The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-04-01
WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY.
Editors OF the Register:

Editors OIL the heSlster'
The West Virginia University is en-
bowed by the United States, and support
ed by West Virginia for the benefit of all
her citizeus. 1t is not intended to SUBJ
seve the interests of any one church, or
any one party. 1t does not belong to
the Republicans or Democrats. 1t is not
the property of the Methodist church or
any other church. 1t belongs to the
people of West Virginia.
The marked distinction between the
University itself and the men who con-
troll it at any particular time should not
be overlooked. The failure to recognize
this truth has led some of the newspapers
of the State to seem hostile to the institu-
ton, when. perhaps, they were hostile
only to some OF the present Regents.
For instance, the State Journal of the
ODD inst, contains these words: "The
West Virginia NJ. 4. Conference per-
formed good deed last week in rofus.
ing, by an emphatic vote, to endorse or
recommend the West Virginia Univer-
sity. The partisan Board OF Regents
made their own bed when they turned
President Martin adrift Now let them
lilo on it," But when Rev. MIR. Steele
said, in the late Conference held at
| Wheeling, in relation to DR.. Martin, that
"the Board of Regents had removed him.
DR.. Martin standing on the floor OF that
BODY, replied that "Brother Steele had
somewhat Inexperienced the circum-
stances otthe case. He perceived that the
Regents were inimical t. the institution,
and therefore resigned his position =
The last straw, he said, was a determi-
nation of the Regents to elect professors
yearly. This would lower the professors
and he would not put up with it,"
The Jowaal, therefore, seems to be
mistaken in saying that the "Regents
turned President Martin adriit," for DR..
Martin says he resigned. If he resigned
the Regents die not turn him adrift. The
Regents are appointed to manage the
affairs of the University, and if he did
not approve of their management he had
right to resign, and he says he did re-
sign. According to his own
showing, therefore, the Regents,
as to this thing, did him
no wrong. They may manage the in
stitution IS they deem proper, and when
their action displeases any one of their
appointees he may decline to conform
and resign. This is what Or. Martin
says he did. OF what then, has he, or
the Conference to which he then belong
ed, to complain? He says he resigned
his position. Why then complain of
Regents? Let censure fall where cen
| sure lies.
The Journa! further says: The Re-
gents male their own bed-now let them
lie in it." Expressed differently, these
words mean, "let them bear the conse-
quences they did the wrong" But the
Regents do not lie in the bed they make;
they do not suffer the consequences of
their official wrongs. When they make
a mistake the University suffers. Now,
il, as the Journal seems to imply, they
made mistake in the premises why
shall not the Journal, together with ether
newspapers try to remedy that VIZ ong?
Will any paper, or any party, or any
church, rejoice when the University be-.
Ion ging to them all in common has re.
ceived aay detriment? VIII q man
strike his benefsctor or-seen glad whom
another does so2 Is 49, =,
The University affords every facility
for thorough instruction, and sound
scholarship in ancient and modern Ian
guages, the sciences and the higher ma.
themstics. No man need leave this
State TO obtain instruction in any of the
studies taught in colleges. The opportupi-
ties afforded BY the university are eousl 10
the best in the land. In addition to the
higher branches, WHICH are taught in the
college proper. The Regents have pro-
vided preparatory department. which
il intended not only to prepare young
men for the college departments, but also
like the old fashioned academy, to furnish
such instructions as may be Called for to
all corners, who may desire either to
take short and limited course, or to fit
themselves for the higher grades otteach
ing, clerking, or other special,ies.
1t is a little puzEling to understand
how the people or any part Of them can
present well-founded objection to
such IN institution. Captious or
ffivolrous objections may be made to any
good, but + have veto hear the frst good
-.~.e-, -, II tba v>aoNla nf (E a.& WI,