Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-01-03
rus UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
tbs NECESSITY OF RBFoRu.

Unworthy. cannot suppose you ignoTOnt OF the sum
mary and superc ious which Is fashionable. in
certain quarters to denounee oil animsdverSons upon its
management proceeding from hostility TO its interests
All suggestions OF reform and nmsons OF abuses touch
ing the University the sensbiics OF those whose
interests they affect and betrayed into the error oi supPos
ing complete identity between the fortunes OF themselves
and OF the institution they naturally enough deny all s7ch
inerposlon, however nancsty prompted by an earnest
devotion to its prosperity the reckless eitus'ons OF
spite, Of csnsoous temper In this false point OF
vew has become the aud the practice OF some,
doubt is well known TO you, to represent you:
dictated by private piGue at the failure oil
frcRd OF yours obtain Chair IN the UniNefsity
therefore, well satisfied that perseverng Efforts TO
direct the public scrutiny 10 the affairs OF the University,
attest in the most becoming dsdain OF oil such
unworthy imputaons and your settled purpose not TO be
deferred by such invectives from searching examination
into its management SO far from recognizing in your
this subject the evidences OF impacabe hosui
", discern true fearless seTvceable endship,-one
that dsres TO condemn, well TO praise. To attempt
to restore life and vgor to this snsushing Institution by
any, or al the appliances OF boastu and indlscrminale
praise Is but soothing with deusve opiaic the psngs OF
the dying patient misirust either the sincerity or the
good sense ot Who protesting TO be its eno and
contemplating the depofabe contrast between the Just and
liberal endowment OF IT, and the good accomplished by it,
is yet PREPARED 10 cry ou,-"Al's well" For One am
not willing to bring into suspicion and dseredit my real
desire for its by easily yielding the deuson
which interested wstehmen might create. Though in
Sructeu IN advance by tate, OF that which awaits ell
Who condemn its administration may the more otcbly
signaEe real interests for prosperity, by taking upon
myself the hazard OF similar denuncatiou, IN the free
Ii becomes the General Assembly enquire, how IT,,
that institution, founded such and sustained by
80 liberal annuity, has am informed, Only about
100 stgoensl Does ths res adequately respond 10 the
Just expectations OF State l. the University thus
ing that large sphere OF usefulness Tor which poeel-
edi Surely. when after existence OF reay quarter Of
century ITS fortunes have iaen % his low ebb, II
be inferred either there defect in its manage
men; else, that it has wholly and demonstrably tail
ed OF end 10 forfeit all claim TO the continued aid Of
the State.
t. ascertain To which of hese two causes its pros.
rauon s attributable, propose submit matters OF en-
qury for yourselves and Of consideration os The pubc the
following brief suggestions.
l. The past exercise Of the appointing poEer. Dele
gated, this hes been, small body, easy TO be
canvassed, and still easier be OF interested
tyes IN its exercise obviously Of the first moment,
as means of securing the public confidence, and con-
cang public favor To- protect themselves against even the
appearances ol selfish There is pToveIbia aud
smcntable disposition in Cf corporate bodies, 50
their patronage their public
TO profitable schemes for favosm and the promotion OF
the views OF predominant cliques that from the
ment at chartered company down the administration
OF College the wise fear here is aways-lestu may de,
generate INTO mers family cunce,n. But i fondy
hoped that sufficient security against this evil pro-
vided in the high and honorable character OF the Visitors
themselves Nevertheless, the fact is uncontesed that
there have already been clear of Neposm in
their appointments, where, concedng to thoss who OBJ
tanned tsem all OF merit and reputation claimed for them
by their friends II scarcely b. denied under all the
cumsances, that their potent te success the
possession OF uncle upon the BOard-noi, indeed
oil vote, which, through delcacy,
baby withheld, but by of the ready though
ura Difference of his associates his known wishes If
onciuai solicitations, either direct indirect Whatever
therefore, may have been OF these two appoint
ment-and the public are well prepared To Judge of them
they tashed the standing OF the University and impair
ed the influence Of Board with spacious and jeal-
Gus people. In the better days OF the Republic 1t
the wise rule OF Chief Magistrates TO refuse TO
confer oihco upon their relatives however highly qualified
for the stations they sought An example worthy
ITSELF and obviously challenging the observance Of the
10,
ed by peculiar misches Of these appointments them
selves, but by the prevalent degree OF dsust into which
it served TO bring the whole administration Of the Unver.
