Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-09-24


him, that | realized how valuable he
was to the State and to the country.
Of great ability, and Of attalnmentS
greater and rarer still, devote d to
North Carolina, her people and her IN
terests, proud of her history ana
familiar with its minutest details,
there was no one liz all this broad land
to take his place among men, when
?eatb closed his earthly career. The
University and her children can never
bear in too honorable, too atfect1onate,
or too reverent remem brance, the name
of
DAVID L. SWAIN.
As was to have been expected, the
people Of North Caroline utterly re
fused to recognize such bastard con-
cern as their University. Even the
Trustees themselves refused to send
their sons here, and the place went
rapidly from bad TO worse. The squad
Of bows that at first gathered here
from mere force Of habit, as 1t were,
soon scattered, and ere long all pre-
tense Of continuing the exercises OF
he institution was abandoned.
The University mad reached the
lowest depth Of degradation, yet WAS
she net without friends? Earl III 1871
it will be remembered, that strong
If ut was made to cal u Convt ntlon,
and one OF the most cherished objects
of tue friends OF that movement, was to
restore. the Institution to its former
pr,,>pcrou, condition. The movement
failed, but its friends still worked on
and in the early part of the next year
passed through its first stage III the
Legislature the amendment to the
Constitution, under which we now act.
t was published TO the people. ana
having passed through its second stage
during the succeeding Legislature.
was duly ratifi by the people IN Au-
gust. 1873. In December following,
the present BOARD OF Trustees was
elected and had its first session on the
day appointed by law, that is to say,
on the 18th of February, 1874. On
the next day Solomon Pool and his
Faculty were formerly removed from
Office by the Trustees.
But the troubles of the University
were not yet over. Tod r. Caldwell,
then Governor of the State, when in
vited to take his seat as ex officio
President of the Board of Trustees, Ie-
fused to do SO, alleging that it's mem
bers wore not constitutionally elected
to the positions they claimed to hold.
solomon Pool also refused to recog-
nize their authority. It became, there
fore, necessary to eject him by force,
and suit was at once brought in Orange
Superior Court. Judge Tourgee de-
cded against the new Board, and an
appeal was taken to the Supreme Court.
The case was heard at June, term, 1874,
but the Court having taken an adUi-
| suJi, no decision was rendered until
January term, 1875. The decision,
wien rendered, reversed that of Judge
| Tourgee and sustained the action of
| the Legislature in the election of the
present Board. After this, no further
resistance was made. Other meetings
Of the new Board followed. The
| Legislature was induced to pass an act
making good the agricultural fund
given by the Federal Congress to the
State and squandered by the late
| Board. A handsome sum was also
raised by voluntary contributions from
private individuals. A Faculty worthy
| Of the name was elected, the buildings
repaired and the grounds put in order,
| SO that on the day appointed, every
5hing being ready, the University en-
tered upon its new career. under most
hopeful auspices.
Even in so briof recital as this, it
would be unjust to omit all acknoWl-
Gdgement Of the service rendered to
the University by Richard Cogdell
Badger, Of Wake county. The great
bCtlf III IIIO AILSI>lS VI ILLS IuSGIIltlOIl
are hostile to him in political opinion,
but they should never forget that but
for his vote Solomon Pool Guild still be
President of the University. When
the amendment to the constitution to
which the present Board of Trustees
owes its existence, was before til Leg
stature the last time the Democratic
party had not sufficient strength in that
body to give it the required constitu-
tIunai vote. And it was then that Mr..
badger and a few political friends
whom he Influenced, came forward
aud gave it their votes, thereby secur-
ing its adoption, fact that l at least
shall ever bear in grateful remcm 5rare,
no matter how much his political
course may fail to meet my approba-
| ton
Bnt the man to whom perhaps be-
You'd ali others, the University owes
It's restoration, has not been named.
Nor does he need to be named in
words. The grave that holds his NOR
tai remains, is too freshly made, the
great grief that filled the hearts of
men throughout the State at his death
is too recent not to keep before Caro-
liulans everywhere, and constantly the
virtues and the services of William
Alexander Graham.
make no apology, my dear jour
NAL, to your readers for the time and
space occupied by this lettsr. for I
feel sure there is nothing dearer to
the hearts of the people of North Car
DINA than the restoration of their Uni
versity. S.
Editorial Correspondence.