Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-08-04
NUMBER 20.
RICHMOND WIG.


10 the Pube.
Certain physics sns Of the city Of Richmond b,vs No..
pared and published elaborate document in ths n-,,
OF memorial to the Trustees of Hampton sydney Col
ege, but really designed 10 influence and e,r.,,,ll A,
opinion, upon the questions which have arisen bs,.
the Faculty Of the Medical College and the Tru.,e. Of
hampden sidney, growing OF the refusal Of the rru.
ices 20 confirm the nomination by the Paruv IN Al
me ehar oil Physiology, and the appointment of anoth.r
snuean not nominated recommended by tho Faculty
"esay the design to influence public op;oio, hs
cause that Is the fair inference from II. pabst 7, q,
had been intended for the Trustees only IL would have
Oeen sent 70 'hem alone happears too from the state
nents oil the published memorial that this interference or
hese twenty two medical gentlemen the affairs OF In.
college and the discharge by the Trustees their
ociAi duties, not the 6rst for they admit that rhen
the Trustees were about upon the nomination Of thu
Faculty OF the Medical College these self guar
dams Of the public interest not content with
ing Dr. Wilson, also TO the Trustee. memorial
sHuetnS them in the principles involved in the election
And now, after having instructed the Trustees ,bssa
same modest gentlemen have kindly volunteered 10 in
uuc' tue pubic arge upon questions not of bsterin
pusng or bleeding not involving medical dagno.i. or
surgical skill, but questions Of law and contract of mi
Vate right and public eHpediency We admit the gbt
ot every individual in the community to discuss matters
VI pu'e concern and yet under cover Of this right
s'e1' private injury may be medtated and accomplished
And though the memoriais profess to be governed only
oy" view TO the public benefit and devotion to prncpIe
their extraordinary activity and zeal in this matter ont
running that OF the rest of the communitv rnigb,
"e give rise to the suspicion that they are Influenced
pef"4PS Gheonseiousiy by private and selfish ends In
s case the private rights and interest the undersigned
ie Professors Of the Medical College we're deepv yI
60 IN 'he questions discussed while the physicians who
nave voluntarily nterered had other rights in regard
to the subject than any other citizens of the state If tb
Trustees OF Hampden Sydney are worthy Of that confidence
n'Th these gentlemen seek TO repose in them then we
think they might and ought have been le 10 the nl
pendent eNer use OF TIER ud ement about This matter
ind disturbed by persuasions and arguments and a on
array OF medical names and other Influences from without.
me- therefore we have always desired and still desire
% cultivate amcable relations with these gentlemen wa
cannot avoid expressing surprise at this conbinso
against US its uncaed for interference lis industry &c
uFty and pertnacity. They we're not satisfied with n
single victory was not enough for them tina. they had
cot the Board Of Trustees committed to Dr. Wilson ana
tht m personal acquaintance with the members OF the
Board Ito nothing about any closer connectionl were
such AZ 10 give him formidable advantage over his COM
pettor they thought also TO add an elaborate
argument and the force Of public opinion to prevent the
Trustees from reconsidcring and reversing their aet;on
While think that in Justice 20 rs and IN tbemseIvss
'he Board OF Trustees ought reconsider and change their
recent action do avoid the tribunal of public opin
iou We have firm aud abiding confidence in the good
sense and justice of the community large and we be-
eve that when the facts TO be fully known the pop-
and maintain them.
W think argument or memorial of the t,rentv
two physicians erroneous both in its facts and in its rea-
sonngs.
