The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-02-25
The Colleges.
We are pleased to find in the Petersburg
appeal the following paragraph:
4 10 do in no Of 70

We are pleased to find in the Petersburg
Appeal the following paragraph:
"whatever may be done in the way of re-
adjusting our State debt. we think our in
siitutions OF learning ought TO be saved
from loss by excepting the bonds they hold
from the scaling provided for in the settle
ment. We do not suppose our RCadiuster
friends wish 10 make war on our educa-
fionai institutions. The funds which were
invested in State bonds by our colleges
were contributed by citizens Of Virginia.
so that TO mar these college endowments is
in effect to as sail the public-spirited benev-
olence Of our people. Let II be understood,
then, clearly and unmistakably, that The
bonds now held bv Virginia educational
institutions shall be fully paid. and the in
terest promptly met. And while the settle
ment is pending let the interest on such
bonds be paid as it falls due. Let not our
State-debt agitation cripple our educational
institutions. In Tennessee, the State bonds
held by educational institutions constituted
preferred claim, and the interest on such
bonds was always paid, although the State
failed TO pay interest on other bonds. Since
the RoaHusters seem anxious to follow the
example Of Tennessee, let them follow that
example in this particular"
The money due TO the colleges rs interest
ought certainly to be paid. We dislike TO
advocate the pay ment OF any one class OF
claims when we know so well that the State
is abundantly able to pay all her debts, and
that she should pay them ALL Nevertheless,
the case OF the colleges is a peculiar one.
As a speculation, the University of Virgil
MIA has been good investment on the part
OF the State. The few thousand dollars
given annually TO that institution out OF the
State treasury have been the means OF bring
ing into the Commonwealth annually say
a hundred thousand dollars. The man
who could so lay out his money as to
secure such return as that would be
counted fortunate; and the state of VT-
ginia may count herself fortunate in re-
speet OF the matter we are discussing.
As with the University so in greater ar
less degree it is with all the colleges in the
State. They attract students from other
States. The money paid 10 the colleges in
the shape Of interest goes directly back int
the pockets OF the taxpayers. None of Ii
Is sent outside Of Virginia. There is ue
diminutiOn OF the resources OF the Com
mOnwealth effected by that sort of opera
ton. The very meat and bread OF some OF
the professors may depend upon the receim
OF what the State owes to the colleges in
the form of interest upon bonds owned by
them. at will not require hundred
thousand dollars to pay all the interest
due to all the institutions of learning
In the State; and as VI have intlmated,
the annual outlay Of one hundred
thousand dollars IN the taanner spoken Of
attracts to those institutions students from
other States who and whose visiting friends
expend within our bordeys hundreds Of
thousands of dollars every year. Don't
close our colleges. Don't ,Grlve back to
their homes al those gallant and liberal
young fellows whom the fame Of those in
stitutions has drawn bither from almost
every State in the Union.