Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-12-01

al interests of our State. No people Ca
be prosperous or happy who are bound
the chains of Ignorance, and who have nt
facilities for bursting asunder the, fettel
which dwarf their minds and cripple a
the nobler faculties Of their nature.
may be said that North Oarolinassis to
poor to do more than she is now doing fo
| the cause of education. 1t may be inpru
! dent at tt IS time to place additional bur
dens on the reople in behalf OF our Uni
yer il. or any of the colleges or higl
schools IN our midst ; butwe are far be
hiud he people In the cause If commol
schools It is much better that all shal
rt ceive tie rudimenfs OF q good Engliel
| education, be taught TO read H0ently. writ
| legibly and understand the use OF bgnres
than shat G few shall be educated IN th'
higher branches of polite Hiera. ure, ant
imbued with the knowledge Of the desC
laneuage., and made profc:en ia ths
higher branches Of art and science The
one is absolutely needed to mako orr me-
and women good and useful citizens; while
the Dt'It msy be- dispensed with until 6
Bew .rh Of prosperity eIaI dsansupon u.s.
end csla Die ua to rebuild and retabiitate
the University, and establish throughout
our l.; rdeIs colleges an1 SC, ,cois a. hIg b
grad e and character. Go to work fhen:
gentlemen, and resolve that every child in
that those who are not able to educate e
Themselves shall be educated by the State
that IL the next decade every person be-
tween the ages of ten and twenty years
who is If sound mind, shall be able 10
read the word Of God and the consti ution
and laws Of the country. Fear not to levy
tiibute for tLi5 glorious cause. 1t will be
like bread cast upon the waters "Ehou
shalt find it after many days.
THE UNIVFRsIrY.
With regard to the University of the
State, p principal obstruction to its sue
cess is it's recuniary embatrassm3nts, for
which, as far rs Can judge, the present
board s'f trustees are in no wise RESPONSE
bic. TIE principal debt, amounting 10
about sixty thousand dollars, was incurred,
aid a mortgage made TO secure the same
before they came into Office. In 1868 the
patronage Of the institution had been re
duced to less than one hundred Students
Prior to this time, however, the princi pal
portion OF It's endOWments had been lost
by uuf0rtnnate investments. Until the
institution is relieved from debt and it's
property from ncumbrance, there can be
but little hope of its success or usefalUess
II my opinion, al honest and faithful eff
fort was made 10 lift the University from
the condition in which it was found at the
or uo favor from the class of persons by
whom it vas crushed. They have not aid
Cd the officers in their efforts to build it
up. Pablo opinion has been moulded
against 1t by the most INSCRIPTIONS mis-
represen nations. and by violent appeals
through partlz N press. Those who would
have pa'ronized It were threatened with
social ostracism. The young were deter
red from entering its halls, ana parents
very Dasnraliy hesitated to compel the at
tendance Of thair sons ; aud now the cause
of failure IS imputed by some to the trus-
tees and faculty. The remotcnees Of Cha
pei Hill from the railroad is believed by
many 20 be in the way of it's prosperity
l. is more difficult Of access than other col
leges, but this Is matter of minor impor-
tance
The foregoing are some of the Difficult
ties with which the University has had to
Just prior to the late election, a
spirited controversy began in some of the
religious newspapers, in which it was pro-
posed to abolish the University. This,
imagine, was in view of the calling Of
Convention. Those who have since pur-
sued the controversy seem to have dono so
without advcrting to the chang in the sit
uatioD.
The CoDs!iiu ion Of the State not only
the continuance Of the Uni
vereity, but actually prescribes rules for
its management. The corporal ion cannot
be dissolved while the present Constltu
tion stands. It has been suggested that
the trustees should sell so much Of the
property as is situated a Chapel Hill and
purchase q more eligible location else
where. From such sale at this time, the
trustees would probably not realize half
the aotnal value Of the property, ald it
IA 81.
b arc pay ment Of the debts and leave the
Board without the means of future ope-
rations. l cannot believe that snca
will meet with any favor in
any Quar-, er at the present time.
Uader al! these clrcumstanc [ recon-
mend the Legislature 10 adopt such meas
ufes a5 in its wisdom will secure the inter
s d Of thu s ate from great h SIS, aud
prevent ihe properly Of the University
from forced sale fer the payment Of
uebts, Then co, e the doors of the iosii-
tuition until ulore prosperous times. In
tie meantime give to the Superintendent
Of Public Instruction power and authority
10 take all property iuto bis possession,
ana make su III a dispoei ian of ii by lease
from year TO year, as to him shall seem
most conducive to the interests of she
University and the Sta.e-rtquiring from
h lessee bond with ample secufity for
the safe keeping and good care tf salJ
property ald also for the aDnnaI payment
# the rents until the expiration " the
lease.
SUFFRAGE.
The create st bulwark Of OWL liberty. and
ne ore best calculated to promote and
make p rpetual the freedom of the ci.iz3n,
is tie right Of suffrage. The sovereign
pcoplo are the rightful custodiaDs of pow
er in all well regulated governments. Upon
them fall ell the burdens Of keeping the
of State in running order. They
furnish the means to build up yoar schools
and colleges; to make your railroads aud
canals; to erect your asyluns and chafi'a
bic institutions; to sustain your ministers
of law; to suppress domestic violence and
to defend our country against invasion
from foreign fee. For these services they
ask nothing in rerurn. but the right to
choose their agents of government, and
their representatives in the Nation and
State, and the enactment of such laws as
will protect them in the enjoyment of all
the rights and privileges accorded to them
by the constitution and laws of their com
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