SHY Considering the suspicious frame OF the public mnd,
induced by the character OF these appointments presume
surprise whatsoever felt expressed the gen.
eral belief that fhud appointment only be inter-
preted mantle Of the influence awarded by the
visitors themselves the ties OF fraternity existing
Faculty From these views infer that this unfortunate
policy the part OF the vsltors, has eKeuod manifest
agency IN mPalnng the public confidence in the Unver
siy.
>. The grade Of the existing appointments feel the
extreme de!ieacy OF treating this topic. With the
respect tor the feelings and reputation OF the members
this faculty, should be greved 10 augh that would
deract from their just standing with the public. Besides
have other means TO form concus judgment upon
this point than those derived from repue of
the county, and surely such would not Justify NE
m volunteering opinions offensive the scusbiies Of
these gentlemen or 10 Their pride of intellect. With
out therefore, INDUCING in any invidious comparisons
claim with pfde, that some u these Chairs illustrated
by all the eClai which real and the well earned And
extensive reputation OF impL them in refer
ence TO far the larger number OF these pofessorhps may
be permitted 10 submit Tor the enquiry proper author
lilies, whether such purchased at too great
cost TO the State and may be readily procured at
cheaper rate When you look the other colleges the
STATE, and contrast them with the University,
prised that revolt the selecting the pro-
lessons OF the latter the sole recipients States
bounty and propose 10 withdraw the snnu the
OF removing this odious dscrcphnce. IT, indeed these ap
be permanent aud 10 higher standard of
qulncdon 70 be enforced you may indeed safely reduce
the siPcad and still retain the similar services
/ would not 50 sin against the mical spirit OF
the age, 10 enter any protest against your PROPOSE
lon If the present OF things u be Continued. In
Decd the rumor IS rite that the Visitors a late session.
sui true u The bias OF nepotsm experimenting, with
le hnuneal erucibo, to ascc'ian no, portion Pro.
iessors salary, could be Transmitted mo the Of
Assistant tor the incumbent Of the Anatomical Chair
without the loss OF the Professors and that
OF reduction without the slightest danger from fu.mna
uon satisfactory and clear product OF third was
ained Perhaps, may hope, that the Of this
experiment will encourage the Board the trIs Of others
to the great Improvement Of their fiscal Lest
may seem TO others, inclined TO disparage, reluctant
~ constrained TO adduce report very generally credited,
that some few sessions ug1 classes the members
Of two clliscs whom no private pque or sinister mo-
uyes were authenticity imputed, addressed To the Board
OF Visitors, at toe moment Of their graduation sepaa-
ton from the University, letter well weighed and deli
eatey expressed complaining Of the incapacity OF their
PrOiessors upon which the Board took no other action
but to transmit 1t to the Professors, implicated by H.
suppose do not materially misconstrue your sentiments
IN believing your advocacy Of the withdrawal Of the annu
W to be based upon the woiu contrast between this out
10y, and s returns and that II thorough reform could be
had, and that high and commanding grade Of intellect
cured which the founder Of the University, designed by
this liberal endowment for Chairs you would be tho
last 10 grudge the muniCence Of this donation It's doubt
less, well known that the salaries Of these proicssOshps
range from about $4,000 nearly in some instances
5000; by means, too much Tor of edged
learning, and science but rather eGuayagant for small
potatoes"
3. TnE cAUsEs AND ruE ErrLers or TUE RIOTS o. ruE
LAST SESSION.. The important crisis, which these disorders
brought about IN the fortunes Of the University renders
important 70 enquire 10 what they Justly impu-
table. Their acknowledged existence for some two or
three months anterior 10 the hna outbreak strongly at
tests the ncompeloncy Of the executive Head Of Facul.
", and the want Of prompt discipline Whether the cur
rent statement nscfbing their nofdnae continuance, and
violence 70 spirit Of characterization. engendered among
the Students, by natural and Ingenious dsascton ars-
Jog from their strong conviction O the moral in-mines Of
the Chairman, thcPubc possess the means Of de
ierminirg Whether the signal unpDpsany Of this Off
GER and the charges against HIM were o. is often tho
cese The consequence OF his obnoxious pOstho result
mere b2ysh ifoak0r wore indeed well founded would
ke