral sense Of
the people; and, that they would as SOON sustain
the faculty as they would court ofjnsiice, when
they though, them right, does not admit Of doubt
Ipe trpst ,oo much 10 the GOOD sense and self re-