The Empire County argus. [volume] (Coloma, El Dorado County, Cal.) 1853-1857, 1853-12-17

RrNINIscENcEs OF JEFFERsoN.--Thc editor of the
Richmond Dispatch gives the following college rem
iniscencc of Mr. Jefferson, when visiting the VIZ
gna University:
~ have frequently seen him on horseback, and
recollcct perfectly the manner in which he carried
himself in the saddle. He was a superb horseman
even when an octogcnarian, 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
Of Tie students was very great and was exemplitied
in a striking manner the session before became a
student Several young men having dressed them
selves up as Indians, appeared on the lawn and col
lectcd such crowd around them, that several of the
professors thought it their duty to Interfere In at
tempting 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 tlat night and in solemn conclave re-
solved to suspend all the exercises Of the institution
until the authors of the riot discovered and
punished.
'For several days there were no lectures, and Mr..
jefferson called together the board of visitors ion
the purpose of deciding upon the course proper to
be pursued. The university was i'll critical sltua-
ton: its existence, so it seemed to him, depended
upon thc.issuc 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 they stood i'll the
presence Of three cX-rcsidents Jefferson, Madison
and Monroe), and had them for their jury. The
task of addressing them assigned to Chapman
Johnson at that time in the very zenith OF his pow
ers and reputation He made it said, one OF
the most brilliant of his many great speeches. lie
smoke of the vast difficulties which Nix Jefferson had
overcome in obtaining the means to establish that
noble seat of lcarning-of the jealousy with which
it was watched by numerous enemies, ever ready to
convert the slightest untoward incident into q
pon of assault-of the fearful advantage which the
late riot had given them over its friends, and Of the
use which they would be sure to make of it.
He appealed to the patriotism Of those who had
been most forward in promoting the disorder, to
come forth like men, and sacrifice themselves to the
good of their State not concealing from them the
fact that expulsion must be the inevitable consc-
quence. The speech produced a powerful impress
sion, which was heightened to such degree when
old Tom (the pet name of Mr.. Jcferson) rose to
back it. and in a voice feeble from age appealed to
their sense Of honor, and there was not dry eye in
the house 70 the eternal honor of the rioters,
some of whom have since become distinguished in
various avocations, not q man hung back. Every
one came up without consulting his neighbor, and,
so far as he was individually concerned. told the
whole truth No one told upon his neghbor. for it
student was bound to boar witness against his fcl-
lows By-the-by, the university was indebted to
Mr. Jefferson for that law and it was believe, the
first institution in the country in which such law
was established"