Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-09-30
The University CT North Carolina.

Among the many grateful and graceful
changes in the Constitution, SO confidently
expected at tho hands Of the Convention
soon, VIC trust, to assemble, none affords
more personal pleasure Or livelier satisfac
ton than that which promises to pave the
way for tho speedy restoration of the Uni
versity. It will be with 10 ordinary feel
ings, with no mere passing emotion, that
the true friends Of education in North
Carolina, no matter where they may have
received their mental training, vii! repair
to the classic groves OF our University
to witness the first public exercises after
the institution shall have been disenthran-
ed and redeemed from the clutches OF the
harpies who now infest it. Il will indeed
be q Commencement commencement,
we trust, of course OF unparalleled pros
perity md honor and benefactiQn. The
reunion of old friends, gathered on that
occasion from every quarter Of the coun-
try, will afford rare delight and doubtless
nothing, save the recollection of our dead
comrades. those whom death called from
peaceful firesideG, rs we'll as those who fell
fighting on the battlefield in defence of
their counry's honor land their name is
legion), could temper and restrain our Joy
within the bounds Of decorum proper on SO
eventual an occasion. But though we have
to mourn the death Of many gallant com
radea, we have not to mourn their diehOn-
or. Our AZna Mater can proudly point to
the record of the deeds Of her children,
whether in the paths of peace or upon the /
tented field. In the battle of life they
have displayed fortitude equGled only by |
the readiness with which at their country's |
call they placed their lives and their for
tunes upon her altar. To those who fell |
into untimely graves, nobly fighting free
dom's battle in the armies of the South,
it shall DO the duty OF the living 10 do full
Justice.
There will be other work to be DONE
Those two venerable relics OF former
Dialectic and Philanthropic
Societies-will have to resume formally |
their wontcd exercises. The Historical |
Society and Alumni Association will each, !
also, doubtless have its special ceremonies
of their renewed existence.
There will be much work to be done,
we say, on that occasion as much for the
brain to do rs for the heart to feel. But !
there is much also to be done before this
grand jubilee con be enjoyed, the very
thought of which makes every mans blood
Jingle with pleasant excitement and an
ticipation. The first thing to be done is
10 eject the few stray cattle who now herd
in the halls of tho University and call
themselves a Faculty. After this comes
the selection of proper men 10 take charge
Of this, the most cherished and time-hon-
bred institution in the State, and to es-
5ablish it upon u sure foundation. The
incumbent, literally, incumbent Faculty,
can be gotten rid of in two ways. First,
oy a decision of the Courts of Law, upon
suit brought by the old Trustees to en-
luire into the validity of the appointment
Of the new Trustees. If the members of
he new board be not really Trustees Of
he University, but simply usurpers and
respassers, it follows that their appointees,
NE present so-called Faculty, are also tres
,assers and usurpers. The stream cannot
Use higher than its source.
The question then recurs, whether the
ate Constitutional Convention had the
light forcibly to wrest from the old Trns-
ees the rights vested in them and to trans
er them to the new Board. We presume ,
here can be only one opinion upon this {
,oint and that the one laid down by the l
supreme Court of the United States in
he celebrated Dartmouth College ease.
Yo cannot distinguish our case from that, {