Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-01-07
FoR THE ENaUIRER.
TUX THE ENVO IHEH'
To The Vls,lers of William and Mary College.

To The VIstkerS az HHfam ana mary C0heSe'
Gentlemen Il commence this article by stat.
ing two propositions. First: That the location
of The College VI William and Mary IS such, lnat
il could NOT well fail TO flourish, u properly
managed. Secondly: That you are Justly re.
snonsible TO the public for the full measure oil
prosperity of which The College is susceptible.
1t will be time enough 10 argue the hrst OF lhese
PROPOSITIONS when il shall be denied by you-uii
then il will be assumed The second is like unto
il, and even more seitevident as you are Inc qua
lifted guardians Of The College, and control lis al
fairs. | must, however, say something on 'nis
point with view 10 'stir up your pure mlnos,
by way OF remembrance"
To proven, any misapprehension OF my pur-
pose, utterly dsclaim the slightest intention 10
be personal. claim, however, and shall exef-
else the right, 10 your public acts as they APP
pear 10 me 10 affect the College, and consequent
y 10 hold you 10 strict accountability for The con-
dion in which you have placed ii.
In my former article dwell somewhat upon
what appeared 10 me 10 be The sectaran policy
which led 10 tender of the College 10 the Episco-
pacy. Such partial and one-sided course can
never succeed; 1T has been repeatedly tried, and
j, has as repeatedly failed. Had different coun-
sells prevailed, il may well be doubted whether
even our University, with its annual appropria-
lion by the Legislature of fifteen thousand dol
lars, would ever have riyalled the mother OF Pre-
sdenis Happily, it is not yet 100 late TO secure
TO William and Mary the entire patronage oil all
Eastern Virginia, in itself enough TO exalt her TO
lar greater and more permanent success than she
has yet attained. How This may be done, have
already Indicated and l 1aiter myself, gentle
men, that the suggestion will be tavorably Teceiv-
ed by you.
A change to an earlier day fer The opening oil
the College would, have no doubt add consider.
ably 10 the number OF sludents-as now arrang-
ell The University gels the start OF Us here. This
is exceedingly unfortunate, and il is exceedingly
preiudicial. The writer OF this could instance
many cases Of gentlemen who have come here
from distance, finding the College not in session,
and hearing that many young men were al the
University, they have lell and gone there or else
where.
This is not small matter, and the reasons Tor
the alteration are of The most weighly character.
A few only will be here stated First. The pro-
posed alteration would at once, and forever, re-
move The untounGed objection about The unhealihi-
ness OF Williamsburg. Secondly. II would NEE,
the wishes of those parents and guardians, an
host in themselves, who very wisely desire 10
save their sons and wards from as much ideness
as possible. Thirdly. II wocld Illustrate the dele
terious effects produced by The SCI Of the current
elsewhere, bearing along with il many whose
preference for glorious old William and Mary
would bring them here, il not thus prevented.
Founhly. |, would satisfy those, and they are
not few, who prefer 10 pay their money Tor
what they call full rather han short session;
and last, though not least, the thing you'd in Itself
be right.
The maxim is divine, that "where no counsel
is the people fall, bnt 10 the multitude OF coun-
sellers there is safety" Now, had this divine ad-
,nnni,inn hesn attended In hU Tho worthy V;SiinrS
of The College, then the lamentable scenes which
have recently been enacted here had never exist
ed There would have been DO minority vista
tions resulting in mischief incalculable- such
as threats of violence and bloodshed-declared
war between the students and the new professor
disruption between the students and some OF the
visitors and cilizens-discord amongst The Fa-
culty-nad eren 1oager Of battle.
Now, gentlemen visitors, appeal 10 you, as
The svorn friends of The College, 10 come and save
il. Something must be done to pour oil upon
these troubled waiers-delay is imminenlly peril
ous-il may soon be TOO la'e to do any ihlng-lhe
College may be in ashes, or better lha, IL was. Il
may be, that you have not been advised OF these
things and the halt has not been yet told you; but
if what is here stated does not rouse you 10 &C.
ton, then neither would you be persuaded though
one rose from The dead"
NC llulc has COhe III SfSlJ 'iSioi w Sho !"
his hand. He that is not for US is against US. "
The friends of the College must sacrifice every
minor consideration for The good oil the lnslitu-
ton. William and Mary must live and she must
flourish, or those who wound her must answer
for it at The bar OF public opinion, which, in this
county, thanks 10 high Heaven and our Pa,ro
sires, is sufficient TO correct any public wrong.
Gentlemen Visitors: 1t is unquesiionably ir
your power to dispel at once the dark and por
lenous cloud which now hangs as The pail o
dealhIover The College. 1t is yours 10 restore Il
peace and order the jarrng elements which seen
destined TO blight for ever the goodiest Tree in al
The garden OF science. Shall it be that in you
care our dear old Alma Mater shall suffer vic
lence2 Shall William and Mary perish in lht
hands of her sons7 Shall such things be 7
"God may forgive, but cannot blot them out
Systems begin and end Eternity
Rolls on his endless years: and men, absoveC
BY mercy from the consequence, forget
The evil deed: and God impuIes it not.
But neither systems ending nor begun,
] n-.-aitv that rallc h:- -..Ii-.- yoars
Nor men absolved and san tilted, and washet
BY mercy from The CONSEQUENCE; nor yet
Forgeliulness; nor God impulins not,
Can wash the guilty deed, once done, from GU
The faithful annals Of The past; who reads,
And many read, there find il as il was,
| And is, and shall forever be-a dark,
Unnatural and loahing moral spo'."
Gentlemen, you will again hear from
A FRIEND OF THE COLLEGE.
December 10Th, lS47.
D:.hro