The great and fundamental error in all that has been
written on that side of the question, in assuming that
the question h what's the best system Of apSoint
ments of Professors in Medical College, and these med
ical gentlemen they will leave the ap
pontments to professorships in the Richmond Medical
College, made in the which they have aIwavs
heretofore been made because they do approve that
particular mode OF making the appointments In other
words they treat it open question as mere oues-
on OF expedency or las they choose to call t of prnc
pe they regard the trustees at perfect liberty make
the appointment in what they consider the best mode uu
Influenced by anything that has been done or
agreed to be done They the question in the hight
Of general eSpedency alone regardless Of all private rights
aud vested interests acquired by or otherwise
sud only they have persuaded theu
selves that other mode Of appointment but that which
they Prefer can be possibly consistent with general
principles OF law What they call Close Corpoation
among literary nstitutOnh that H. one whose auhortes
are sell appointing and self perpetuang," they look
upon monster which the law cannot recognize. but
hey forget in using that argument that the very trbu-
MAJ 10 which IL was addressed lust such A monster
Under the charter OF Hampden Sidney, all oc
curing IN the Board OF Trustees filed by the remain
ing members Of the Board that the Board IL and II
has been, self appointing and self lfperpetuatfp
and yet since the year 1888 the Legislature and the
state have acqueseed in charter containing principle
i our medical friends who have other aim or object in
s matter but the triumph Of principle, will about
amending the charter OF ampden Sidney respect and
open appointment OF Trustees particularly the good
people the Commonwealth OF every religious denomua-
ton, apprehend that there will be no more earnest on
Hampton
sins IT, because though the mode Of filing vacancies
allowed by the charter may have been Objectionable and
NAV have been IN fact abused place the institution
under the control Of single religious sect vet time bs
sanctioned both the original and the subseauent
gsurpatiou. Private property has been given to the in
sution upon the faith that the charter would not h. al
tered in this respect and upon keeping that faith the verv
existence Of Hampden Sidney depends Wild and rutbIes.
yraunical and ndeiensbe would be the innovation which
would strip that venerable institution its charter ts
franchises and its property because Of its violation of this
distract principle Of policy, which is much mag
1ifed and auded. But IL the principles so imporsHt
hat it be carried out a all hazirls REGARDLESS o
ished iaith and ell interests public and private which
may be opposed TO the change then consistency and prin.
ciFe both demand that the reform should be complete t
should be applied alike TO the parent institution and the
medical department; and when that comes 20 be tried
t will be found that the pruning knife will not the
whole being infected with the same disease which
discovered In the obnoxious branch the axe must be
laid is We would respectfully warn the trustees
pause and ponder upon the Consequences to which tho
interference Of their volunteer medical friends may lead
thcm.
It may be said, that the principle Of selEperpeuadon
is Objectionable in board Of trustees as in fac
uty Of professors l opinion, IL Is far n ore So
making the best appointments have sufficient cheek
against the tendencies 70 nepotism, aVoritisn and party
sectarlu bias, which apt affect hiuriously the
constitution aud the action Of such boards II the power
of appointment however wholly or chiefly with The
faculty ITSELF and they are not salared officers but de
rive their income from the students fees then thcir inter
and they viii make such appointments in their opinion
sid command the confidence Of the and best
promote, the Of the College Trustees or visitors
night crafty personal partality, provide for tsa-
sion conuexion yield the influence or solcita
uou Of she friends Of popular individual serve
thcr own private Interests n making bad appointment
and would NOT be tbc losers BY d. but the menbers Of
faculty. whose daily bread depended upon the prosperity
1rd success of tcr co,g have the strongest OF al mo.
uvcs % make 20 appUlout, but such conducc 10
at prosperity aud succcssO look alone b. the qua HH
cation of the candidate, his merit talent learning char
Ictcr and repuaion; AMI % disregard 30 adventurous cir
Hm-nces which ought never control bot yet 20 ire
Iaenuy DO control appointments 10 office Such being tha
lm and motive Of the Faculty IN making appointnienbs
he ouv other practical question H., Hhcher that body
sconpetent 20 make proper selections Of Professors 10
hi vacancies, Board OF Trustees appointed from tho
community 10 argc, without ary particular rcicrcnco
sheir medical Knowledge FOR their acquantancolsth mod
cal men. The intelligent mind give but
that question, and t has been conceded BY the Momor
aists tat "they,' tbe Faculty q the Medical College
are better judges Of the qualifications Of aspants than
/ any body wholly unproicssonal'
w unable % perceive that any other principle a
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