II.

A STATE SHOULD HAVE A UNIVERSITY.

It was a cherished conviction of Thomas Jefferson's that in a Commonwealth provision should be made for universities wisely suited to modern times, no less truly than for primary schools. As President of the United States he signed bills making large appropriations of land for the exclusive benefit of academies, seminaries and colleges. To Washington, who had in view the devoting of a quite large amount of money to the founding, or to the support of, institutions of learning, Jefferson wrote a letter on Feb. 23rd, 1795, in which he laid before him a plan for the transferring of a great European college to the national Capital. All the professors of the celebrated College of Geneva-an institution which after exerting a wide influence in Europe was temporarily suppressed during the French Revolution-wished to transplant the college to America. In this letter* Jefferson characterized the College of Geneva as one of the eyes of Europe, the University of Edinburgh being the other.

In the year 1783, Jefferson, although bowed with grief owing to the recent death of his wife, had with others endeavored to established a grammar school in Albemarle county, Virginia. A charter was obtained for this acad emy, in the year 1803, but it can hardly be said to have been fairly founded until the year 1814. In that year

*"Washington's Works," vol. xi., p. 473.

friends of education held a meeting and Jefferson, who was present, was elected one of the trustees of Albemarle academy." At another meeting Jefferson was appointed a member of a committee to draught a petition to the Assembly of Virginia requesting that Virginia appropriate certain public lands in Albemarle county for the support of the institution. This he accordingly did, and also prayed the Legislature of Virginia to make a yearly appropriation of money for the support of this proposed seat of learning. He also requested that the institution should be allowed to call itself "Central College." The Assembly of Virginia granted only a part of the petition; but, Central College came into life with a Board of Managers which included James Monroe, who was at the time President of the United States, ExPresidents Jefferson and Madison, and Joseph C. Cabell who when Governor of Virginia-as Monroe when Governor before him had done-had encouraged the people to establish a good school system for the State. Jefferson and Madison and Monroe, although they could very ill afford to do so, gave each a thousand dollars to the infant institution. Six other gentlemen gave each a thousand dollars to the college and other friends gave smaller amounts. Towards the college thirty-five thousand dollars was subscribed and money was raised by other means than by subscription.

In a communication to the Legislature of Virginia, dated Jan. 6th, 1818,—written by Jefferson and signed by Madison and Monroe and Cabell and by Jefferson and two other officers of Central College,-the college was offered as a gift to the State of Virginia, providing the State would convert the college into a university. In this communication Jefferson pointed out that to found a university would require "funds far beyond what can be

expected from individual contributions: "-funds for which, he added, "the revenues at the command of the Legislature would alone be adequate." He then continued: "And we are happy to see, that among the cares for the general good, which their station and the confidence of their fellow-citizens have made incumbent on them, this great political and moral want has not been overlooked. By a bill of the last session, passed by one branch, and printed by the other for public consideration, a disposition appears to go into a system of general education, of which a single University for the use of the whole State is to be a component part. A purpose so auspicious to the future destinies of our country, which would bring such a mass of mind into activity for its welfare, cannot be contemplated without kindling the warmest affection for the land of our birth, with an animating prospect into its future history. Well directed education improves the morals, enlarges the minds, enlightens the councils, instructs the industry, and advances the power, the prosperity, and the happiness of the nation. But it is not for us to suggest the high considerations, which their peculiar situation will naturally present to the minds of our law-givers, encouraging a pursuit of such incalculable effect; nor would it be within the limits of our dutiful respect to them to add reasonings or inducements to their better understanding of what will be wise and profitable to our country." The suggestion of the aged Jefferson and of his distinguished colleagues was adopted by the Legislature and thus was born" The University of Virginia." The Assembly did not act, however, before engaging in an earnest debate. It appointed Jefferson and Madison, and some other gentlemen, members of a Commission to report to

* " Early History of the University of Virginia." J. W. Randolph, Richmond, Va., 1856, pp. 402-3.

it a suitable location for the State University. Jefferson, as Chairman of the Commission, made a long and valua. ble report, in which he spoke of the benefits which a republic derives from establishing primary schools and institutions of different grades of learning. In this very able report he said: "The Commissioners were first to consider at what point it was understood that university education should commence." He then continued: "Certainly not with the alphabet, for reasons of expediency and impracticability, as well from the obvious sense of the Legislature." He then pointed out with great ability the high objects which the different grades of education were to subserve and the grand and beneficent results which a nation would reap from a good school system. The grammar schools or colleges, which he characterized as "institutions intermediate between the primary schools and University," he called "the passage of entrance for youths into the university." He sketched an outline of the studies which might be pursued with advantage in the different grades of institutions, and pointed out the great and peculiar benefits which each of the grades of learning. would be instrumental in bestowing upon a people. In this long and singularly able report, he presented reasons for erecting the university in the centre of the Commonwealth on the site occupied by Central College. In the Legislature of Virginia Cabell held with Jefferson that the best interests of the cause of intellectual culture in Virginia would be subserved by erecting the buildings which were to be dedicated to learning, near to Charlotteville, which was near the home of Jefferson, and he labored with great ability to induce the Legislature to agree upon the proposed site. As the vote was being taken members of the Assembly spoke with warm eloquence. Judge Briscoe G. Baldwin, a member of the opposition to Cabell,

withdrew his objections, and: "In the name of Virginia, in the name of the dear land of his nativity, by that proud and dignified character which she had always borne," he conjured the members to "unite in the vote for the university. Great in arms," he declared, "great in character, she requires only to be great in science. Let us raise,” he continued, “a pillar of fire to conduct her footsteps. If we make a retrogade movement now, if having accumulated a fund for education we refuse to appropriate it in this honorable way, we may, with the old Castilian, live to blush for our country. Let us, then, unite; let us do our duty. He shall have lived to little purpose who does not know that in political matters delay breeds danger. There is a tide in the affairs of nations as of men. Let us, then, all unite―let us erect a temple in which our youths may assemble in honor of science. Virginia! dear land of my birth! protectress of my rights! to thy glory let us consecrate the present hour!" Cabell in a letter to Jefferson, under date of Jan. 18th, 1819, speaking of this debate said: "Having left the House before the critical vote on the site, to avoid the shock of feeling, which I should have been compelled to sustain, I did not hear Mr. Baldwin. But I am told the scene was truly affecting. A great part of the House was in tears; and on the rising of the House, the Eastern members hovered around Mr. Baldwin; some shook him by the hand: others solicited an introduction. Such magnanimity in a defeated adversary excited universal applause."

At the first meeting of the Board of Visitors, Jefferson was requested to become the Rector of the University. He consented to do so. He himself drew the plans for the edifices which were to be arranged in a parallelogram and connected with each other by piazzas. Each of the

* Ibid., p. 150.