© This work is the property of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the text
The electronic edition is a part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill digital library, Documenting the American South.
The text has been encoded using the recommendations for Level 5 of the TEI in Libraries Guidelines.
Originals are in the University Archives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Original grammar, punctuation, and spelling have been preserved.
Page images can be viewed and compared in parallel with the text.
Any hyphens occurring in line breaks have been removed, and the trailing part of a word has been joined to the preceding line.
All quotation marks, em dashes and ampersand have been transcribed as entity references.
All double right and left quotation marks are encoded as ".
All single right and left quotation marks are encoded as '.
All em dashes are encoded as —.
Indentation in lines has not been preserved.
My Memorial of the 29th ulto was read two
days ago to the Faculty by the President; and here are the very words of their
dignified reply:
"It is a shameful heap of falsehoods!"
"It is the most infamous lie that ever was uttered!"
These pretended "Falsehoods," I shall substantiate with tangible facts. These pretended "Lies," I shall corroborate by quotations from the Faculty Journal. And you, Gentlemen, will judge of the truth of my words!!!
My Memorial is made of facts, and inferences drawn from those facts. Whether my
inferences were logically and honestly drawn or not, it is to you to decide. As
to the facts, I have derived them from the Faculty Journal, the testimony of
impartial witnesses and my own experience de visu et
auditu.
To the quotations from the Faculty Journal, I shall add the dates & pages.
To the testimony of impartial witnesses, I shall subjoin the names.
To the assertions derived from my own experience, I now add the solemn oath that I believe them to be true.
And, now, Gentlemen, to the point!!
1. "A few years ago, the University of Oxford &c
&c &c."
This is simply an allegory, and with a little attention it may be easily seen
that it is not so much the
But lest you should think that my introduction is altogether a metaphorical
romance, I beg leave to refer you to the Edinburg Review for June 1831, Dec.
1831, Oct. 1834, Jan. 1835, and especially to Appendix III (d) in Sir
2. "The doors of the University of
North Carolina are flung open to all comers . . ."
Since I have been connected with the
The ordinances of 1835 permit something of the kind, but
I beg leave to quote one or two entries.
July 16th1853.
T. R. Long — Deficient inVirgil , Prosody, Two books of Anabasis, and Plane Geometry
July 15The following candidates are reviewed. Sophs:th1854. P. 247.T. S. Kenan . Deficient in Algebra,Herodotus , Georgics, Syntax and Prosody.
A simple appeal to reason will soon convince any one that a policy which suffers
the admission into college of a young man deemed and proved to be deficient in
Greek, Latin and Mathematics, that is, the three most important Departments in
the
3. "I am free to assert that idleness and
intolerable scholarship are never a cause of suspension or
dismissal."
There is not a single case on the Faculty Journal of suspension or dismissal for such cases; and indeed it would create no little stir both in the Faculty and college, if a student was summoned expressly to answer the charge of never knowing or studying his lessons. I cannot recollect a single instance.
4. "I have heard those complaints echoed and
reechoed by almost all the members of the Faculty and in regard to the same
individuals."
5. "Impunity, repeated impunity, removes all
checks, opens all sluices and hardens the most timid of
students."
Vide my Memorials in the
6. "The People, the Trustees, are not
aware and could scarcely realise to what extent disorder is suffered to
exist within the walls of the University of
North Carolina."
Did I think that they knew to what extent disorder is suffered to exist in our
recitation rooms, I would certainly never have written fifteen pages to denounce
it to the
7. "It is a matter of daily regret to the
instructors."
How often did I hear Messrs
How often did we all hear Dr.
8. "So far as I can judge from the opinion
expressed by the young men who come here from abroad, and the members of
theFaculty who have visited or been
educated in other colleges, there is not a single Institution in the land,
except ours, where students are suffered to be inattentive, talkative and
clamorous to such a degree."
Mr.
Mr.
Prof.
9. "Not a day, not a recitation hour passes, but
an outcry, a burst of ironic laughter echoes and reechoes to our most
distant groves . . . . . . ."
For a long time, I used to hear my classes in the Old Chapel, which contains four recitation rooms.
I assert that I have frequently heard very great noises in all those rooms except one.
I now hear my classes in the
I assert that I frequently hear loud tumults burst forth from the very recitation rooms in that building.
