University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER III

THE CENTRAL COLLEGE BECOMES THE UNIVERSITY
OF VIRGINIA

The Literary Fund was increased to a large sum
by the proceeds of the debt due from the General
Government for money advanced by Virginia for
the national defense in the war of 1812. The State
now had the means of doing something really significant
for popular education, and the president and
directors of the fund were required to report a plan
for a university to the General Assembly at its session
of 1816-17.

Behind the movement for a university was the
sentiment aroused and enlightened by Jefferson's
efforts for popular education, which had been sustained
for more than forty years, but Cabell saw
other and adverse influences at work, and warned
his friend: "You will see the Lexington and
Staunton interests striving to draw it [the university]
away from Albemarle, and the whole western
delegation threaten to divide the State unless
this institution should be placed beyond the [Blue]
Ridge. Staunton wants the seat of government,
and considers the day near at hand when she will be
the metropolis of the State. Any brilliant establishment
at the eastern foot of the Ridge will shake

these claims and disturb speculations founded upon
them." Two years later he gave Mr. Jefferson
more exactly the reasons for this course: "The
friends of Staunton and Lexington wish to keep
down the Central College. I believe they would
oppose the appropriation of a single dollar to it.
Should it get even a little annuity it would be established;
and one year more would throw Staunton
out of the chase altogether, and Lexington in the
background. For these reasons I believe the back
country will oppose a small appropriation to the
Central College with nearly as much zeal as it
would the establishment of the university at that
place." Mr. Jefferson understood quite well that if
the Central College was beaten by the local interests
referred to, the University would go elsewhere—a
result not at all acceptable to the old statesman and
his friends.

Other troubles speedily appeared. Upon the
chartering of the Central College followed a quite
unusual discussion of educational interests, and the
introduction of a bill for a general system, embracing
a university. It passed the House during
the session of 1816-17, but failed in the Senate.
Proposals were brought forward also for primary
schools which, for a time, were more in favor than
any other plan for higher education. Jefferson and
Cabell gave their adherence to all of these measures.
Both wished to see some system actually begun,
however defective the plan. "A system of general
instruction," wrote the elder statesman, "which
shall reach every description of our citizens from
the richest to the poorest, as it was the earliest, so
will it be the latest of all the public concerns in

which I shall permit myself to take an interest.
Nor am I tenacious of the form in which it shall be
introduced. Be that what it may, our descendants
will be as wise as we are, and will know how to
amend and amend it, until it shall suit their circumstances.
Give it to us then in any shape, and receive
for the inestimable boon the thanks of the
young and the blessings of the old, who are past all
other services but prayers for the prosperity of their
country, and blessings for those who promote it."[1]

The situation was very gloomy at the beginning
of the year 1818. Mr. Cabell's letters lost much of
their hopefulness. "It grieves me to tell you that
I think our prospects are by no means flattering in
the General Assembly. I shall not relax my small
exertions in this noble cause. I hunt assiduously
around me for every suggestion toward lessening
the difficulties on the branch of the primary schools.
The hostile interests[2] alluded to in my last have
been constantly at work, and I believe they have
produced some effect on the House of Delegates."

The character of the men in the House gave Mr.
Cabell much concern. "My belief," he wrote in this
same letter, "is, that with such a House of Delegates
nothing can be done. I begin to cast my eye over
the State in pursuit of suitable persons to come into
the next. If I had the co-operation of some four or
five men such as I could describe, everything could
be effected. But I do not entirely despair." He

returns to the subject in his next letter: "Should
we fail here this winter I beg leave to suggest the
plan of your endeavoring to get men of talents and
influence, in the middle country, to come into the
next Assembly. I have already prevailed on Mr.
William Brent, of Stafford, to become a candidate.
Mr. John T. Brooke will probably join him. I applied
to General Cocke a few days ago; he is very
averse, but promised to think of it. William G.
Poindexter, of Goochland, would come in, but his
health will not admit of it. You and Mr. Madison
and Mr. Monroe might greatly aid in this business.
* * * The northwestern part of Virginia begins
to detach itself from the southwestern. A leading
man from that section would carry off a wing of the
enemy's army. If such a man as General Jackson
[of Harrison county, now West Virginia] would
come here from that quarter, William Budwell from
the south, etc, etc., and would support your views,
the game would be safe. This is a delicate subject.
But perhaps the happiness of the present and future
generations depends upon the execution of the
plan."

