Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-03-26
HARVARD AND WILLIAM AND
m A

hon. george +. HOar, of Massach n
setts. has written a letter to the Boator
Ad0ertiser, appealing ito the genero.it,
OF Massachusetts, q, q especiall, to sh,
friends of Harvard. in behalf of th,
o!d College of William aud Nary i,
Virginia. which gave Washington bi.
first commission in his youth, and o.
which be was Chancellor for the lasr
twelve years before bis death"
He says:
This venerable seat Of learning was
destroyed by fire on the 9th of Sep.
tember. 1852. Tue college was on
territory located by the United States
as loyal territory. and in the sctusl
occupation by our troops from Nay
1862, to the close of the war. There
was conflict on the 9th day of Sep
tember between our troops and body
of rebel cavalry, Who got possession Of
the place for a few hours. After their
withdrawal, returning stragglers of ths
garrison set fire to the building, which
had been. with the exception of these
few hours, in our military occupation
A court martial had been going on
there the day before, aud the building
contained hay and other stores, and
cavalry equipments. It will take about
seventy thousand dollars to replace
the buildings, and, I think, fully one
hundred thousand to restore the col
lege to as good condition as before She
war.
There are few civilized governments
in the world that would not deem them
selves constrained, If not by the Law
of nations, yet by the respect which
such nations feel towards institutions OF
learning, to restore such An institution
even when it belonged to an enemy, if
injured by its troops under such cir
cumstances. History contains many
conspicuous and interesting examples
of the care taken by great commanders
for colleges exposed by the operations
of war, and Of the reparstion made by
them, when such institutions have
been injured by their troops.
The College of William and Mary
has eminent claims to be remembered
with reverence by every true son of
Massachusetts. In the great events
which preceded the Revolution, in
educating the American people in the
princi Piles of civil liberty and of con-
stitutional government, her services to
the country were scarce second to
those of Harvard. Washington re-
ceived her diploma as surveyor in his
youth, and rendered, as her chancel
lor, his last public service in old age
Jefferson, author of the Declaration OF
Independence, who announced tn.
great law of equality and human
rights, in whose light our Constitution
is at last and forever to be interprt ted,
was her son ard drank his inspiration
at her fountain. Peyton Randolph,
the first President of the Continental
Congress, Edmund Randolph, Wash
ington's Attorney General, and Presi,
dent Monroe were her graduates.
Marshal, without whose luminous and
far-sighted exposition our Constitu-
tion could hardly nave been put iutU
successful and harmonious operation,
who imbedded forever in our consti
tutional law the great doctrines Oh
which the measures that saved tht
Union are based, was a son of William
and Mary.
The living alumni of William anC
Mary do not deem themselves able tt
contribute the money needed to supply
hsr wants. A bill appropriating S68,
900 for this purpose passed the House
| of Representatives in the Forty-sec
| ond Congress, but failed in the Sen
ate. Many of the wisest and most in
! fuential of the Republican Leaders
feared that the bill might create ,
dangerous precedent, to follow which
would burden the Treasury with tht
cost cf rebuilding every school o
church or institution of charity des
troyed during the war. But [ hav
good reason to know that the attempt
though unsuccessful. produced excel
lent results in it's effect on the feel
ipgs Of the numerous friends of tn
College of Virginia. The argument
forcibIe when addressed 10 the nation
al legislature, has, OF course, IL
weight when voluntary contribution
are III question.
Nothing would, in nay judgment
have greater tendency t. revive a!
f, ction between the North and Bout
than to rebuild by a national co1tribr
ttou this ancient institution, chit
among the household gods of Virgin
la. What proof SO certain that tb
bitterness of the late war ID over, 81
that the early memories Of the days t
the Revolution and of the franih
ard Inauguration of the Constitution
are returning in full force, than til
rebuilding Of this sacred temple
learning in Virginia by the people
the North. under the lead Of Bcsto
and Harvard q?
[ am, yours very respectfu ~
GEORGE F. HoAf