Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-06-13

The literary criticisms in the Democratic lie
REV are keen, polished, elegant and Just. lhef'
are some beautiful sketches and essays IN inc pr
sent No Indeed, as literary work, II stancs u
The highest rank. Politics aside, the Review J
an honor 10 The country, and should be snstaihe"
We are perfectly satisfied that our valued
friend. to whose accomplished pen we are i'uep'
ed Tor the following defence Of his Alma Mater
! is far from regarding u as aciuaied ~ any mo
tive Of partnership towards the uniVetsiS'
dislike for old William & Mary, or any DINER Il
,erary institution in the Stale. Under ms con
vic,ion, We publish his communicalion-prem
ing, however, that we regard some OF the Ian
guage as loo harsh upon the friends OF me ohi
versity, who have taken up the gauntlet Tor hei
There were peculiar circumstances which cahe'
for their exeIiions. The late unfortunate rio1
had given new stimulus 10 The old preJu
dices against the Universy-and neces>a
object. IN defending her against attacks, and II
setting forth her merits. we are sure that II va
far from the design Of her advocates 10 inlure
assail the venerable college OF William 4 Mary
or any other in The State. The University wa
the "burden" OF The newspaper discussions, be
cause il, alone was the subject OF attack. Thu
claims Of The other institutions were not referee
10, because they were all moving along in quie
and prosperity.
For ourselves, VIC can with truth say, that We
look with pride 10 the bright prospects OF old Vii
liam & Mary, with her able Professors and thril
ling associations. In the other colleges in the
State we take deep interest, as calculated 10 adj
vance The great cause OF Education. We are Inc
narlizans OF none, The enemies OF none:
Ia Tic Editors Of Ne Enqnuer.
THE UNIVERSITY AND OTHER COLLEGES.
One who has hut casually glanced al The va
rious papers OF the Stale for some weeks past
must have been Immediately struck with the MI.
merous editorials and the extensive corresponds
ence, upon the subject OF the university OF Vir-
einia," with which their columns have been
crowded.
'Sludents" have written long accounts Of the
recent riots al that Institution, excul palng them
selves, and censurng their Professors The Pro
.essors have disseminated Circulars TO the Public
in their own Justification "Friepds' and "A!um-
nj have eagerly seized their pens and rushed into
the general melee, some 10 utter heir OVID pecu-
liar opinions on the causes that led 10 these dis
,urbances. some 10 pour ont their lamentations,
and some TO suggest remedies and prcvenlive>,
while the various journals, from the dcar'h oil po-
litical matters, have sreedily caught al this God
send, as copionS malerel for lengthy paragraphs.
So prevalent has become the mania, that it is
not confined 10 the daily and weekly papers: but
the lasl Literary Me- senger monthly pcriod-
cal. has become infected by the spreading cona-
giou, caught The dying echo OF these productions,
repeated in dolorous strains the o.-lold tales, and
reiterated the WORKOUT eXhorations 10 her Alumni,
10 stand By their Alma Mater, defend her from
the attacks OF her secre, enemies, and coniound
her ca.umnla;ors.
To such an extent has this mania progressed,
that il could not be doubted bal that if foreigner
had Witnessed this excitement and iervor, rad
seen these numherlcss effusons, and no;ed the
tone Of their contents, he must have inevitably
come 10 the conclusion, that there was but one
College in the broad limits OF the Old Dominion,
and H0i The University, and hal there was some
tremendous endeavor in agitation, on the part OF
designing radicals, and enemies 10 learning, 10
subyert ard destroy Seminary, which was the
only Institution To which the sons Of Virsinians
could be sent 10 acquire The rudimenis OF de-
cent education
Now, all these appeals, Messrs. Editors 10 the
public 10 support the University are very fine, and
doubtless they are HEARTFELT; but has it never sug-
ccsied itself 10 your minds, tina, there was some
Thing selfish, uncourreous and unjust contained
within them, which, although perhaps Undersigned
and unseen blythe writer's, has nevertheless been ve-
ry obvious and Objectionable 10 the readers OF these
effusions--and which would be very apt 10 pro-
duce npon the public mind very diferen, in
preston from that which their authors have en-.
deavored 10 create, from that most natural feeling
implanted in The bosom OF mankind, The very
same 10 which they are themselves appealing,
that of sympathizing with, and succoring The neg
lec,ed and forgotten
The writer is not one Of those who would censure
the Alumni and friends OF the University Tor max
ing the most strenuous efforts 10 aid and sustain
her. on The contrary he is sensible that there Is 10
feeling more 10 be commented, and none when
he would so soon respect, az that OF love and
vcneraion for The institutions al which we have
been educated; bri when that feeling sinks into
a selfish part3anship and dislike oil other in
s,,ntionS il produces contempt and disgust,
which only lend 10 destroy the institution itself,
and go far 10 injure the cause OF Education
throughout the land.
Let the friends OF The University cry up her
peculiar advantages and depreciaie those Of ano-
iher institution; on The other hand, lei the friends
Of another College laud il and condemn her, and
il must be obvious that The community will put
little confidence in either, that they will both go
By The board, and that the cause OF learning VIII
suffer in proportion.
Now, il is M, meant 10 be asserted, that The
friends Of the University, in sounding her prais-
es. are disposed 10 decry other insiluiions-but
i. must have been noticed By the most casual
reader, that their attachment 10 that institution,
as exhibited in these productions, has led them
into an utter forgefulneSs of all other institutions
in the country, and tended TO produce tue conclu-
sion that she alone was worthy 10 he supported
and cherished BY the citizens Of the State.
That This course is impolilic, even when per.
sued by her Alumni, as Immediately productive
OF renewed excrlions on the part OF the friends OF
other colleges from The simple principles OF re-
talialion or disgust of selishness none can be so
hind as not TO perceive-but, when pursued by all
the different journals OF the country, il is not ONLY
impolilc, but uncoullcous and unjns, in The ex-
IRENE.
Editors OF papers, like other men, may have
attachments 10 places and persons, bni that al
iachmenl should be exhibited in a private man.
ncr. as individuals not in public way, as editors.
A editor. like representative should not ne Inc
organ OF a clique or section, il he wishes The in
lluence Of his paper TO extend beyond The limits
Of lha; clique or section. He should endeavor 10
persue the wise maxim OF our Democratic creed,
justice 70 all, iavoriiism and Partially 10 none"
The June No. OF the Literary Messenger
speaks of the University as State institution
Does that give her any peculiar advantages
over other colleges Does Stale taxation pro-
,;ucc more learned professors than individual en-
dowment! Any thinking man must at once per-
ceive that il is, on the contrary, disadvantage 10
literally endowed college, TO have any connection
with government The reasons are obvious,
and the history OF the New England Colleges SUI
ficien,ly proves il.
The Messenger is = periodical well deserving
the support OF the South; huI, If il wishes TO ad-
vance its own Interests it should make friends by
favorne all institutions and no, enemies, BY be-
coming the organ OF one
That the University can boast Of many dslin-
euished sons, brilliant ornaments, not only 10
their Alma Mater, but 10 Their native State, The
presen, Democratic Delegation 10 Congress sufi-
r;ent ,,,oc,s n &c mi hp wish or intention o. the