The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-07-01

alumni marched IN. beaded. By Goyerno
] Kemper, Colonel Tbomas J. Randolph, an,
other men of mark and distinction, 1t scenes
one of the pobiest bodies OF meu / eve
gszed upon. The audience was fit and tn
occasion and surroundings most inspiring
| Mr.. Barbour gracefully introduced the ora
tor Of the occasion, Hon. r. Nj. r. Hunter
ADDRESS OF non. r. N. r. HUNTER.
! Mr.. Hunter began bus address by alludipt
! TO the fact that the establishment OF uni
yersity in Virginia was cherished object o
! aspiration with Mr. Jefferson.
! He alluded % Mr.. Jeaerson's scheme o
general education in the State, brought GU
the fac, that be was the father OF the Uni
versity OF Virginia, and az much entitled Il
honor therefor AS is Alfred the Great for be
ing the founder Of the University Of Oxford
| He Jbrought out the fact that j. T.. Cabel
was the able ane efficient helper Of Jefferson
| in this work, and spoke OF the difficulties
which they ogercame. D #sS /. -
He alluded to the dependence of the pro
fessors on the college fees as promoting II
| them deeper personal interest in the Uni
versity, and said: ~. s. .,f.... .r,., =
lin 1850 the Board Of Visitors, forced BY
| the Increasing demand for education and the
, want OF new professors, imposed limi
upon the emoluments OF professors In order
10 obtain money tor these purposes, and wert
| impeled by necessity to depart for the time
from the wise policy Of Mr.. Jefferson, which
allo we'd them al that they carned-a depar'
ture greatly to be deprecated, and to be jus
tilted only by necessity. A return to The
original policy OF Dir. Jefferson Is manifestly
eXpedient, and 1t surely will se restored q,
soon as the financial condition OF the State
shall make If pfactcable. Not only did thu
professors, Wllnout complaint, aSseat TO 8
policy which threw upon ;hem the extra tx
pense of sustaining the University, but
atterward, in 1S65-'66. upon their own mo.
ton, they proposed 10 contribute anew, out
of their own funds, to enlarge the Uniyersi,
ty system OF instruction and establish
two new professorships. Tnis proposition
was accepted, The new professorships
were established, the scheme OF instruction
was enlarged, and che University took its
place-noW it is TO be hoped frmly estab.
lisbed-iu the front rank Of the great insti-
tuIiops of learning on this continent. Thus
the precarious condition of the South, " hich
had clouded the prospects and impaired the
efficiency of SO many of its institutions OF
learning, failed TO destroy or even seriously
impair the efficiency Of this great institu.
ton. AS has been we'll said by a historian
of the University, the crisis brought into
strong relief the eXcellencies of Mr.. Jeffer-
sons scheme of orgaDlz .tloD. The great
personal interest of the professors in the
vigorous establishment Of the institution
called forth The enterprise and thoughtful
energy and pain>-,sklDg Zeal which are sell
dom found and cannot be relied on 10 merely
official persons. 1t made them equal to the
emergency, and enabled them. contrary TO the
expectations of many, TO iniuse vitality into
the almost lifeless trunk of the University.
And it should be observed that the praise Of
haying accomplished this result belongs not
so much TO them personally US 10 the great
founder, whose admirable arrangement
brought it about. Tue money ttat was re-
quirtd to carry on the needlul repairs and to
make other preliminary preparations they
borrowed on their individual credit, ind
they made arrangements, with the consent of
the Visitors, whereby the chairman, with the
gratultous aid OF the other professors, was
10 discharge the duties of proctor, SUP erin
tendent Of public grounds, and auditor
OF accounts, ia addition to bis proper
functions, at 4 nominal salary OF $500 for
all tour off es-for which, before the
war. "a 300 had been paid. Glorious con.
duct. Noble professors! In what country
in What institution OF learnlng-can the par
aleI for SUCH conduct or such men be touod !?
know of few things in human conduct, In
war or in peace, superior to the example
thus set by these poor professors. Deserted
and alone, abandoned by all mankind, even
by those TO whom they had right TO look
Tor relief, they Dravely offered their OWE
shoulders to sustain the burthen of their
alma mater, which, without assistance,
seemed likely 10 fall into ruins amidst the
general destruction a!ouud them, and, as
Eueas bore bis father through the ashes OF
burning Troy, they took it upon themselves
to convey this palladium, as they probably
conceived it TO be, to place OF safety. What
they undertook they did, and saved the TO-
stitutlon. Surely the Safe, when lis finances
are in beltur condition, will restore to them
the entire emoIumenls designed tor them
consisting Of Whataver they may earn"
He then developed the great advantages
of the voluntary system introduced by Mr..
Jefferson, and then unknown lnths country.
He developed the peculiar system OF dis
cipIne self government (which Mr.. Jef1er-
son introduced, showed its advantages, and
said: ..'
Experience, think, may now entitle US
TO compare this with auy school 10 the Uulon
for good order and studlous habits. Indeed,
I heard distinguished gentleman some
time ago, who now mas q son here, suy
! he mad never seea a school in which the pub
lie opinion Of society was so distinctly pro-
nounced in favor OF good order and studious
habits. He said it seemed to him that Inc
point of honor was to behave we'll and study
nard, and TO sucn degree was this coarac-
ter impressed upon the school that ne De-
lieyed there was 10 place where young man
was likely TO make as much progress IN NINA
and manners rs here. What higher compli-
meut could be paid to Mr.. Jenerson's eX.
pertinent Than this? The introduction OF
so many novelties in so difficult su Ject as
college education with so much success
| would seem to be wonderful indeed, and re.
facts the highest credit on his genius and
knowledge of mankind. The deep interest
which he felt in the subject, and the uDtlrlsg
zeal with which be Dursed Its tnfaut for-
tunes, gill perhaps account for mucn OF the
felicity with which be chose bis instruments
and the skiliul manner in which be ser them
m uork. He first determined that whatever
wss taught any where should bs taught at his
school. and in The highest degree, but to sc.
lect the studies especially to be promoted
was more difficult task. There was gen
eral disposition III this country to ADOPT Inc
ut,litarian standard as a test OF the merit OF
education, particularly in the section Of conn.
try where Franklin was the modei man
Having no knowledge Of the ancient IAN
guages himself, there is no evidence taat DC
attsched,a special importance to an acqoslnc'
ance with them. But Mr. Jefferson, ciasst
cal scholar himself, was not insensioe 70 Tue
saIns Of ouch s,ndies. Fortunately for Vir