Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-10
Hon. Henry MIhter DAVE.

The following is the letter, written by lion.
Henry Winter Davis, IN reply 10 the protest
of the minority of the Washington S'ciety
Of the University Of Va, agains: the acton
IF that SJciety in resembling the invitation
extended to him, (ay int commlttec,) to
address the literary societies Of the University:
HALL OF REPRE- ENTATIfES.
Gentlemen "A series of pressing engage
ments have till now prevented my response
TO your favor of 20 h ult. | avail myself Of
my earliest leisure moment TO express to you
my appreciation Of the Kind consdcra ton
which prompted 1t.
Ii CONVEYS to me the pleasing assurance
that the high sense Of urtcsy which per
vaded that generation OF students oil the
University with whom It Ii my Prlde ana
pleasure 10 have been associated, l. not extinct
10 our successors but that whateSer the
prevailing tone may be-there are not few
whose elevation OF mind entities them to
aspire to the highest of the high places,
which 20 many of the companions OF my co =
lege life now ill and adCrn.
II was not in my day supposed that the din
Of political strife could ever invade the re-
public II letters, or that Its neutrality would
be compromised by cOurtesies to either com
Blatant No one ever dreamed that "POllti-
cal and sec iUnal" considerations could QUE
law its citizens, or that within IT. sacred pre-
clnts any Que was elti;led to ask the creed
or country OF auv cJmer. To hold the same
views about tn republic, had from classic
DAYS been a link OF friendship among states
II h,r ha M ,lIp
were never causes of exclusion from tae halls
of silence and letters. 1t remained for gen-
tlenen Of the University 10 this day, 10 win u
title 10 the glory Of Marius-Primns lle exem-
plum prescriptions invent. The correctness
or tic rrectness OF my political opinions Is Oi
small moment to any one; but that the Uu!-
yersity which jefferson dedicated TO freedom
of thought, ohou refuse to tolerate IN one Ut
It's alumni the fruits of that freedom which
he learned under It's auspices, Is OF deplora
BILE significance. IL IL, gentlemen, OF SINS
ter im port that Intolerance OF political opln-
ion even in this free republic, has so pre-
verified the generous impulses OF youth
1t is one Of the signs of the times, that the
intensity OF political inflammation which has
80 long fercely burned IN the minds of pub
burst forth even amid the studlOus calm u
University life. Such lever IN youth por-
tends madness in manhood. ltIs temper
alien to the genius OF our republic, whose
life is freedom Of thought freely spoken--h
temper which tends to civil strife, tie shock OF
extremes soiteDed by no conclIlatory cnunsels
the tyranical domination OF local MAJ EFt'es TO
the determination f every protest, and the CO
lsiOn of thO.e malorltics in arms when the
kindly memories OF the past are only little
more obliterated by Injurious recrImlnailons
They who now refuse t. hear "A literary ora
ton from one they thought worthy % be their
guest, merely because Of his political opIn.
ions, can hardly he expected hereafter to
meet with caimness and CandOr, political OF
ponents in debate. We should rather expect
them to break the benches OF the forum into
weapons FIR the decision Of the controversy
We should not be surprised if, from their
midst, a Ciodius should arise who will tear
down the house OF Cicero, and dedicate ITS
site to liberty. The prevalence vi such q
spirit in the public councils, and among the
body of the people, indicates the approach
Of that period 10 the cycle OF our history, wien
tho voice which pleads for the country VIII
b. released by tue clash of factions between
which the patriot can pass no other Judg
ment than deteriorem fore qnSquis r'ctSSet -
1t is unspeakably gratifying to lind that amid
the explosions of these dangerous passions,
10 many gentlemen, from so many States,
still cherish the free liberal spirit OF the X
public which Washington founded, and
which must soon descend to you, to be pre-
served or to be destroyed.
The conduct which you so justly dlsap-
prove has occasioucd me, gentlemen, no MOI
tifcation-that belongs clsewhcrt--but great
sorrow | knew that the fathers had eaten
sour grapes: ! had u learn that the chill
dreu's teeth were set on edg': but confident
ly trust that such sentiments rs you euter-
tain, in common with the Columbian Society,
pervading large majority, viii bring forth
fruit nobly in honor To you, and IN blessing 10
oar common country. remain, very truly,
Your fellHw-citlZcu,
HENRY WINTER DAVIS.
Messrs John p Fitzgerald, A. b. Cochran,
Thomas Hume, Jr., &c, g., &c.