Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-09-08

,r,,. tho rhos tenor and substance OF the leading
article in The South" OF the 9th instant IL OPPOSE
toa-and opposition not the less dangerous because
is unarowed-oppostou to the present Aom'n''"a
ton aud opposition to the national organ1S'on o'
the Democratic party.
HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE.
To tie Editors of the Enquirer
Gentlemen-ln reading the proceeoings OF the ECU
caional Convention, recently heia IN nlcnn1lio,
obserye tina, Governor Wise gives 10 Mr.. JeHersoh
the credit Of establishing the Literary y. una M3h
| if am not greatly mistaken the credit OF estaoSn
n,, hath this and the Internal Improvement Fluid ls
| due to Gen. Charles Feuton Mercer. IT am wrong
| a reference 10 the Journals OF The House OF Dele
gs,es and the files OF h ss To- hs if
have bsen mist AIKEN, in claiming for General Mercer
more than his due to render the jueice due to an
able and faithful public servant, whose services DOM
n the State and Federal Legislature, have never oee1
duly acknowledged or properly approximation,
hesitate not 10 affirm, that as State legislator not
one of his contemporaries claim to have rendered
services as important and beneficial. Why, then,
should they be completely ignored, as they appear
| to have been, aud continue TO be
Lexington, Septr s, 1881. FIAT JusTirIA'
In uiere synopsis of Governor Wisos remarks in
the Education Convention, published few days ago,
no attempt was made TO give the language OF the
what was said, and in the particular alluded to, no
doubt conveys q different impression from that IN
tended. The Governor, it is understood Will write
out the remarks he made for publication, and cor
rec, version will be given of his speech We did not
bsve The pleasure Of hearing him. but Ne understand
he did not give to Mr.. Jefferson the credit Of esta6
fishing the Literary Fund, but was contrasting Mr.
j efferson's view. and policy in the management OF
the fund, with the policy Of those who were inclined
to give the ascendency in the System to the primary
schools Mr.. Jefferson commended that the true poll
cy Of the State was to begin at the head anu NOT d
the foot; to establish University aud colleges nrs'
10 provide amply for these, aud by their means 10
supply competent and suitable teachers tor inc pr''
mary schools instead Of relying, as was the CUSTOM
upon Northern teachers for Southern youths and, al
forwards 10 perfect the system with common schools
He claimed to be the founder Of the University, and
considered this the airest flower the wreath around
his brow. So Mr.. Wise coutended, that at this day.
something more should be done for the University
Military Institute and the Colleges, and proposed to
render the present system of primary education more
efficient and useful by taking better care Of it's FUNDS
and providing greater amount of money, aud secur
ing better and more efficient teachers.
With regard to the question OF the authorship OF
,bs literary fund.- we think our correspondent is GER
tsny mistaken. We aware that the credit OF e.
tabshipg the fund has been given to .evera persous
at different periods but If the Journals OF the Leglsla
ture give correct hisory of the times, then II ap
pears that the credit is due to another We know
that it frequently happens that gentleman who ID
not in the Legisa ure. originates measure ana III
duces some nenber to propose 1t, and this may nave
been the CASE in the present instance. Mr. Charles
Fsutou Mercer was not member of the Legislature
at the tune the Literary fund established.
The bill which first set apart "escheats, penalties
and forfeitures to the encouragement OF learning
WAS the foundation of the fund, and that bill passed
ar the session OF lSU9-'lO On the 18th Of December,
1869 Mr. Noland then member from the county oil
,udouu, asked leave 10 bring in the BILL and COM
m,,ee was appointed for the purpose, OF which ne
was chairman. On iha l9h of January following,
the bill was reported by Mr.. Noland and after having
been neuded both in committee of the whole house
and by the Senate passed on the Ind OF Februa'
~, lSO Independent Of this historical fact, MIR.
holland has been heard TO claim the paternity OF this
measure and TO quote the journal to prove the fact
| We have no desire TO detract from Gen. Mercer
He has rendered the State much serVice6ut, appealed
to by our correspondent, We give the facts as the
pubic re cords will show.
With regard to the paternity Of the fund for inter
nal Improvement, will give our correspondent the
benen, of such facts inspection Of the journals
of the day has afforded us. The act establishing
fund for Internal Improvement passed on the 9Th
Of February, 1916.
Gov Wilson Cary Nicholas the then Governor of
10 Tho
subject of Internal Improvement 10 the consideration
of the General Assembly. In that message he states
1.-THE great impeachment to such improvements, s the
difficulty Of commanding funds. 1t is in the power
OF the State TO draw money from several SOURCES
First, the stock, owned by the State Of the various
companies for improving rivers, in cases where such
stocks will sell at or above par, as the stock Of the
State in the James River Company; the stock of the
State in the Bank Of Virginia, aud in the Farmers
Bank, or at least the dividends arising from that
stock and the interest upon the debt due by the Uni
ted States These various sources afford ample
means for the accomplishment Of all these grea, OBJ
ijects"
This message of the Governor referred to the
Committee Of Roads and Internal Navigation. Mr..
Lewis then member for the county of Campbell,
Der on the Committee. Upon the message, the Com,
mittee made au elaborate report on the 18th of De-
cember, 1885, the same session that the law passed,
n which they carried out in their recommendations
the Governors views Terminating with various re.
solutions. the first of which is, "that a fund be
created by law 10 be denomnated the fund for Inter
nal Improvement" The bill was reported by MIR.
Lewis.
At each stage Of the bill Mr.. Mercer appears to
have been active in making motions upon it, but
there is no other evidence, that either the report
bill, was drawn by him; though this, from the Cir
cuustances. is probsble. Certainly, though, the au'
thorship of the schems must be given to the Gov.
ernor who recommended it.
Thus we have endeavored, without desiring to de.
tract from any, ITO render unto Cesar the things that
are Caesars" aud "Honor to whom honor ID DUE"