The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-02-20
rr.. , ,,.,o,,,tural Conege-Again.


dies may be pursued, yet the drift, the
tendencies, Of the institution must have
this practical direction. 1t is intended
that any one wishing such an education,
with or without more purely literary modi-
cations, shall recognize distinctly that this
college is for him; whilst, if he wishes to
pursue the higher and more abstruse
walks Of literature and theoretical science,
he will bend his steps elsewhere.
It Is therefore matter of surprise 10
us that some persons who must be ac-
ouainted with the requirements OF the
law favor the bestowal Of this fund upon
the University. What alumnus OF that
neerless Mother of Letters can contem-
Mate the debasing alliance with any pa
tienceS We have known heretofore for
whom the University was intended. Could
we longer know if such hybridous
connection be established? Can the law
be in any sense fulfilled without dragging
the University down from that unrivalled
height on which she now stands? How can
the main object of instruction there be con-
yerted into this practical channel! The
true mission of the University, in the ap-
prehension Of oil her friends, has no rele-
vancy to such subjects as are distinctively
imposed upon the college to be established
Either the strong light and foreground
prominence of the present literary, scien-
tiic, and professional curricula of the
University will eclipse and dwarf the pro-
posed practical course of agricultural and
mechanical studies, and thus totally defeat
the object of the law, or, worse fate still,
the latter will encroach upon the confines
of the others-mingle with them and de-
grade them. All who know the abilities
of the present eminent faculty there must
admit the former result to be the most
probable; so that in few years the agri-
cultural and mechanical departments
would likely be effectually put aside and
overslaughed. Besides, who can calmly
think of the conscientious disposition of
the present faculty to fulfil the letter Of
tie law, leading them all afeld, where, in
stead of those congenal studies which now
engage them, they will be expected to
elucidate the history and literature of the
plough, the loom, and the auvil-the botany
of peas, pumpkins, and potatoes-the
chemistry of soft soap-the natural philoso-
ply Of the n-coop-and the mathematics
of the shovel and the hoe.
If a gift of two hundred thousand dol
lars were put under the disposition of the
Legislature for educational purposes, an
tramu,eHed By conditions, for no institution
should we be more disposed to ask it than
the University, which is, and should
be, the pride and crown of the State. But
the present grant is for specific purposes,
with which the University has nothing in
common, and of which her location will
prevent the most successful execution.
AS we'll might she seek to absorb within
her jurisdiction her own preparatory
schools. Because her system has placed
her at the head of the literary institutions
of the land, and has brought it to pass that
in her halls can now be heard the ablest
lectures upon the vagaries OF verbs In M,
upon the wanderings of the pious 1ESEAs'
and upon the exact equivalence OF DANTE's
..pus nessun rimmagine pervsrsa Parea,"
II does not, and cannot, follow that we
should look to the same source for instruc-
ton in the best method of restraining the
vagaries Of refractory ram, the wander
ipgs of precocious yearling, or the pro-
duction of profitless hybrids.
We recall the following points noticed
in the remarks we have heretofore made
upon this subject:
l, For the advantage of the people
whose interest is to be promoted by this
institution it should have central loca-
ton. If the geographical centre of popu-
lation be within one hundred miles of this
city, as everybody must admit it to be,
the existence here of larger population
by many thousands than are to be found at
any other point in the State should avail
to transfer the location to this city, so as to
afford to the greatest possible number of
persons unable to bear any considerable
outlay the advantages of the college, free
from the cost of boarding away from home.
2. Nowhere else can the agricultural de
partment Of the college exert its true in
fuence upon the present planters and
farmers Of the State for here it will con-
stitute part of the annual fairs, and be a
source of instruction to all under whose
inspection 1t may pass.
3. Nowhere else in the State can the
mechanical curriculum be so well illus
etratsd rs in the foundries, manufactures,
and supply shops Of this city. Elsewhere
these would require to be substituted by
models, for the preservation of which the
State must tax the people, since no part of
the fund given by the United States can by
law be expended in building. All the re-
quisite buildings, with the exception of
such ordinary farm shelters as may, in &C
cordance with Q conscientious interpreta-
ton Of the law, be included in the pur.
chase Of farm, are offered by the college
situated near this city, and TO that college
this fund should certainly 60, on the score
Of location, economy, and the best prospec,
Of the successful execution Of the objects
proposed. These buildings can be hat
under such guarantees as will thorough,
protect the public interests and retain ,