Joseph C. Cabell: Notes on the University Bill
Site of the University. Mode of
Center of Territory will be spoken of. It If this were a proper criterion, it shd certainly be the center of the habitable territory. If the immense tracts of barren mountains beyond the Ridge be thrown out of view, as they might the center of territory wd probably fall on this side of the Ridge. The Bill of the Session of 1816.17. will probably be spoken of as referring to the Center of geographical center of the Commonwealth. That bill was hurried thro’ the H. of Delegates late in the Session & was rejected in the Senate. Its numerous details were not examined in the Senate, & even that portion of the Senate that voted for it, would only do so with a suspending clause. that amounted to almost to suspended all its provisions except that relating to the Board of public instruction which it proposed to establish. The language of the Bill as to the site of the University passed unobserved. The words of the University bill which did pass at the last session, so far as respected the site, were “convenient & proper.”
The Board of Commissioners at Rockfish gap speak say Charlottesville is nearest to the Center of white population. They do not annex to their reports any documentary proofs. The onus probandi lies on the opposite party; as to Charlottesville not being nearest the Center.
National education—established—in New England, Scotland, Holland—Geneva1—Prussia & Sweden—Its effects in all those countries remarkably beneficial.
Objection to the system—Govt shd not interfere with but leave it to itself.
Adam Smith admits that Parish Schools ought to be established by Govt with teachers depending partly on fixed salaries but principally on fees of tuition, which is the system proposed for the Professors of the proposed University.
Smith even proposes little little rewards or bounties to stimulate the scholars—and to force the people to learn the element of education in these schools, he thinks that all persons who do not shd be denied the privileges of British Corporations. So that here he proposes a two fold departure from the his general principle of leaving things to their own level.
mr Giles concurs with Adam Smith in his general principle but excepts [. . .] Col Academies, Colleges & Universities, on the ground that Governmt must do for the people what they cannot do for themselves.
The Edinburgh Review 32 concurs in the Genl Principle, but admits the propriety of Governmt doing something to introduce a new system, like that of Lancaster. So that the exceptions cover the whole ground.
American Authorities for the interference of Govt. All the Presidents of the U.S. have recommended the interference of the Fedl Govt in the establishmt of an University—All our Governors of Va from the time of Monroe to the Present Govr have recommended to the interference of the State Govt in the establishmt of literary institutions of one sort or another.
Allmost all the The enlightened part of Society generally concurred in these recommendations.
Three successive Houses of Delegates have voted for such measures—viz at Sessns 1815.16—1817.18—1818.9.—
Doct: Franklin accepted the office of Prest of the University of Pennsylvania, after he had been Minister in France.
University—objections to them in Europe. Bacon objected to those of his time but they were under the Govt of Euro Bigots. Bacon recommends a University on an improved plan in his celebrated Nova Atlantis. Universities in Europe are almost all on the old defective plan adopted many centuries back.2 Geneva with a small spot of territory & a few thousand inhabitants, has by means of her enlightened men reared in her university, become as it were the arbitress of intellectual Europe.
Col: Monroe’s beautiful idea.
University—one never established by individual enterprize. Academies of Science or Philosophical Societies are improperly confounded with Universities. Academies of Science are numerous began in Europe abt the middle of the 17th Century, & are now numerous. These are generally voluntary associations. But & can exist without public patronage. They hold only occasional meetings like Agl Societies, to receive & publish memoirs. B The members have other vocations. But Universities are for the purpose of instruction the the professors ought to have no other vocation: and the great expence of Libraries apparatus, Ph observatories, buildings &. can only be borne by Govt—Mr Giles’s principle here applies that Govt must do that for the people which they cannot do for themselves.