Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-01-03
RICHMOND DAILY WING
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS."
SATURDAY MORNING. JANUARY J, 1880

ONN'
The emphatic attention Of the country and oil
the General Assembly, is directed to powerful
review Of the causes OF the decay of the UNIVERSE
". 1t emanates from source OF distinction
from the vicinity Of the University itselt-irom
one practically and regularly iniormed.--irom we
believe, an Aumnus of the Institution
la his demand of REFORM, reform speedy,
searching aud thorough, we are well satisfied that
lie is backed by the almost unanimous public, the
disse ntients being chiefly composed ofthose whose
vanity as Alumni, or whose interests, or whose
connections, lead them to oppose the popular de-
Inand, us they would oppose IT, wers the abuses
and the impotency Of the Institution a hundred
fold greater, and more aagrant than they are.
We did not learn for the first time from our
correspondent, that we had provoked the ire oil
these classes, by our free animadverslons upon
the state of things at the University. We have had
evidence OF it in various forms, and indeed knew
well beforehand that we should incur the denun-
citation Of those who live upon existing abuses or
who had a niofire in thrusting themselves for
ward to promote their own schemes, by com
pounding with imbecility, and whitewashing
snut, or whose simplicity imagined that to
defend the University right or wrong, was TO
acquire modicum of glory for themselves. The
censure of all such, despise too much TO fear
it, or to be deferred by il for an instant in pur-
suing the plain path of public duty. Regarding
the press in reality. being or that if ought to be-
what others pretend only consider it, sentinel
for the public right, we have never hesitated from
any fear of personal consequences, to approach
any public subject, and to express the convictions
of our understanding unreservedly respecting it,
Such a subject think the University pre-emi-
nently to be, and regarding it, we shall not
desis, from exposing what we believe are its abu-
SEES, and what know is its total inefficiency.
IL il is dsagreeable to some, regret it, for we
would most unwillingy wound mortIfy any,
but il is better that u few should be dispeased.
Than that the money of the people which, wisely
applied could effect much good in expelling
the msts of ignorance which are ihckening over
the State, should be virtually thrown away.
As to the supposed cause of our structures upon
the University, 1t exists only in the Imagination OF
those who, Judging other men by the practice of
their own lives, conclude that personal, or sell
fish, or interested motive, is at the bottom of all
human conduct 1t is true that we were dsap.
pointed in the non-election Of most distinguished
friend to the chair OF Modern Languages in 1874
"a friend whose qualifications are not surpassed
&c equalled in America Vrginian, the son of
distinguished officer Of the Revolution, as much
distinguished afterwards in the civil history of
Virginia Whose eminent qualifications were en-.
dorsed by Clay, by Preston, by Legare, and many
others most known TO fame, and themselves fine
scholars: man whose lofty bearing, unconquer.
able energy, and almost unlimited attainments
would have created era at the University
for he would never have been satisfied short of
advancing 1t TO the performance of all of which it
was capable we were, we confess il. Disguised
iahnltely dlSgusted al seeing this man, unriyalled
as we believe him, in pursuance OF weak policy
OF prelerrIng foreigners, and to cater to the re.
sentiments of despicable Clique, set aside, and
foreigner, Of whom not one man in Virginia had
ever heard before, picked up in Boston to fill the
vacancy; and we were more disguised still at the
insincerIty and duplicity which were exhibited
by certain persons mixed up in these transactions
As for friend we rejOiced that he failed, for
we never desired him for his own sake, to hide
ms shining light in the walls of the University
already, IN the ylgor of youth, Fastening, under
ihe auspices OF triumphant grannyism, to pre-
mature decay, and an ngOrIous disappointment
oi all the hopes OF Virginia. Ii is possible enough
that unconsciously we may have been excited by
the ineKcusabe appointment Of Monsieur Maxi
milan Rodoph Schele de We're, over Virginian
Of the soundest qualifications, and most spotess
reputation, 10 observe the University more mar
TOwly; but If the same facts had come to our
knowledge under any circumstances, we had been
equally prompt to invoke the reforming hand Of
The people.
{ We shall continue these remarks IN our neIL
an resnonsn to ar ef,rm ''l