And although the words "not a day, not a recitation hour," are
too high colored, yet I do not hesitate to assert that it is not uncommon as you
enter the campus, to hear at a distance the uproar caused by the students in the
recitation rooms, during recitation hours. I have heard it, Prof.
This charge of disorder does not include Dr
10. "Does the instructor censure his class for the
impropriety of their conduct, they laugh again; does he order them to appear
before the Faculty, are they in the very presence of the Faculty, they laugh
still!"
I state that in the last four weeks, I have seen Gov. th of September, and Mr
11. "There are some recitation rooms where such
outbreaks rarely take place; I know one where no noise is ever
heard."
I regret having made this discrimination, although I believe it to be true. For a
very worthy man has become thereby the object of very unjust denials on the part
of my adversaries. I must say, that for upwards of a year, I used to hear my
classes in the room adjoining Prof.
All I can say I reply is that Prof.
12. "In the Mathematical Department for instance,
no great disturbance need be apprehended. And yet even there, we hear of
hubbubs."
Prof. th, Messrs d, and at his instance Mr th of September / 56.
13. "But let the same crowd assemble in the other
Departments; let one or two sections be thrown together and then the ordeal
commences. If you call a whole class, it is no longer a recitation room but
a circus!"
I ask permission to cite a single instance, which perhaps never would have been officially known, but for the insidious question "Doctor, what was the matter in your room the other day?"
The whole Junior class had, a few weeks ago, to attend Dr
Messrs r
At last the noise became so intense, that Dr
This is what I call a circus.
I was not present, but obtained those details from truthful students who saw the performance. I hold their names at your disposal. I also heard some members of the Faculty speak of it.
14. "Let the President himself venture to adress
all the classes in the Chapel; it matters little whether his remarks are
useful and well-worded; it matters little whether he be the first officer of
the Institution, a man of note, a man
of age; it matters little whether they are in a consecrated place, a place
of public worship; in three cases out of four, they laugh, stamp and almost
drown his voice."
Most of my recitations are in the morning, — so that I am required to attend prayers only three evenings in the week. And I donot hesitate to state again that so far as my experience goes, when the Governor addresses the classes there, in three cases out of four, the students laugh and stamp.
15. "The glory of the Institution does not consist in . . . having a
library without books."
The history of our College Library for the last thirty years — I
should have said "Ball room," for there exists a great deal of
doubt concerning which of those two names actually belongs to the building, is
really a very curious chapter in the Library history of the
16. "and $200 000 in Bank and Railroad
stocks."
It should be only $100 000, Gov.
|
$100.000 | Bank Stock | |
10.000 | | Va "|
8.000 | | N.C. "|
| 22.000Bonds | |
150.000 | | Aug./55.
17. "I find on the Faculty Journal for the last
collegiate year (from July 55 — to July 56) from fifty five to
sixty summons for irregularity of conduct in the recitation
room."
A mere glance at the Journal will soon convince you whether that is true or not.
18. "Some of the delinquents actually appearing
for the Eleventh and Fifteenth time!!"
I leave out those which are omitted on the Journal of the Faculty.
If it be in order, I beg leave to add Mr
and to-day again.
19. Out of these Fifty five, Four were sent home. There is
no doubt of their having been part and parcel of an association called the
"Pente."
No one denies that.
20 They had been before the Faculty several times
21. "They were all four reinstated a short time
afterwards."
They were dismissed May 9th, their petition was granted on
the 16th following, to take effect at the beginning of the
ensuing session.
22 "Now mark the effect. One had scarcely returned
when the Faculty had to suspend him again for repeated disobedience and
disorder"
23. "Another, after appearing under the charge of
being publicly intoxicated."
26. "The third has been admonished several times
for the same offence."
27. "The fourth for a gross exposure of his
person"
Mr. charge was made by Gov. th 56.
The Journal does not specify it.
28. "And I am sorry to say, for having been absent
from college duties upwards of thirty times in the very first month of his
reinstatement."
Gov.
Here is the Journal.
Monday. Aug. 25. P. 44.
"The following students were called and admonished
on account of their numerous absences from prayers and recitation during the first five weeks of the term. viz: Messrs. H. L. S. T. &c. The Secretary was instructed to write to . . . Also it was resolved that the father of MrWilliams (Sophomore)A. and the guardian of MrWilliams be notified that without a prompt reformation in the habits of those young men, they should be dismissed from theInstitution ."
