Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-12

prevailing tone may be-there are not n f.w
whose elevation Of mind entities them to aspire
OF the companions Of my college life now All and
sdorB. -.. -"~
Il was not In my day suppose d that the din of
Polltlcai strIe could ever invade the republic of
letters, or that its neutrality would be comnro-
missed by courtesies to either combatant No one
ever dreamed that political and sectionai',
cons1derafions could outlaw its citizens, or that
within its sacred Precincts any one was entitled
to ask the creed or country Of any conner To
hold the same views about the fepuhIic h.d
from classic days, been a link Of friendsbio
among statesmen but different views about The
republic were never causes Of exclusion from the
halls OF science aud letters II remained for uen-
tlemen Of the University in this day to win title
to the glory Of Marius-Pri,nusfile ,y,rnJv,,
proscriptionis inrtaif. The correctness or incor.
rectness OF my political opinions Is of small mo-
ment to any one but that the University which
Jefferson dedicated to freedom Of thong BIT should
refuse TO tolerate in one Of it's alumni the fruits
OF that freedom which he learned under it's aus
pieces is OF deplorable significance. tits. gentle
men or sinister import that intolerance Of polit-
lcal opinion, even In this flee republic has so
perverted the generous impulses OF youth IL is
one OF the signs Of the times that the INTENSIVE of
political Inflammation, which has so long fierceIy
o.! burned IN the minds Of public men, has caus ht
the youth OF the land and burst forth even amid
the studions calm Of University life. Such fever
In youth portends madness In manhood II il a
temper alien TO the genius Of our republic whose
life Is freedom of thought freely spoken-a tenn
per which tends to civil strife, the shock Of ex-
IRENE softened by no conciliatory counsels the
tyrannical domination OF local majorities to the
determination OF every protest, and the collision
OF those lnajoritles in arms when the kindly
memories of the past are only little more obiit.
Grated bv injurious determinations.
They who now refuse to hear literary Grafton
from one they thought worthy to be their guest,
merely becaus Of his political opinions, can
hardly be expected hereafter Ia meet with calm
ness and cahdOr political opponents In debate
We shoulder rather expect them to break the
benches OF the forum into wea pons for the de-
cision OF the controversy. We should not be
surprised if, f'Om their midst, a Clodius should
arise who will tear down the house OF Cicero,
and dedicate its site to liberty. The prevalence
of such spiit in the public councils, and
among the body of the people, indicates the ap-
proach Of that period In the cycle OF history
when the voice which pleads for the country
will be released by the clash Of factions between
which the patriot can pass no other Judgment
than deteriore fore quiSquiS ricisset. 1t is I'M
speakably gratifying to find that amid the explo-
slons OF these dangerous passions, so many gen
tlenen, from so many States, still cherish the
free liberal spirit Of the Republic which Wash
ington founded, and which must soon descend
to you. to be preserved or to be destroyed.
The conduct which you justly disapprove
| has occasioned me, gentlemen, no modification
that belongs elsewhere-but great sorrow.
knew that the fathers had eaten sour gTapex; I
had to learn that the chldren's teeth Were set on
edge; but confidently trust that such sentiments
as you entertain, in common with the Column
bian Society, pervadng large majority, will
bring forth fruit nObly in honor to you, and In
blessing to our common country.
remain. very truly, your fellow-citizen,
HENRY WINTER DAVIS.
Messrs. John p. Fitz gerald A b. Cochran
Thomas Hume, Jr., &c, &c, &c.