The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-10-18
"Reminiscences OF Mr.. jefferson.

! The editor OF the Richmond Dispatch gives
/ the following "reminiscences of Mr.. Jefferson
when visiting the Virginia University:
Il have frequently seen him on horseback,
and recocct perfectly the manner in which
he carried himself in the saddle. He was Il
superb horseman, even when an octogenaran,
and always rode a 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 ofthe students was very great, and was
eXcmptied in striking manner the session
before | became student Several Young
men, having dressed themselves up as Indians,
appeared on the lawn and collected such a
crowd around them, that several of the pro.
fessors thought it their duty to interfere In
attempting to discover the authors of the
disturbance, one of them was knocked down
and one other very badly handled, though not
to the same extent. The faculty met that
night, anil in a solemn conclave, resolved to
suspend all The exercises the institution until
the authors Of the riot were discovered and
punished.
"For several days there were no lectures.
and Mr. Jefferson called together tie board of
visitors for the purpose of deciding upon the
course proper to be pursued. The University
was in critical situation; its existence, so it
seemed to him, depended upon the issue orthe
existing crisis. The students were all sum-
moned to appear in one of the public rooms,
and there they were brough: face to face with
the visitors.
"lhe nerves of the guilty must have been
pretty severely tried, for they stood in the
presence of three ex.Prc<idents. Jefferson,
Madison, and Monroe,) aud bad them for their
jury. The task Of addressing them was as
signed to Chapman Johnson, at that time in
the very zenith of his powers and reputation
lie made, it was said, one of the most brilliant
of his many great speeches. He spoke Of the
vast difficulties which Mr.. Jefferson had over.
come in obtaining the mcans to establish that
noble seat of learning-of the jealousy with
which it was watched by numerous enemies,
ever ready 10 convert the slightest untoward
incident into 4 weapon Of assault--of the fear
fut advantages which the late riot had given
them over its friends. and of The use which they
would be sure to make of it,
lie appealed TO the patriotism Of those who
had been most forward in promoting the dis.
order, to come forth like men. and sacrifice
themselves 10 the good Of their State, not con-
cealins from them the fact that expulsion must
be the inevitable consequence. The speech
produced powerful impression, which was
heightened to such II degree when "Old Tom
(the pet name Of Mr.. Jefersou) rose to back
it, and in voice feeble from aye, appealed 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 avocalions, not man
hung back Every one came up without
consulting his neighbor, and, SO far as he was
concerned, told the whole truth.
No one told upon his neighbor, for it was a
fundamental rule Of the college laws that no
student was bound to bear witness against his
fellow. BY the by, the University was indebt
ed 10 Mr.. Jefferson for that law, and it was,
believe, the first institution in the country in
which such law was established.'