True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-08-08
Madison College.

of Rev. s. L. Cox, President, and profess
sors Carroll Murfsc, end Mathews, bad,
in reality, nothing 70 Do With the Slave
question. All the papers are at fault, that
have given such iutimations.
These gentlemen were all competent
teachers, but young SOuthemers, full of
the feeling peculiar to the region whence
they came They had, without authority
of charter, Board, or bylaws, somewhat
changed the disciplinary regulations of the
College, and given them military east of
character. The Faculty, self-moved, had
got up a military company of students, all
in military uniform, with muskets, and
the college building was made the dcposi-
tory of arms. The company drilled every
morning-the uniforms were worn con-
Stantly, in college and out of it, as badges
of distinction. Serious people complained,
and many laughed at such ridiculous
appendage to Christian College. Mean
time the Board feared consequences, but
did not attack, as they should have done,
this silly innovation, The demcrit mark
system, taken from some military academy,
was at first but little understood by any
but the faculty. The marks were not
merely to go on the monthly reports, and
be sent home to he parents, to act back
iby admoni.ory letters, on the students, but
! 100, given for tbs, that, or the other
rife, inrolred Janishmsntf from the College,
The Faculty was as a court-martial, and
every case Of offence, from the highest to
the lowest student, came before that body.
Even in the Preparatory department, the
Principal could not deal with an offender
until sentence lad been pronounced by
these higher c,icerS of the college So
this left the Principal in this very impor'
tantdepartment, ,oithom respect, authority,
or po,oer, and of course was in jur.ous tc
the Institution.
At lasta case occurred, which reused the
Board, and the eomu.onity, and brought
, on a collision between the Board and the
Faculty. Ayouth Of Is, small Of lis age
for impertinenoe to the Faculty, which
2 impertinence they had provoked, by al
; act of injustice, was suspended, &c. Ht
had, under their demerit rule, got the lOC
. marks, and his sentence was suspension
5 and Punishment. He repented and wrote
them very humble, penitent letter, ask
, ing to be restored. But he was spurnet
as q hypocrite. A the last resort his case
r came before the Board. As copy of his
letter was sent to that body, and he asked
e liberty to be present. But the Faculty
i was there, and threatened to resign, if h'
y were allowed to be present, or his lette
read. But the Board gave him Meth
II odist Protestant usages. lie was callet
;. in, and his letter was reaG. For fear 0
trouble, the legality of this irnovating sys
!. TEN was not mooted, but the sentence o
i the Faculty was confirmed. Then on
resolution TO recommend the Faculty tt
> restore this youth, on account of his peni
c tent letter and tender age, there was quite
struggle. If it passed, the Faculty sale
e they would resign. They would not b'
! asked by the Board to show mercy. \
few of the friends OF the resolution for
sock it, and 1t was lost. The Faculty tri
: umphed over the Board, and over Christ
ian mercy, in Christian College. Their
. was now no mercy in Madison College, 70
9 peuitent student. The Faculty did al
u forwards restore this tudent, for fear o
u an attack in the church papers. But
vas too late The public mouth Vas ope
: wido-the people 'alkc.1, and would tall
= and the Faculty after trying to get up
~ little Northern and Southern feeling
&c cover their retreat, and after doing whc
y they could to draw off all the Souther
' students to the. contemplated college,
y" Lynchburgh, Va, resigncd, and are son,
'' and Faculty from the West, and NOrtl
will soon be announced to take their place