Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-09-08
"reminiscences of Mr.. Jefferson.

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The editor of the Richmond Despatch gives
the following college "reminiscences of Mr..
Jefferson when visiting the Virginia Univer-
| sity
l have frequently seen him on horseback,
and recollect perfectly the manner in which
he carried himself in the saddle. He was
superb horseman, even when an octogenarian,
and always rode good horse. | have heard
that he was fine judge of horse flesh, and
valued himself on account Of his skill in that
particular, very nearly as much as upon his
public services.
The influence which he exerted over the
minds of the students was very great, and was
exemplified in striking manner the session
before came student. Several young men
having dressed themselves as Indians, appear
ed on the lawn, and collected such crowd
around them, that several of the professors
thought it their duty to interfere. In attempt
ing to discover the authors of the disturbance,
one of them was knocked down, and one other
very badly handled, to the same extent The
faculty met that night, and in solemn conclave
resolved to suspend all the exercises Of the in
stituton until the authors of the riot were dis
covered and punished.
For several days there were no lectures,
and Mr.. Jefferson called together the Board
of Visitors for the purpose of deciding upon
the course proper to be pursued. The Uni
versity was in critical situation; its exist
ence, so it seemed to him, depended upon the
issue of the existing crisis. The students were
all summoned to appear in one of the public
rooms, and there they were brought face to
face with the visitors. The nerves Of the
guilty must have been pretty severely tried,
for they stood in the presence of three ex-
Presidents Jefferson, Madison and Monroe)
and had them for their jury. The task of ad-
dressing them was assigned to Chapman John
son, at that time in the very zenith Of his pow
ers and reputation. He made, it is said, one
of the most brilliant of his many great speech
es. He spoke of the vast difficulties which
Mr.. Jefferson had overcome in obtaining the
means to establish that noble seat Of learning,
of the jealousy with which it was watchad by
numerous enemies, ever ready to convert the
slightest untoward incident into a weapon of
assault, of the fearful advantage which the
late riot had given over its friends, and of the
issue which they would be sure to make. Of
| it,
| He appealed to the patriotism of those who
had been most forward in promoting the dis
order, to come forth like men, and sacrifice
themselves for the good of their State, not
concealing from them the fact, that expulsion
must be the inevitable consequence. This
speech produced a powerful impression, which
was heightened to such degree when Old
Tom (the pet name Of Mr.. Jefferson) rose to
back it, and in voice feeble from age, ap-
pealed to their sense of honor, that there was
not dry eye in the house To the eternal
honor of the rioters, some of whom have since
become distinguished in various avocations,
not man hung back. Every one came up,
without consulting his neighbor, and so far as
he was individually concerned, owned to the
whole truth. No one told upon his neighbor,
for it was fundamental rule of the college
laws that no student was bound to bear wit
ness against his fellow. BY the bye, the Uni
versity was indebted to Mr.. Jefferson for that
law, and it was, believe, the first institution
in the country in which such law was estab-
| lished