Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-03-05
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.

Investigating Committee, on the proposition 4
reduce the University annuity TO 81 500.
| MIR. ALEXANDER rose and said, the motion o
the gentleman from Loudoun, (Mr. Taylor) h
conceived to be, In effect, motion seriously Il
inJure, II not to destroy, the institution itself.
therefore becomes grave question, and demands
me most serious consideration of this House
That prejudice has been excited in the publi,
mind, rom recent Disturbances which have trans
pred there, shall not pretend 10 deny. Blu, i
Is important to enquire, whether they are of such
character as 10 have forfeited public confdenc,
In It's usefulness, and necessarily involve the fu
tuIe existence oil the University. | will not al
low myself Tor a,momcnt TO believe, at this en-
iightened day, When mankind have so far advan
ced In civilization, improvement and knowledge
that an act Withdrawing the annual appropriation
or any part thereof, SO suicidal in itself, can b,
committed by s4yI,sgislalure Of Virginia. Hs
own character, the virtue and intelligence of hel
ci'izens, lead me TO hope, that the spirit of de-
siruciIon II 1t exists any where, will not be car
red INTO the sanctuary of learning, as am sure
IL VIII md no response throughout her wide ex
tended territory.
We are then led to enquire into the causes
which have produced this distrust and dssatis
faction In the public mind. They may be traced
10 the iainented death OF one OF her distinguished
Professors some time since, and the unfortunate
disturbances within the past year. These arc
occurrences TO which every institution of a like
character are occasionally liable, and they do moi
appear In this case to be owing 10 any defect in
the organic law OF the institution, but rather 10
the want OF efficiency in the administration. or.
10 more rigid discipline which it may be proper
10 Introduce into lis government. Equally seri-
Gus disturbances have occurred in the Northern
institutions, and 10 more alarming extent when
the armed military has been called in 10 SUPPRESS
them, and II they should be found more common
with us, they may be attributed 10 difference in
r. nat nD.o
constitution; TO the ardour and impaiience of
youth under the restraint of law and still more
10 the want oil early moral instruction, and strict
obedience to parental authority. It is even won.
ueriui 'hat ior more than twenty years. the period
OF the existence oil the University, occurrences of
The Kind have not been more frequent
Another cause may be found i'm MANY who uo
there, not sufficiently advanced TO qualify them
Tor entering upon the higher branches of litera-
lure who, feeling their own deficiency and ina
olity TO master the most difficult naturally be-.
take themselves to ldieness, dissipation and riot
Gus assemblies The only corrective, in my o.
Pinoh' ior all these evils, is TO be found in re-
curing Detter preparation when thew matricu-
iaie; and when, from idleness or want of capac-
~, they are unable 10 advance, thew should be
ADVISED 10 withdraw from the institution; and
whenever spirit OF insubordinalon manifests il
sell, TO cause them at once TO be dismissed.
iheir example is perncious and corruptinu and
."e more steady and studious are easily drawn
h'o what may seem al first Innocent but soon
becomes disorganizing and rebeliious. With a
view 10 lhis end, The committee are of opnon
,na. 'heIe should be appointed President OF the
Onlversiiy-an officer better calculated 10 com.
Inand respect and ensure obedience 10 the laws
OF the institution; who, by his high mora! worth.
literary atialnmenis and civil department. added
| to great energy OF character will do more 10 in.
| spire awe and enforce submissions than the svs
TEN mat has heretofore prevailed. The head of
no government that is weak, deficient i'm those
| requisites which qualify il to command, can ever
claim respect or obedience from the governed. I
40 not mean by this 10 say, that the gentleman
who now occupies this position is without these
qualifications ii he does not posse ss them all,
he certainly does many OF them in an eminent de-
gree. In this opinion of change i'm the head of
the institution, the committee have the entire
concurrence OF the Board of Visiters who were
assembled. 1t is at least an experiment worth
the tria, and Is one that has been generally a
copied with success throughout the colleges in
the several States.
The financial affairs of the University came
likewise under the investigation OF the committee,
ana although II is extremely desirable that the
expenditures which seem TO be large should be
Diminished, yet, from lis present condition. no
great reduction, II any, can be made, without in
jury 10 It's progressive Improvement. The repairs
which heretofore have formed large item in the
expenditure, may be diminished to some extent.
but from the extensive surface of grounds and
buildings, they must necessarily be great
| The whole income accrung 10 the University
the last year was little more than twenty thou
| SAND dollars, arising from the annual appropria-
! ;on of fifteen thousand from the Literary Fund.
and the rents of dormitories, hotels tniiion FOES
and fees for the use OF the Library; while the ey
! PendItures. including The interest upon the debt
very nearly reached up to that amount.
| The salaries OF the Professors are in mea-
sure dependant upon the fees for tuition. which
| seemed TO have been deemed necessary in tho
early establishment of the University in orJe, f.
excite proper emulation among them 10 raise
the standard oil their respective chairs-tbe SIN.
dents being permitted to select their own proree.
sors, instead OF confining them TO a par,icpla,
course OF studies. In its present state, The num.
per oil students not exceeding one hundred and
thrty-siX, the salaries will be scarcely sufic;en,
| 10 command the talents and requirements which
The character OF the institution requires. ShonlJ
IL again reach the point Of its most fourishino no
liod, these may he reduced without ipiurv IN Inc
prosperity and with advantage to the student.
oIatuitous instruction is already afforded TO al
candidates preparing for the Christian Ministry
and the Professors have been at all times d;snns
ed to give their time and abors 10 anv b,,obar ~
lndigent persons, free Of charge, whom il NAV h,
the pleasure OF the Legislature to have ednc,tel
| mere on stale account. This the commiitee ar,
disposed 10 thlDk, can be done advantaoeouslv IL
.ne community at moderate charge, and will
| 'ehd more 10 quiet the public mind and reconcil,
conflicting feelings, which SO unbapply exist a
hong US upon this subjective must meet til,
preJudIces OF the people, and if VIC cannot over
come them, we must minister 10 their reuuire
Inents In reasonable way. An opinion is enter
tanned with many, i'll founded as believe. tina
tn's institution was intended exclusively for Tho
rich. IN which the poor are permitted 10 have NJ
participation 1t matters not whether the fac
really exists, or is imaginary. 1t is calculated
seriously 70 aiiect The institution, and to engen