The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-06-07
CONTINUED FRoN 1sr pAeEl

anu more thorough INSTRUCTION IMAM Ju6 COA-
leges can. Here IS Princeton. Harvard,
Yale What are they doing? They are 50
endowing their Colleges that they may be
filed up with Professors in every department
to take whom? To take the Southern
children Since l was ten years old there
has been stream going 70 those Colleges.
Whether it was an advantage to me or not,
| was thrust into that stream. But has not
the attachment TO the South become stronger
than it was when I was a boy? "My son,
stay here,
AllusiOn has been made to the University
Of Virginia. My dear sir, It's great origina-
tor founded it upon the foundation: No
Christ, no Christ lean to no religious de-
nomination; they may stand outside and
preach, but within the walls, that is not 70
be- But You want an institution which
viii give to your children an education i'm
possible to be found in the respective col
leges. Let me auude to another fact l
have heard it without contradiction, and l
have assented to it. that there is better
class Of students in the South than in the
North; they are better taught. In active
life, in the ministry, in legislation, they are
far superior TO the Northern men, In the
providence Of God, and by reason Of age, 1
may never be with my Southern brethren
again; have all the feelings Of the South.
His providence has placed me in another sec,
ton. tell you they stretched my head so
that lost it, but have cot it back again.
iLaughter.) | have thrown out my idea,
that there are evidently in the Southern
States individuals who viii give of their sub
stance TO their local colleges, and to the en-
dowment Of a University. And there are
young men that will say to father: eff
cannot resort TO such an institution you
must send me to Princeton, or Harvard, or
Yale, where they can meet my wants.
Allow me to make another remark. Ow
ing to the former state of things among you,
educated young men could, in the providence
of God, pursue their studies in their fathers
house. after having finished their education
at a College They had the leisure, the taste,
the Judgment, the determination. Now,
things are altered; but there will still be the
desire to reach a standard of education thar
viii never be found at the North. | would
therefore, aim to do this: . If it be possible,
let that report stand. It is not designed to
20 Immediately into operation, but to throw
out feelers for information-that those who
have the wealth may give of that wealth, so
that there may be an endowment for a Col
lege or a University.
Rev. z. Cater was sent here by the
Presbytery Of North Mississippi, which had
adopted resolution adverse to the establish
ment Of a University. After was nOmina-
ted, the proposition was made to give me in
structions so as TO tie my hands entirely
After considerable debate, they agreed to
leave me untrammelled, that | might listen
to the arguments pro and con, and eventual
" cast my vote according to my own con-
victiOns. | stated also that my convictions
were adverse TO the proposed institution.
have listened this morning with great inter
est and profit TO the very able, learned and
eloquent speeches. | am decidedly of the
opinion now that this report needs amend
ment, not only in the direction spoken of,
but in another The Egovision, by which,
as We suppose, the Church would exercise
visitorial powers over the Institution, has
been dropped entirely, as far as | have been
able to understand; and the consequence
was that my mind fully sympathised with
the speeches made as to the danger Of Uni
versities. My present conviction is in favor
Of amending this report by emitting from 1t
everything that pertains to a University.
The idea of a University education, sup
Elemental 20 the collegiate education, is one
which seems to have taken possession of the
minds of a large portion of our people, and,
as has been intimated here to-day, not be.
cause of the superior advantages which are
thus to be obtained, and the higher educa-
ton received, but from a species Of pride,
and that desire for preemiuence through a
name, when the education has not been OBJ
tained have become acquainted with in
Aividuals after their return from Europe, and
have been perfectly surprised at the shall
lowness Of their attainmentS. | am fully
satisfied that there is nothing in Germany,
England or Scotland, superior to the advan-
tages which our young men have in this
country. Ii reminds me very much of that
very remarkable anecdote which was told ia
a debate in the General Assembly at Phila-
delphia in 1881 l expect, sir, you remem-
Der that anecdOte. A member Of that As.
sembly who was very proud of his attain
ments; boasted Of having graduated at two
Of our Universities, or Colleges. The re.
markable reply by whimsical brother was
that he had two cows; both of them had
calves; one of the calves died, and one calf
in consequence obtained the milk of both
cows What was the result? The only re
suit was that it became a bigger calf That
is lust precisely the result with most'of these
young men who 90 to Germany. They are
not more instructed; they have only little
more Of the "big head" And so it will be
here. If our young men were provided with
this additional institution, a great many Of
them would be greatly pulled up without
much increase Of knowledge.
The point that strikes me most forcibly
Just now, is to put into that paper the means
by which we can exercise visitorial power
over it. As the motion to recommit is not
in order, l shall have to vote for the motion
to amend.
Rev. J. ". Baker-I wish to call atten-
ton to one single fact about the resolution
under discussion, and in regard to which
this amendment has been proposed. 1t is
said, "the judgment Of this Convention is,
that while the idea is one that should be en-
eouraged, and its organization should be de-
termined upon at the earliest practicable pc
Rod the organization of what? This
very Southern institution-the very thing
mentioned in the previous part Of the reso-
luton. Therefore, Irise to make the amend
ment before the Assembly more speci6c-to