I took pains to ascertain the precise number of instances, but did not succeed,
although I put the question to Gov.
The Common Law of college, and such as it has been enforced since I have been
here, renders the students liable to an admonition and perhaps a letter to the
parents, if they miss one third of the college
duties. No one can deny that. Now, there are in one month 52 attendances to
prayers, 4. Chapels and 60 recitations. In all 116. th of August
following; and admonished and his Guardian written to
" on account of his frequent absences from
recitations and prayers, says the Journal. How else could I infer but
he had been absent upwards of thirty times? It is not much more than one fourth instead of one
third of the college duties during that time!!!
29. "When the stranger, the uninitiated one,
enquires and wonders at such a strange and unaccountable leniency, he is
politely told by the older members of the Faculty
"You donot understand it; that is the way we
always did manage to get along; it is a good policy, it keeps the young men
here, and after all they are gradually improving."
And here Gentlemen, it is with anguish that I see myself at variance with a man
whom I have always respected and cherished. A man who notwithstanding forty
months of deference and affection, did not hesitate to brand me with the name of
"infamous liar!" I had to come to
Dr
30 "However, not very long since, our students
burnt one of the Professors in effigy, amidst the reels and stamping of
three hundred and fifty young men, dancing by the glare of the funeral pile,
to the music of their own yells and vociferations!"
It was Prof. th and 10th
of October 1855.
The fact itself is unquestionable. I apprehend, however, that I may have
committed a lapsus permae, in giving the number of
students. For instead of 350, I understand there were only 330 on the Hill; and
it is barely possible they should all have been engaged in the riot. I have
heard it cited as one of the most formidable disturbances ever known here; and
Tutor
31. "How was it in the days of D r
Caldwell". . .
In this instance, I have followed the tradition; and if the galaxy I have cited does not suffice, I beg leave to appeal to your memory = for you also, Gentlemen, have been the pupils of that worthy man.
32. "The evil could be easily checked. We possess
ordinances which, if fully enforced would soon remove all
obstacles."
A meeting was called during the last vacation, and a committee appointed
"to report what new regulations should be adopted to promote order and
decorum of manners "in the
I moved the addition to the committee of Messrs Uniformity of
action being in my opinion the great desideratum in such matters. They
reported that no new rules, but that "those which we already possess
should be thoroughly enforced." The behaviour of the students in the
Chapel being really scandalous, the Committee also reported that they should be
seriously warned in regard to their conduct in a place of public worship. The
students fancied that we were in earnest, and the noise subsided at once. Had
the same unanimity of action prevailed in reference to the Recitation rooms, I
would not be to-day before you as a petitioner for redress, and neither students
nor professors, neither Doctor of Laws nor Doctor of Divinity would have had the
long sought opportunity to heap upon me imprecations and insults which I can
never forget!!!
P.S. My introductory remarks are intended for an allegory; and I think it requires but little ingenuity to all that it is
not so much the OxfordNo CarolinaKey. I
desire you, however, not to mention it to the
1. Q "The number of students was rapidly increasing"
R See our tables of matriculates since 1850.
Q. "Districts which usually sent their young men to be educated in other
institutions now directed their steps toward
R. Students now flock to 30.
Q "The old chairs were being filled up."
R. The chair of French is coeval with the foundation of the
Q. "New Professorships established"
R. Engineering, Agriculture Chemistry
Q. "The endowment had been increased."
R. The escheats were restored to us by the last
Q. "Most of the salaries raised."
R. All, except mine, as late as last year.
Q. The dilapidated buildings pulled down
R. "The old
Q "and new, spacious halls erected in their place."
R. "The Assembly Rooms.
Q. and
R. "Notwithstanding this annual appropriation made by the Trustees and
the repeated demands of the Faculty — no books have been purchased
for the Coll. Library in the last Thirty years! Last
session, I believe, two members of the faculty purchased about $300
worth on their own respectability, saying that they would pay for them if the
Q "And no name at all."
R. There are constant wranglings whether the "The Ball Room."
Q. "All seemed to thrive and florish under the enlightened
administration of the Lord Rector"
R. I make use of the words "Lord Rector," although I am aware
that they have neither Rectors nor Curators at
The rest is chiefly a mere anticipation of and a modest
pointing out, towards what I deem just and likely. But as I wish the
allegory is
not altogether lame I refer them in the Key, to publications which are easy of
access.