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[ Apr. 18, 1860 ]
{text obscured} their numerical marks. It is a {text obscured} objection to this system that it engenders and perpet{text obscured: ua?}tes feelings of resentment on the part of disappointed students towards the Professors. This difficulty must needs is encountered at the final examinations for the honors of the institution, but it would require a large amount of offsetting benefit to justify the use of a system which multiplies & daily answers the occasions of a conflict of opinions between the teachers & his pupils. Its admitted success in military schools, where it is in harmony with the whole system of military discipline, is, I think, no argument for its introduction into other schools of learning under civil administration.
(4). I see no objection to the proposed feature relating to lectures on special topics by eminent non-residents & extra-official savans, provided the privilege of attending such lectures be confined to a qualified class of students whether undergraduates or {illegible struckthrough} preferably resident graduates & fellows. The less advanced students should not be encouraged to run after novelties from either wayward caprice or from a vague hope of finding more agreeable studies with nice slender requirements of labor on their part.
(5). Your scheme seems to me to embrace too many schools. I would not elevate to the dignity of a full Professorship any one of the living languages. Their literature, history & philosophy might constitute a sufficiently important curriculum of one chair but the languages would be {illegible: hit? not?} {illegible} {illegible: to?} very small classes by licentiates & assistant teachers.
The 24th school, that of Political Science &c might be merged into the Law Department. With us the lectures on Constitutional Law have even been a source of discord
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away the friends of the institution. When {rest of sentence missing} happens to be a strict constructionist {rest of sentence missing} with or without reason of inculcating {rest of sentence missing} on that side. If {illegible} {illegible} {illegible: of?} {illegible} {or these are actually struckthrough} a whig he is suspected of latitudinarian views & the {illegible: ruling?} democratic party {illegible: assail?} him & the University. The Professors, whether inclining to one side or the other, have always striven to escape this {illegible: insidious?} criticism by carefully avoiding any expression of their own opinions and giving the argument on both sides of controvertial questions, but all to no purpose. We have failed in our recent application to the Legislature for pecuniary aid on the ground of Prof. Holcombe's alleged political bias in favor of extreme Southern views, while in point of fact, he has been exceedingly cautious & prudent. In view of this state of things I am satisfied that we should do better to have constitutional law omitted altogether. Our young men are sufficiently disposed to read on that subject without the stimulus of academic rewards.
(6). One of the statutes prescribes that "all questions of discipline in the University shall be adjudged by the Hebdomadal Board according to the laws and ordinances of the University." It is no where prescribed how these questions may be brought before the Board. With us the Chairman of the Faculty alone has the authority to bring a case before the Faculty. In his discretion he may withhold any case from the Faculty. I believe this to be a good rule, but to guard against abuse I would prescribe that the Vice-Chancellor should on the demand {illegible struckthrough} of the Hebdomadal Board or a majority of a {illegible: quorum?} thereof, be required to state his reasons for withholding any given case from the Board.
In the connection I would observe that in my judgment
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{text is missing} in the mentality {illegible: for? from?} {text is missing} {illegible} {text is missing} discipline is occas{rest of text is missing} a frequent {illegible; also missing text}, not by printed formal circulars but by special written letters, between the Vice-Chancellor and the parents or guardians of students of doubtful or suspicious character & habits.
(7). Am I to understand that every student will be required to attend the School of Moral Science & the Evidences of the Christian Religion as often as he matriculates, or is there {missing text?} {illegible} but one matriculation the privileges & obligations with {illegible} to which will extend over the whole period of a student's connection with the University? Will you require your youngest students, who matriculate for the purpose of studying first the Ancient Languages and Mathematics, to attend lectures on Moral Science at their first session ? If so I venture to suggest a doubt as to the expediency of the measure. For the less matured student I would prefer Bible lessons with suitable illustrations.
With an earnest prayer that your zealous efforts for the educational and general literary improvements of the South may be crowned with abundant success and {illegible} to the glory of God, I am,
with the highest respect
Your obed't serv't
J. L. Cabell
Bishop Polk
New Orleans.
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POLK Letters: April 23, 1860
1860, April 23
Col. Barney to Bishop Polk, re: expenditures and work done at University Place; land grants; his great surprise to hear from Bishop Otey that a town had been laid off adjoining the University lands, to be called Beulah, and that an agent with a plat is engaged in selling lots on it; a visitation from the agent, the Rev. Mr. Lawson, and setting him right in telling him that this could not be with connection with the University lands until certain arrangements were made; discussion about the turnpike charter. 2 pp.
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Bishop Polk
N. O.
Apr 23d 60
Col. Barney to Bh. Polk
My last letter to you was on the 12th March {struckthrough: with which} where I {struckthrough: sent} enclosed to you an acc't Currt, and several statements exhibiting all the expenditures, and work done up to that period, which I hope have been received and found satisfactory A few days after sending them I rec'd your favor of the 8th {struckthrough: inst} March, and was gratified to hear that the course I had taken with regard to the Thompson claim, and in stopping work & expenditures, met with your approval I was considerably revived by the all conquering spirit with which you animate me to meet the thick array of hindrances that prevent your glorious enterprize from having a firm footing and a local habitation on this chosen spot, but it requires more philosophy and christian forbearance than I can command to witness quietly & unmoved, the low plotting & counter plotting the mean trickery, bitterness & {struckthrough: selfishness} shortsighted selfish ness of this faithless community.
The Court has confirmed the report of the Com'rs who have laid off the Estill interest outlier of the Sewanee grant to the Un. As I {struckthrough: supposed} have always understood that the heirs of age were to give to the University their 1/3 interest in{underlined} the 5000 acre grant, or its equivalent outlier of the grant, less the Minors' interest, I took some pains, when the Com'rs were here, to lay off their portion advantageously to the University, under the idea it would be conveyed by them to the University, but I now understand from Mr. Colyar that it will not be done, and the University is to get nothing from them. This is rather a serious matter as our Eastern bounds will thereby be subjected to some considerable disadvantages at several points.
I was very much surprised to hear from Bishop Otey, some days since at Winchester, that a town called Beula had been laid off adjoining the University lands, and that an agent with a plat was engaged