Concerning the probability of the passage of a
really serviceable education bill Mr. Jefferson took
a philosophical view. He wrote Mr. Cabell: "I
suppose it probable that the next legislature, after
so much debating on the subject, will come with
their minds made up for something, and that a provision
of some sort will be made, which I think
ought to be whatever those who are to live under it
think will be best. I believe I have erred in meddling
with it at all, and that it has done more harm
than good. A strong interest felt in the subject,
and through my whole life, ought to excuse me with

those who differ with me in opinion, and should
protect me against unfriendly feelings. Nobody
more strongly than myself advocates the right of
every generation to legislate for itself, and the advantages
which each succeeding generation has over
the preceding one, from the constant progress of
science and the arts. We must turn to the affairs
of the college, under our particular charge, and consider
what we can do for it, on its own scanty
funds."[3]

The act establishing the Central College was
passed February 14, 1816. In October of that year
Governor Nicholas[4] appointed the first Board of
Visitors. The members were Thomas Jefferson,
James Madison, James Monroe, Joseph C. Cabell,
John H. Cocke, and David Watson. Geographically
the board was not representative of the State.
Jefferson lived within two miles of Charlottesville,
Monroe within three, Cocke twenty, Cabell and
Madison twenty, and Watson twenty-five. It is
quite likely the personnel, the highest the State could
afford, was peculiarly satisfactory to Mr. Jefferson,[5]

and it is probable this far-seeing man expected what
came to pass—a bitter contest over the location of
the central institution in the system of popular education
in Virginia.

The delay of seven months in the selection of
these officers is nowhere explained. The country
gentleman of that period gave little attention to
public matters in summer. Jefferson and Cabell
exchanged letters, but they concerned Say's political
economy, the relative merits of holly, cedar, thorn,
cockspur, and some other woods and shrubs for
hedges, and a variety of sociological topics. As
usual Mr. Jefferson knew all there was to know
about the matters considered. "The information
you give me on the subject of hedges," Mr. Cabell
confessed, "is very acceptable; it will exempt me
from the mortification of failures in experiments
that extend through so large a portion of human
life." The Central College was out of mind, apparently,
for the time.

The first meeting of the Visitors was called for
the 8th of April, 1817. Jefferson, Cabell and
Cocke, just half the members, were present, but the
lack of a quorum did not prevent the provisional
dispatch of a great deal of important business. The
several sites available for the College within a convenient
distance around Charlottesville were visited,

and the one offered by John Perry, "a mile above
the town," was purchased.[6]

The first legal meeting of the Visitors was on
May 5, 1817—"present" (quoting the minutes in
Mr. Jefferson's hand) "James Monroe, James Madison,
John H. Cocke, and Thomas Jefferson."
Cabell was prevented from attending by a visit he
was under the necessity of making to Williamsburg
and the county of Lancaster. Watson's absence is
unexplained. To attend the meetings of this board
Mr. Madison had to drive from his home, "Montpelier,"
in Orange County, twenty miles over rough
roads, and General Cocke traveled by similar conveyance
an almost equal distance, from "Bremo,"
on the James River in Fluvanna County. Mr.
Monroe's home was "Ash Lawn," on the eastern
slope of Carter's Mountain, about two miles from
Monticello; but he was President of the United
States at this time, and probably journeyed from
Washington, staying over night at Mr. Madison's.

Valentine W. Southall[7] was appointed secretary
to the board, his father-in-law, Alexander Garrett,
who had appeared at the meeting as bearer of the
records of the trustees of the Central College, was
elected proctor, and requested to act as treasurer also
until that officer could be appointed.

From this moment business was dispatched without
delay. The selection and purchase of Perry's
lands as the site of the Central College were approved
and ratified with stately formality, and
straightway the proctor was instructed to inquire

into the state of the rights and claims that had been
transferred by the Albemarle Academy and to demand
and receive so much of the money arising
from the lottery, the subscriptions or the sale of the
glebes as might be needed to pay for the lands purchased
from Perry. Throughout the letters received
by the proctor from Mr. Jefferson during the
building of the College and, later, the University,
runs his insistence that payment be prompt.

The amount needed to pay Perry was $1,518.75,
this being the total cost of the two hundred acres,
"on which," as Mr. Jefferson wrote in his first report
to the Speaker of the House of Delegates, "was
an eligible site for the College, high, dry, open,
furnished with good water, and nothing in its vicinity
which could threaten the health of the students."

