The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-12
False Statement Corrected.

- - ~ -
The Baltimore Sun, with its usual fondpess
for catching and garnering everything anti-sla-
very, published last week statement affirmI
that of 100 graduates ut the University Of Vir-
rinia, ut it's last session, I" only five held that
slavery was desirable" lOl believing it an evil.
We read this extract at the time with surprise.
We believed it false. But to be satisfied, we APP
piled to one of the graduates, for the truth or
falsehood of the charge. He at once stampedit
as gross fabrication We Intercepted him
further as to the prevailing sentiment upon this
subject with the University students. He de-
clared the Suns statement not only not true but
directly the reyese was the fact. OF the num-
bcrs with whom he held intercourse, there was
not single individual who had expressed to
him similar sentiments to those ayowed by the
Sun. There are many who thought slavery in
the abstract, ndefensible, but Southern slavery
viewed in con exion with its introduction in this
country and the primativc condition Of those
most affected by il, was he knew in the opinion
Of the larger portion Of the students, esteemed
public good instead of nm evil The whole
statement Of the Sun is gross perversion of
facts without the coloring Of truth to sustain
them.
Since writing the above, the Baltimore Sun
brings the following:
.An Alumnus Of the University of Virginia
writes us in REPUTATION of the statement ola cor
respondent of the New York Commercial, which
we copied the other day, with the expression ola
doubt as TO its correctness, to the effect TINT of
the l05 students OF the " graduating class Of
that institution "only FIVE hold that slavery is
desirable" aAlumnus takes the ground that
the correspondent has no sort OF acquaintance
with the University Of Virginia, as there is no
class known IA the graduating Glass;" the
students being divided into M many schools as
there arc Professors and diplomas awarded In
each school aud besides there were only six
graduates this year, which Is about the usual
number. aAlumnus" adds:
That antLslavcry opinions were prevalent
among the young men assembled mt the Univer-
sity this year, no one here believes. The num-
Der Of students thisyear was greater than at any
previous session since the foundation of the in
stitution, and double the usual number. This
great increase Of numbersis universally attribn-
ted to the existence Of unfortunate sectional dif
fcrcnces which make parents unwilling TO send
their sons North"
Nix. RHErT's SrEEcH-rhis speech, delivered
in Charleston by Mr. Rhctt on his return from
the Nashville Convention, will be found on the
first page Of this paper. We publish it, not that
we concur In all its sentiments, but, as it has
been much misrcpresented and made the Occa-
sion of much comment, that the public may
know exactly the position assumed by its author.
II must be remembered that Mr.. Rhett thinks,
speaks and acts for himself In that speech he
expressed his views, not those Of Others. He is
gentleman Of naturally an ardent temperament
We know him well, and more honest and inde-
pendent, or more devoted and self-sacrifcing
patriot, we have never known. In private life,
his character is spotless; and in public life, he
is as prompt to preserve untarnished his coun-
try's, as his own escutcheon. His long service
in Congress, his observation Of the deep-rooted
hostility of the North to the South, have brought
him to the conclusion that the two sections can
not harmonze--that the Union cannot exist,
except by n surrender on the part of the South
of that which she cannot yield without dishonor.
Hence his position. His honesty and independ-
ence are manifest, in the fearlessncss with which
he assumes il.
We hope, however, that Mr.. Rhett is mista-
ken, that the South may yet be united, and speak
in voice that responded to by the justice OF tho
North, will result in the harmony and pcrpetuity
of the Union.
A certain class of prints among us have spo-
ken Of those whom they dcnominnte aagitators,"
as men who have nothing to lose and every thing
to gain by revolution. They cannot say this
Of Mr.. Rhett. He Is urge rice planter, and
one Of the largest shareholders in the South
Federal Union.
"A C,,,c.uxx