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642 Colleges—Beginnings, 1790-1840.
were held in some of the western counties, at which it was almost
unanimously resolved, that it was highly expedient that another Uni-versity
should be established in this State: And it was further re-solved,
that, in order to effect so desirable an object, a petition should
be presented to the next General Assembly, requesting the aid of that
honorable body to carry our scheme into complete effect. We almost
confidently anticipate the co-operation and liberality of the Legislature
in our contemplated University. We feel a double assurance in asking
legislative aid for so laudable an object, when we reflect on their liberal-ity
in encouraging a celebrated artist of Genoa. It is well known to
us all, that our legislature appropriated $10,000 for the purchase and
embellishment of a block of marble ! ISTow, the inquiry of every intelli-gent
person will be this, whether this marble can possibly, in any point
of view, be of as much benefit to the rising generation of the state,
as if the same sum for which it was purchased had been appropriated
for the encouragement of literature? But we have the example of
many nations, barbarous as well as civilized, who have almost univer-sally
erected statues and monuments, to perpetuate the memory of
their warriors and statesmen to distant generations. Many of their
heroes were canonized as saints, and worshipped as demi-gods! Some
remains of monuments and statues have survived the iron hand of
time; and when we contemplate on the design in erecting them, it is
impossible to view them in any other light than as monuments of
human folly.
The memory of General Washington is engraven on the heart of
every patriot in the American Union. His name stands conspicuous
on the American records; and will, without doubt, be transmitted to
posterity as a pattern of public virtue. Notwithstanding the high esti-mation
in which we view the exalted statesman and warrior, whose
name has just been mentioned, (whose memory we will ever reverence,)
we do not, by any means, believe that we can add another laurel to
decorate his brow, if we would annually add an additional statue to
the group already furnished.
We do not, by any means, design to derogate from the merits of our
Legislators, nor do we intend to rush upon the statues and monuments
which have been erected, like Don Quixote's attack upon the wind-mill—
no, this is not our design. But we feel ourselves constrained
to acknowledge that we feel a deeper interest for the prosperity of the
rising generation of our country, than for all the statues and monu-ments
the world ever knew.—We aim at the reality, and not the shadow.
We hope to be pardoned for this digression from our original design
in dictating this essay. The only object of which is to ask of the
Legislature their aid to enable us to establish a respectable Seat of
Learning in some one of the Western counties.
Upon the whole, we feel well assured that the Legislature will afford
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| Title | Page 698 |
| Full Text | 642 Colleges—Beginnings, 1790-1840. were held in some of the western counties, at which it was almost unanimously resolved, that it was highly expedient that another Uni-versity should be established in this State: And it was further re-solved, that, in order to effect so desirable an object, a petition should be presented to the next General Assembly, requesting the aid of that honorable body to carry our scheme into complete effect. We almost confidently anticipate the co-operation and liberality of the Legislature in our contemplated University. We feel a double assurance in asking legislative aid for so laudable an object, when we reflect on their liberal-ity in encouraging a celebrated artist of Genoa. It is well known to us all, that our legislature appropriated $10,000 for the purchase and embellishment of a block of marble ! ISTow, the inquiry of every intelli-gent person will be this, whether this marble can possibly, in any point of view, be of as much benefit to the rising generation of the state, as if the same sum for which it was purchased had been appropriated for the encouragement of literature? But we have the example of many nations, barbarous as well as civilized, who have almost univer-sally erected statues and monuments, to perpetuate the memory of their warriors and statesmen to distant generations. Many of their heroes were canonized as saints, and worshipped as demi-gods! Some remains of monuments and statues have survived the iron hand of time; and when we contemplate on the design in erecting them, it is impossible to view them in any other light than as monuments of human folly. The memory of General Washington is engraven on the heart of every patriot in the American Union. His name stands conspicuous on the American records; and will, without doubt, be transmitted to posterity as a pattern of public virtue. Notwithstanding the high esti-mation in which we view the exalted statesman and warrior, whose name has just been mentioned, (whose memory we will ever reverence,) we do not, by any means, believe that we can add another laurel to decorate his brow, if we would annually add an additional statue to the group already furnished. We do not, by any means, design to derogate from the merits of our Legislators, nor do we intend to rush upon the statues and monuments which have been erected, like Don Quixote's attack upon the wind-mill— no, this is not our design. But we feel ourselves constrained to acknowledge that we feel a deeper interest for the prosperity of the rising generation of our country, than for all the statues and monu-ments the world ever knew.—We aim at the reality, and not the shadow. We hope to be pardoned for this digression from our original design in dictating this essay. The only object of which is to ask of the Legislature their aid to enable us to establish a respectable Seat of Learning in some one of the Western counties. Upon the whole, we feel well assured that the Legislature will afford |
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