Mr. Jefferson presented a plan, which had been
prepared and submitted to the trustees of Albemarle
Academy, for erecting a distinct pavilion or
building for each professorship, and for arranging
these around a square, each pavilion to contain a
school-room and two apartments for the accommodation
of the professor. The board decided that
one of these buildings should be erected at once, and
the proctor was requested, "as soon as the funds are
at his command," to "agree with the proper workmen
for the building of one, of stone or brick below
ground, and of brick above, of substantial work, of
regular achitecture, well executed, and to be completed
if possible during the ensuing summer and
winter." Provision was made for ten dormitories
for students on each side, "of brick and of regular
architecture."

These things and more the Visitors did at this

meeting, and their doing was really the first effective
acts in the building of the Central College. The
board's decrees were carried into effect with a good
will, and so promptly that at the next meeting,
which occurred July 28, 1817, the Visitors decided
to invite Dr. Knox of Baltimore to the chair of "languages,
belles lettres, rhetoric, history and geography!"
And failing to get Dr. Knox, who had
"withdrawn from business," "Doct. Thomas Cooper
of Pennsylvania" was invited to the chair of chemistry
at their meeting on October 7.

On the 6th of October, 1817, the first stone in the
building of the College was laid with due and solemn
ceremony by the Charlottesville Lodge of Masons.
Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe were present,
and "a large company of citizens attended."[8]
Mr. Cabell, General Cocke, and Mr. Watson were
probably there too, for they attended at Charlottesville
that day a meeting of the Agricultural Society[9]
of Albemarle and the next a session of the Board
of Visitors of the College.

In December, Cabell was again in attendance on
the meetings of the Senate, while Jefferson, no
doubt, was engaged in the preparation of the report
of the Visitors to the Speaker which bears the date
of January 6, 1818. It is even probable that the
main feature of this document, now to be quoted,
was agreed upon at the October meeting, when the
Visitors, contrary to their early practice, sat two or
three days, instead of one, and that Mr. Jefferson, as
he witnessed the laying of the corner-stone of the
Central College on the 6th of October, had in his

pocket a rough draft of the plan, which was eventually
completed in the following bold way:

"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 [education]
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
affections 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 counsels, instructs the industry,
and advances the power, the prosperity and the
happiness of a nation. But it is not for us to suggest
the high considerations, which their peculiar situation
will naturally present to the minds of our lawgivers,
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 for our country. But observing
that in the bill presented for public consideration a
combination of public and private contributions has
been contemplated; and considering such an incorporation
as completely fulfilling the view of our institution,
we undertake to declare, that if the legislature
shall think proper to proceed to the establishment
of an university, and to adopt for its location

the site of the Central College, we are so certain of
the approbation of those for whom we act, that we
may give safe assurance of the ready transfer to the
State of all the property and rights of the Central
College, in possession or in action, towards the establishment
of such an university, and under such
laws and provisions as the legislature shall be
pleased to establish; and that we ourselves shall be
ready to deliver over our charge to such successors,
or such other organization, as the legislature shall
be pleased to ordain, and with increased confidence
of its success under their care."

By this transfer, according to the report, the State
would gain a great deal: "The subscription papers
already returned amount to $35,102, to which are
to be added $3,195.86, the proceeds of the sales of
glebes in the county of Albemarle. * * * To
these sums, making together $38,297.86, particular
papers of which we have information, although not
returned, will add about $8,000, enabling us to count
with safety on forty-six or forty-seven thousand dollars.
Other papers are still out, of which we have
no information, but which we trust will make further
sensible additions to our stock."

It was shrewdly intimated that what had been
planned and done in the way of college buildings
was in the direction of a large institution or capable
of being given that direction, "until the institution
shall become worthy the station of our State in the
scale of its confederates and of the nations of the
world."

The disposal of the buildings is explained. "Instead
of constructing a single and large edifice,
which might have exhausted their funds, and left
nothing, or too little, for other essential expenses,

they thought it better to erect a small and separate
building, or pavilion, for each professor they should
be able to employ, with an apartment for his lectures,
and others for his own accommodation, connecting
these pavilions by a range of dormitories, capable
each of lodging two students only, a provision
equally friendly to study as to morals and order.

"This plan offered the further advantages of
greater security against fire and infection, of extending
the buildings in equal pace with the funds, and
of adding to them indefinitely hereafter, with the
indefinite progress of contributions, private or public;
and it gave to the whole, in form and effect, the
character of an academic village."

Here we have the first bodying forth of "the academic
village," never before contemplated, which
soon took material shape and has since developed
into the most unique and beautiful group of academic
edifices in the world.

