Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-01-25

Northern States prefer establishing such institu
TONS doubtless it would be proper to extend TO them
like aid
A. Not few persons object very much to colleges o
any kind because il is alleged they practice habits o
deness and dissipation. But has been ascertaned be-
yond doubt that the students of colleges as class fur
nish fewer cases of bad moral character than are fur
nished bv any equal number OF like age taken from 9TH
er collections of young men, such as apprentices and
clerks Look around you in your halls and in society at
large and YOU will find that large part of those who
are now doing the State useful service in private and pub
lie walks are those who have been trained at college
Finally it is very stTenuousy urged that the Colleges
are all secarian and that it is unbecomng to take the
peoples money promote the purposes of secs Now,
this consider:
IN That tregion or the duty which we owe to God, and
the duty He teaches fellow men, has ever been
regarded as the most important aid the sustenance of
our free institutions. government of laws rests only
on the solid foundations of sound morality. Such
were the views of the great and good Washington and
SUCH gentlemen, are doubtless your views
(2) But when young men are taken from home where
properly their minds and hearts should be mbued with
with the principles of sound pety and morality is de-
srable they should still be subject to such Influences
But if such are to be found in colleges must be under
the control of persons who have religious faith of some
kind And it has always proved better that those who
compose the faculty and of such influences should
be mainly of the same religious persuasion IT, then we
wish to have religious influences IN college, we must have
them to proceed from men of some sect.
(3) For such colleges could not have been founded by
the combinations of sects. They have not been.
4) But though owing their existence with one excep
tion to the zeal and beraity Of the various religious
sect in no one of them instructions given in any
sectarian views. While all exercise aim exercise
a wholesome moral and religious influence none of them
do this in an odious manner in order make prose
lytes While holding the sound view already mentioned
as to the value of religious principles to the young while
pursuing an education the founders of all these colleges
had mainly in view the establishment ofnsutions to pro-
mote sound learning,
(5) But after all there can be danger in aiding all
even granting that all Extensively sectariau For
these nine colleges represent less than eUe religious
sects Besides the four prominent sects EpscOpaIians,
Presbycrans Methodsts and Bapts there are also the
Protestant Methodist the Disciples Tor Campbeite Bap-
tisls aud the Lutherans interested in them These
geter represent the great bulk of the Protestant denom
nations of the State. Now, they likely to com
bpf because they lin improper is it said)
rivals Should any one Of them deserve anmadyeIson
for odious sectaranis the legislature can at any time
correct the evil or withdraw its appropriation 1t must
be remembered too as Gov. Wise has fOrcby present.
ed that the relation of the friends of these colleges, as
religious men, has not destroyed their relation citizens
whose wemeant liberal, enterprsng spirit ought to
meet encouragement at your hands.
Then, gentlemen try them; let the effort at least be
made, aud you may be assured that you will not regret
it, and the blessings Of grateful poserity will commem
crate your liberality and patriotism.
OLD VIRGINIA.
Fnouirer please coDy.