Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-04-28
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER,
TUESDAY MORNING, ApEiL as, 1851
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN TIE
SOETH
BY RlTCHIE Il DIiNSAvANr.

SOUTH.
Whatever may be the bent Of mind--:he inclna-
ton OF mans nature; however the human heart and
inteAeot may approve or condemn certain princi-
ples, projects or purposes, as they may he presented
without facttious arguments; however self evident
either tor right or wrong, any question. theory
thing may be, it is nevertheless undenable that edu
cation, both social and scholastic, influences and
unfrequently determines the opinions of all men
upon most important eubjects and events. 1t
is the result of nature acting upon nature-sym
palhy and association upon the understanding. With
view to this fact, the Southern people seem at last
to be convinced Of the propre;y and policy Of os-
terng our own educational institutions, and improv
ing facilities for the youth Of the South in their search
for knowledge. Northern colleges. for the most
psr are fountains OF learning polluted With the poi
son of abolition. And Northern literature sometimes
sends into our households tho asp, concealed in its
prints. To say nothing OF the suicidal practice of
contributing TO the Golfers Of the enemies of in
s,itutions by patrOnizng their schools periodicals
and journals, it is sutecliug the youthful mind to
most unwholesome influence, and that too at stage
Of the tsnderest susceptibility.
| There are, however, few honored exceptions in
OF the North which are either harmless at least or
enlisted earnestly in the cause of the Constitution
and the right, Of the South. And to NIL such We wish
that SUCCESS to which their merits entis them, and
that support from the Southern people, which their
efforts in our behalf sure to command.
Primary echocls. capable of favorable comparison
with any either in the old world or the new. may be
found in the Southern States; colleges Offering
excellent advantages are scattered throughout the
South; universities equal to Harvard or Yale ara
fouri-hing, filled with Southern youth-and one, at
least, entitled to higher rank than Oxford or Cam
bridge, not il the number of noble names, or the un
cient prestige whah 1t boasts, but in an elevated
standard Of education and its thorough system of
Calculating j.cts of science and branches of learn
ing, which teur practically upon The spheres Of the
statesman and scholar. The University OF Virginia
Is monument to the memory Of Mr.. Jefferson, bear-
ing the impress Of his gigantic intellect upon every
feature Of its formations and, among all the achieve.
ments Of his ustrious life, standing conspcuou.!y
and proudly, perpetual pillar Of his fame, with
base widening with every additional year OF its age.
| Every member of its faculty is unsurpassed, If not
unequsled, in his sphere. The mode of mpar,ing
Information s that Of the study of the best books by
the sbest authors. together with daily lectures by
the professors, who are gentlemen not only emf.
| pently distinguished in their peculiar branches of
learning, but have also the advantages Of general
intelligence. We have been induced to dwell upon
| the unrvalled attractions of our university not so
) much for the purpose Of inpressing them upon the
people of Virginia. who have 40 cng and 40 amply
attested their appreciation, as to appeal osome of our
sister Southern Sates, ~ consider its claims before
they determine to establih another extensive Uni.
versity in the South-s Project which we learn Is n.
der contemplation.
Tins Univrr+ily cl Virginia is delightfully."- located
10 one Of the moa, heshul regions Of the American
CONTINENT within sigh, OF he residence and ia.,
ingplace OF him WHOSE name l. intimately associated
with the rnost sacred souvenirs Of the carly ta!a and
trumphs Of couu.ry ri an ACCESSIBLE and central
point near enough 10 n town EohCienily lerGe 10 af-
| ford all the comforts and cGnvsniences without the
temptations aud vices Of great city; and in fact. in
every respec il unexceptonablc os an institution
of learning for the young men OF the South. It's mum
Der of students ia large and steadily increasing. But
| if there were thousands instead OF hundreds they
! could be as easily accommodated. The system Of
teaching Il such thh, every member Of caes of five
hundred would have tie advantages il he be-
lonyed 10 q class OF ten the grounds ample and
the buildings can be extended to accommodate any
number Another Southern university similar
plan, would Of coarse come into competition with
this, and consequently reard the rapid progress OF
it's advantages ard !ts fame. II is true there is room
enough In the South for several such Institutions
But il we multiply tie smaler colleges, and have on.
Iy one great University, we will before many year.
command the need of neri, from the world for the
thorough education of our youth.