Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1897-08-26
THE ARGUS.
DAILY AND WEEKLY.


politics, has an interesting and in
structive editorial in its issue of
Thursday, on a precedent fer the
Brown University Trustees, in
which it says: "The Trustees of
Brown University are not, per
haps, aware that in restraining
President Andrews from ex
pounding the 16 to l silver heresy
in that institution they are fol
lowing a precedent set by two
illustrious Presidents of the
United States, Thomas Jefferson
and James Madison, when these
two statesmen were members of
the Board of Trustees of the
University of Virginia. This fact
Is shown by the subjoined extract
from a letter written by Jefferson
in 1925:
SIN most public seminaries text
books r prescribed to each Of
the several schools as the norma
docendi in that school: and this Is
generally done by authority Of
the trustees. l should not propose
this generally in u university,
because l believe none of US are SO
much at the heights of science in
the several branches as to undere
take this, and therefore il will be
better left to the professors until
occasion of interference shall be
gwen. But there is one branch in
which we r. the best judges, in
which heresies may be taught of
SO interesting q character to our
State and to the United States as
to make it a duty in us to lay
down the principles which are to
be taught. 1t is that of govern
ment.
"Mr. GiImer being withdrawn,
we know not who his successor
may be, a Richmond lawyer, or
one of that school of quondam
federation, now consolidation. 1t
is our duty to guard against such
principles being disseminated
among our youth, and the ditfu-
sion of that poison, by a previous
prescription of the texts to be
followed in their discourses. |
therefore inclose you a resolution
which 1 think of proposing at our
next meeting, strictly confiding it
to your own knowledge and to
that of Mr., Loyal, to whom you
may communicate it, rs I am sure
it will harmonic with his prin-
ciples. = [ have communi-
Gated it to Mr.. Madison"
The resolution TO which refer
ence is made enumerated the text
books and documents, such as the
Virginia Resolutions, that were
to be studied in the university.
Madison added to the list and
observed that, 'Fafter all, the
most effectual safeguard against
heretical intrusions into the school
of politices will be an able and
orthodox professor, whose curse
of instruction will be an example
to his successors, and may carry
with it a sanction from the visit
ors."
On the kindred studies of Law
and history, Jefferson had equal.
ly positive opinions regarding
the text books that should be
used in the university of which
he was the father. In the former
branch he condemned the .'Eug%
land" of Hume as "having done
more to sap the free principles
of the English Constitution than
the largest standing army of
which their patriots have been
so Jealous" and the study OF
which has made an easy step to
American toryism." In law. he
reprobated the honeyed Mans
fieldism Of Blackstone" which
was producing "a brood of Tory
lawyers, who no longer know
what whiggism or republicanism
means" adding that sit is in our
university that the vestal fame
is TO be kept alive; it is thence it
is to be spread anew over our
own and the sister States"
Jefferson, it is true. has been
censured by some modern critics
for having in his patriotic ardor
placed Limitations on political
SCIENCE" but his fundamental
principle was that American
young men should receive Ameris
can training in the duties of citi-
zenship. His central idea in the
higher education was ito form
the statesmen, legislators. and
judges, on whom public pros
perity and individual happiness
are SO much to depend; to ex-
pound the principles and struc-
ture of government, the laws
which regulate the intercourse
of nations, those formed munich
pally for our government, and a
sound spirit of legislation, which.
banishing all unnecessary rel
straint on individual action, shall
leave US free to do whatever does
not violate the equal rights of
From every point Of
view these ideas IRE as sound to-
day as when they were written,
and if there be one institution in
-Is-l IN Il