Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-03-02
RALEIGH, NORTH CAR0LI


and accepted Professorship in Randolph
Macon College. A recently published
pamphlet Of Dr. Deen.s may be referred
to as a grateful and graceful exhibition of his
views in relation to the administration of
the affairs of the University during the six
years that he was a member of the Fac
ulty.
In 1849, the Trustees established the
Professorship of History, and appointed the
Rev. Albert NJ. Shipp Professor, by unan-
imous vote.
The Trustees have no power to compel
gentlemen to accept Professorships, or
when they have accepted, to enforce their
permanent continuance in Office. You
will probably be surprised to learn that no
instance is known, since the foundation Of
the Institution, where Methodist has COM
peted unsuccessfully for either Professor
ship or Tutorship.
AS at present organized, there are two
Episcopal, two Methodist and two Presby-
terian clergymanin our corps of instructors.
That there is no Baptist clergyman among
us, is the fault of neither the Faculty nor
the Trustees One was sought for assiduously
to supply the last vacancy which occurred.
The course which the Board was disposed
to pursue, was indicated with sufficient
clearness in the following remarks, made by
me at the time of the election of success
sor to DR.. Mitchell, and published under
the sanction Of the Executive Committee a
year ago.
Immediately before proceeding to bal
lot, l stated in substance, if not in words,
that in the selection Of q successor to DR..
Mitchell, we could not expect to secure the
services of gentleman of equal ability and
attainments, who was not in the decline
Of life, and that had no hopes Of finding
any one who, at the present, would be able
to supply our ioss That it had been my
object in careful SCRUTINY Of the preten-
sions Of the gentlemen to whom nv at
tention had been directed, to find among
the graduates of this University young
man Of decided ability, of attainments equal
to his years, who had given satisfactory evil
dence Of capacity to impart instruction, and
who had we'll established character as an
accomplished christian gentleman. That
as the University was State Institution,
| had always entertained the opinion, that
all parties in the State, political and re-
igious, should be represented in the gov
ernment of it, and that as no member Of
the Faculty was Baptist, other things be-
ing equal, [ would prefer a member of that
denomination, and next to that Metho-
dist. That if q suitable person among our
graduates presented himself, other things
being equal, I would prefer a southern to
a northern man."
With respect to the manner in which
the Board of Trustees is constituted, can
not be expected to speak with as much
particularly and precision as in relation to
the Faculty. | am satisfied, however, that
great mistakes exist upon the subject
which ought to be corrected. The entire
Board consists at present of about 55 mem
bers; who have been appointed at intervals
during the last 10 years, and who are wide
ly dispersed over the State, from the Abe
marie to the Allegheny. A considerable
proportion Of them are not members, il
full communion, Of any Church. [ hav
examined the catalogue with some care
and with the best means Of information a
my command, entertain the opinion, tina
if considered in relation to Church prefer
ences, while the Episcopalians are great
the most numerous, that Baptists, Method
lists and Presbyterians will be found i
nearly equal proportions. Not third {
the members Of the entire Board meet tt
gether at one time and place, at interva
of less than ten years, and no one Of an
party or denomination, will, as | believ'
be able to point to any instance, whe
the action of the Board was controlled b
party influence, political or religious.
The government of the University is as
most practical purposes, confided to an E,
ecutive Committee of seven, of whom tt
Governor is &c Qfjcio Chairman. The Con
mittee is necessarily composed Of gentleme
residing in or near Raleigh, since it is impo
tant that they shall meet frequently ar
sometimes at very short notice. The on
| Churches represented in the Committee, {
ther by membership or predilection are Il
Episcopal and the Methodist.
Politically the Board is pretty equally
vided In the Executive Committee the
are three Democrats and four Wings.
1t is a singular fact, but one for which nj
ther the Trustees nor the Faculty of the u
versity are in any wise responsible, that t
leaven of Presbyterianisnl, is, in proporti
to numbers, more extensively diffused in t
Board of Trustees of Normal College than
that of the University. They are not fou
in so large proportion in either, as to pt
tend imminent danger to civil or religio
liberty. That every Trustee during the qu
ter of century under review, has
: ways acted upon the principles of wise lii
e rality and Christian charity which char
: terized the course of Judge Cameron a
!. Judge CASTOR, is neither asserted nor belle
+ ed but that the collective body in their
p fcial acts have never departed from them,
most confidently affirmed With referer
to the more than $50 persons, who DUR
d that period from time to time, we're memb
q of the Board, and many Of whom h;
If watched with anxious solicitude over
t. welfare of the Institution, it IS no moro II
+ Justice to the living and the dead, to say t
no similar number can now be found wit
our borders, of equal ability, attainmer
wealth and influence The present stat
u the Institution compared with what it wa.
- the commencement of that period, affo
IN satisfactory evidence that their fostering {
id has been crowned with the only reward t
coveted. It's numbers have been increa
e. five fold, ard its revenues and means of
m fulness in still greater proportion. It is
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