The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-02
Hnc University BiIl-Siews OF Rev. 3.
MI. smith, ID. ID.

TO the Members Of the Legislature
Gentlemen,-The University bill now be-
fore your House Of Delegates is measure
of grave importance. 1t is to be presumed
that you so regard it, and will give its pre-
visions calm and careful consideration.
While it is the privilege of every citizen to
discuss public measures, great Injustice
would be done to the motives as we'll as mat
ter Of this communication to suppose the
one arose from any atlectation Of ability to
instruct your honorable body, or the other
pretended to be q discussion, in so brief
snace, Of topic Of such extensive relations
aud such Wide-reaching influences. But a
few suggestions from source however hum
ole may not be unworthy of your Doticc.
The bill is liable to very serious objections:
1t proposes, by Il pecuniary consideration,
to attract students over eighteen years OF
age. 1t is questionable whether limitation
by age for the privilege of entering the Uni.
versity is judlcious. Boys, as rule, can
not be measured in attachments or capacity
to profit by the Instructions Of an institution
by age. Some at sixteen are better prepared
than those at twenty years of age. The best
friends of the University have for years de-
plored, the facility of admission to its balls.
In this way the lecture.roOms may be crowd
ed and the treasury replenished By the per-
! sons and money Of matr!culateS uDprepared
10 appreciate or profit by the course OF study.
Hence idle habits are forned and idle
ness" says the copy-book, is the parent of
vice and misery" The few who are able to
profit by the course and succeed have reflect
ed honor on the institution; but how few
are they compared with the hundreds who
derive no great, if any, benefits. Either
such must be the result, or the University
be taxed az heretofore to sustain instructors
10 bringing up the deficient who ought to
have been prepared before going to the iu-
stitution.
Now, a projection of age of entrance only
two years will effect but little, Parents will
be tempted to delay two years to secure the
gratuitous tuition. Indeed, in two institu-
tons Hampden.Sidney and Washington and
Lee University-it has been ascertained that
in one vast msjority-.bree fourths, perhaps
FIVE siXths-of the students are over eigh-
teen, and in the other all except those Of the
immediate vicinity.
The proposed addition of $4,000 to the
annuity will not then give hopes of securing
q more profitable result as to advancing the
educational interests of the institution or OF
the State.
2. But if the bill passes its effect will be
disastrous on the colleges. Mr.. Jeferson's
wel-considered and liberal plan for the edu-
cational institutions Of the State contemplated
the establishment OF an adequate number OF
colleges. students of which desiring COM
ple,e literary course would be prepared
to pursue 1t to the highest grade in the
University. DIR. Jefferson was about seventy
five or one hundred years ahead of his
generation. The State Government lid not
put the plan in operation. But the people have
generously done what the Government failed
to do. Since his death four colleges have
been founded, and the three then existing
greatly improved in means and efficiency.
Now this bill strikes disastrous blow at
these institutions, Besides, there are two
collegiate scientific institutions founded and
sustained by the State. l. will hardly be
pretended that the colleges, With their mode
rateiy-sized classes and competent teachers
TO drill and train boys. cannot tit them TO
enter on postgraduate course ut the Uni
versity. The faculties and friends Of two Of
tbs oldest Of these colleges already named
are most determined IN opposition 10 this bill,
as far as means for knowing their views can
be employed. How unjust to these colleges