Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-01-09

Dill has been introduced IN the Senate
Of Virginia by Mr. Pridemore, Of Lee
county, to repeal the act by which an
annuity is paid from the State Treasury
for the support Of the University of
Virginia and the Virginia Military In
stitute, by which each of those In
stitutions are required to educate youths
from each Senatorial district who are
unable, from poverty. to incur the ex-
pense Of the higher grades of educa-
ton
1t is, as we are informed, certain that
the Withholding Of the annuity from
the University at this time would
amount to its suspension and final
abolition. The question, therefore,
which we commend to the earnest con
sideration OF members of the General
Assembly, the alumni Of the Univer
sity, and all citizens friendly to the
best interests OF. education in the State
is; are they prepared to destroy the
University? 1t was the favolite child
OF the most enlightened lover of liber-
ty, popular rights, and general edusa
tlon-the most popular statesman and
1t the same time the ripest scholar that
Virginia has produced. 1t were indeed
q pity that Mr. .letferson's tolls for the
last fifteen years Of his life, should be
destroyed, from 8 hasty and, mistaken
idea OF economy, or the erroneous no
ton that the University is not essen
tial to any4really valuable system of
public education.
But n point Of econcmy, the case is
clear. The University belongs to the
State. All its property not donated
on special trusts by private munifcence
is state property. It is governed by
a Board Of Visitors who are pnblic
corporation, like the Board Of Educa-
ton, CT Of tae Sinking Fund The
state has invested in this property not
less than S5j0,D0O, derived for the most
part, from other sources than taxation.
BESIDES this, there is Library and
Scientific apparatus which has cost
nearly 100000. All this investment,
into which has gone donations by pr
vate individuals to no small amount, is
nearly useless for any other purpose
than that to which it is now applied;
and by the destruction of that use,
for which it is splendidly adj
apted, would be nearly a total
loss: Private donations would be with
drawn. The heirs of Dawson, John
son, and others who have made dona-
tons, would rejoice that thus the State
would create in their favor valued
claims to over 5000. The splendid
donation Of Miller Of 100000 would,
by the terms Of his deed, be mediate
ly Withdrawn. Again: The Univer-
sity annually brings into the State and
pours, out in its very centre, immense
sums Of money. In the last forty years
the aggregate counts by millions
Y it'll its ruin, this stream would imme
diately set Jroas, instead Of inc the
State.
The benefits of the higher educa-
ton have been too wei Illustrated IN
the past by the ,uceess Of the Univer
sity, for cur people to be content with
less for the il youth in the future, and
many would be sent to Yale, Harvard,
Cornell University, and Europe, who
now find in the heart of the State
fountain adequate to all their wants
Thus large sums would be spent abroad
for what we now secure at home The
difference between the present income
and the outgo, would not be less than
from 100000 to 100000 annually.
But wise statesmen look to other
influences as essential, to State, be
sides mooney. 1t is iacontestable that
the University has largely contributed
to bring about the fact, that in over
one third OF the Mon, the Virginia
schoo are REGARDED as the best in the
com T. Great prestige has b e. won
for Il e State in this way; and then
again, indirectly, a rich stream of mon
ey has been caused to flow into the
State, brought by the youths from
abroad Tho attend in large numbers
the preparatory schools for which this
State has so high reputation through
out the South and West
ether States, moved by the consid-
erations Of enlightened wisdom which
I'D Nj, Jefferson and his coadjutors to
| Dor for the establishment Of the Uni
.ersits, h We been setting up their
own c3lleges and. universities, estab.
fishing them on footing of expanded
scale, and solid endowment. 1t would
be sorry spectacle for Virginia, after
having won the lead in the great enter
prise of higher culture, to turn back,
and at enormous sacrifice Of money and
prestige, dissolve the splendid results
Of years Of labor.
The amount Of the annuity to the
University is just one cent ando quarter
per head to her people. In view Of the
benefits it has conferred, is comforting,
and if supported and fostered will con
tinue richly to confer, it would be a
poor enconomy to ruin or in any way
to crippled it.
In nothing that we have said do we
intend in any wise to depreciate the ser
vices of the other noble institutions in
the State. They are all doing good
work, and may all prosper and dispense
beneticent influence together. Many of
them are Offered largely by alumni Of
the University. The admirable schoo's
established over the State are mainly in
the hands Of University men. To it is
larg -ly due their excellence, and their
reputation. The University to-day is in
a condition Of splendid efficiency for its
greet work. 1t has been constantly de-
veloIed as fast as the means at hand
nave permitted, to keep it abreast ofthe
advances in science and the application