Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-08-19

The second day of the session was devoted
to religious exercises, and the Association
| adjourned to the grove, where Rev. G.. W.
Samson and Rev. A. h. Dickinson preached
to an immense congi egaton. In the after
noon mass meeting, in behalf of Sabbath
schools, was held, at which addresses were
| delivered by Revs. W. F. Broaddus, A. E.
Dickinson and G. B. Taylor. While these
services were progressing at the arbor, Rev.
G.. F. Fry and Rev. - Richardson were
preaching to the negroes in the church.
The Association held a brief session on
Wednesday, at which the report on educa-
tion prepared by Prof. John Hart was dis
cussed. Rev. Dr.. Samson, President of Co.
lumbian College, D. c., represented his in
stitution as being in very lourishing condi-
tion. During the war large Indebtedness
had been paid off. and the city lots owned
by the College had become very valuable.
Its property is now. worth over $3.50, 900.
Recently Mr.. Corcoran, Of Washing ton city,
has donated to the College q building ap-
praised at $50, ,000 which will be used for a
law school. Resolutions warmly endorsing
Dr.. Samson and commendiDg the College
were adopted.
Rev. DR.. ". F. Broaddus and Rev. 4. b..
Dickinson advocated the putting forth most
vigorous forts 10 educate the orphans of our
soldiers.
Rev. G. B. Taylor spoke in behalf Of AL
leghany College. The buildings of this in
stitution were burnt by the Federal army,
and it is believed that the Government will
now appropriate an amount sufficient to re-
build the institution.
1t was decided to hold the next annual
meeting of the Association at Goshen
Bridge, and Rev. q. B. Taylor was appoint
ed to preach the opening sermon.
On Thursday sundry important reports
were adopted, and many interesting ad-
dresses delivered; and while this was going
on in the house, Rev. hessrs. Taylor aud
Broaddus were preaching at the stand.
THE UNIVERSITY.
The Board of Visitors assembled at the
University last Wednesday, to fill the va
cancy in the chair of Mathematics, OCCASION
ed by the resignation of Professor Bledsoe.
The claims of twelve gentlemen, two of
whom, Gen. Pendleton and Gen. Sam Jones,
were distinguished in the military service,
and all Of whom presented high testimonials
of scholarship, were before them. The con-
test was mainly between Professor Charles
S. Venable and Col. VIM. Leroy Broun,
both of whom won the highest honors Of the
University. The choice finally fell on the
former gentleman, and his election was then
made unanimous. The following sketch of
this gentleman, and of other transactions of
the Board is furnished by the Republic,
whose editor was present as a member Of the
Board:
"Professor Venable was Assistant Profess
sor of Mathematics in Hampden Sidney Col
lege at l6 years of age, and served two years
in that position. AT nineteen he was made
full Professor, and served seven or eight
years. During this latter period he was
permitted to go to Europe for eighteen
months to pursue his studies, and there
studied astronomy and mathematics under
Fucker, Argeland and Brichardt. While
there, ho was rendered the appointment OF
Assistant Professor in the Observatory at
Washington, but declined. On his re-
turn, he was elected, in 1856, Professor
of Mathematics, Philosophy and Chemistry
in the University Of Georgia. He accepted
the position, and served one year, at the
expiration Of which time he was elected
Professor of Mathematics i'll La Grange Col
lege, Tennessee, but declined. He then
came to the University of Virginia to try
and establish the licentiatc system of the
German universities. While there he was,
in 1858, elected Professor Of mathematics
and Astronomy in the University OF South
Carolina, where he served uutil the fall OF
1861. In 1860 he was selected by the Super
intendent Of the Coast Survey as one Of the
astronomers for the Eclipse Expedition to
Labrador, and went on that expedition. Be-
sides the above appointments and selections,
he has been asked to accept profeSsOrships
in the University of Mississippi and in Will
and 10 lar at
of the University of Georgia, but declined
each position before election. Tie was on
General Lees staff throughout the war, and
among his letters Of recommendation was a
very earnest one from the late General-n-
Chief.
Before adiourning, the Board of Visitors
passed the following resolution
&C RESOLVED, That the limited financial re-
sources of the Commonwealth and the Uni
yersity, and the unsettled condition of pub
lie affairs, make it inexpedent, at this time,
TO inaugurate the statue Of Thomas Jcfier-
son. the founder Of this University but the
Board, fully sensible Of its duty in this re-
gard, pledges itself to execute this high
trust, with appropriate ceremonies, at the
earliest practicable moment"
The statue of Jefferson, executed in mar
Gait, of Norfolk, now lies in the Univer-
slty, boxed up, just as 1t came from Eu-
rope.
BERKELEY AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.
There is contest in reference to the pres
| ent status OF the counties of Ferkeley and
Jefferson. These two counties were ceded
to West Virginia by the Legislature in 1868,
but not being named in the act of Congress
admitting thu State Of West Virginia, it is
claimed that the transfer was never compile.
ted since there was no congressional recog
nition thereof. Virginia claims them as
part of her 9TH Congressional District; West
Virginia holding that they belong to the I'd
| In the meantime, the Commissioner Of In.
ternal Revenue decides that the people ol
these counties shall pay taxes to the proper
officers OF the I'd collection district of West
| Virginia. The action of the next Congress
| is alone needed to make this decision final.
NEGRO COLONY NEAR ALEXANDRIA.
The Washington Star says that the sale o
barracks, block houses and other buildings,
to have taken place at Fairfax Station, Va.
Tuesday, has been postponed, application
having been made for them by the Freed
mems Bureau. 1t is proposed to establish {
colony of freedmen at that place. 1t further
| says that "the buildings at Camp Distribu
tion are being fitted up 6y the Freedmen
| Bureau for tenement houses for coiore(
people. Accommodations will be provided
for several hundred families. A railroad run
into the heart of the camp, and terminate
at a commodiouS station house, reservoir
affording an ample supply of water to ever!
building. A neat little church and librar.
are already provided, and everything com
plete for the establishment of fourishinI
| col0nyn