This paper the Speaker was requested to communicate
to the House in such form as he thought
best. Mr. Jefferson anxiously awaited news of the
impression the report had made in Richmond—"because
that shows how near we are to the accomplishment
of a good college, one that cannot but be
thought of some value to the State—and the urgency
of their enabling us to complete it."[10]

Cabell's report was scarcely satisfactory: "I have
been particular in my inquiries as to the impression
made by it on the members of the House of Delegates.
It seems to have been received as an able
production with some great names attached to it;
but does not appear to have had any material influence

on the feelings or opinions of the majority
of the House. Among an enlightened few it has
been read with favor and admiration. It cannot but
add weight to our claims on the legislature."[11]

In the same letter Cabell said the popular scheme
was to give all the Literary Fund to primary schools,
and on the next day he wrote: "As I came out of
the capitol to-day I received from one of the doorkeepers
the enclosed copy of the bill reported by the
Committee on Schools, which I have hastily looked
over and in regard to which I confess myself greatly
disappointed. Indeed, sir, the prospect before us is
dreary."

And yet, in less than a month, he had the pleasure
of dispatching to his venerable friend at Monticello
this very good news:

"I hasten to apprise you that our proceedings now
seem likely to eventuate differently from what I have
heretofore expected. The school bill came up to the
Senate in the form of Mr. Hill's amendment. We
engrafted upon it a provision for an University. In
that shape it passed here by a majority of fourteen
to three. This important vote took place yesterday.
The bill has gone back to the House of Delegates.
An attempt has been made to postpone it, and lost
by an immense majority. The bill, with the amendments
of the Senate, is ordered to be printed. It is
contemplated to amend it, so as to provide that the
appropriation for the University shall not interfere
with any further appropriation that may be necessary
for the education of the poor. The bill now
gives $45,000 per annum to the poor, and $15,000
to the University. It is believed that $15,000 more

will be necessary for the poor; and $60,000 is all
the product of the fund at this time. But the product
will soon be swelled to $90,000, so that it will
not materially affect the appropriation for the University.
In this shape it is believed the bill will pass.
It is provided in the bill that the Governor and
Council shall choose one commissioner from each
Senatorial district in the State, as laid off by the act
of the last Assembly; that these commissioners
shall meet at Rockfish Gap on the first of August,
and adjourn from place to place, and time to time;
that they shall report to the next Assembly the best
site, plan, etc., and the next Assembly will have the
whole subject in their power. We have fifteen districts
on this side the Ridge, and I think we are safe
in the hands of the Executive. If this bill passes,
perhaps, our policy will be to invest all our funds in
buildings, and get them as far advanced by August
as possible. But I will not speculate on uncertainties.
I tremble with anxiety for the great result I
anticipate."[12]

The bill passed February 21, 1818. It was an
elaborate program for a notable gathering and a
sharp contest for the site of the future University of
Virginia. To Mr. Jefferson and his co-worker for
Charlottesville it involved, in addition to the loss of
location, the virtual minifying, if not eventual destruction,
of the Central College. And so it came
to pass in that summer long ago there was much
shrewd preparation for the meeting at the tavern at
Rockfish, on the summit of the Blue Ridge, where
there was to be another opportunity for the display
of Mr. Jefferson's leadership.

The essential provisions of the sections engrafted

on the bill for the establishment of schools for poor
children were: The establishment of a university to
be called "The University of Virginia" in some convenient
and proper part of the State; the appointment
by the Executive of a body of twenty-four discreet
persons as a Board of Commissioners for the
University, one member from each of the twenty-four
senatorial districts, whose duty it was to inquire
and report to the legislature, "first, a proper
site for the University; secondly, a plan for the
building thereof; thirdly, the branches of learning
which should be taught therein; fourthly, the number
and description of professors; and fifthly, such
general provisions as might properly be enacted by
the legislature for the better organizing and governing
the University;" the meeting of the Board of
Commissioners for the University on the first day
of August (1818) at the tavern in Rockfish Gap on
the Blue Ridge for the purpose of selecting a site
and the discharge of the other duties imposed by
the bill; the appropriation of $15,000 out of the
Literary Fund, available as soon as the site of the
institution was ascertained by law, for the purchase
of lands, erection of buildings, endowment, etc.; a
requirement that the commissioners receive any voluntary
contribution, whether conditional or absolute,
whether in land, money or other property offered
through them to the president and directors of
the Literary Fund, for the benefit of the University,
and to report the same to the legislature; the appointment
by the president and directors of the Literary
Fund of a board of thirteen visitors, empowered
to select their own rector, these to constitute a
body corporate under the name and style of "The
Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia."