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Chapter 6
The Building Campaign of 1821
Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 |  |
Cabell Wants to Retire
More worrisome for Jefferson for the moment than even the present financial plight of the
university was Cabell's recent decision not to sit for reelection to the Virginia Senate
because of his poor health. Cabell had warned Jefferson on 4 January to "be prepared for a
failure this session" in gaining additional support for the university and two weeks later the
senator wrote again to inform his friend that "we shall be able to effect nothing for the
University during the present session. . . . But I do not despair, and all that I can do shall be
done. I am turning my attention to a future and better Assembly. . . . it would be well if you
and Mr. Madison would aid in getting some efficient friends into the next Assembly."[436]
Jefferson would understand that last clause only after receiving a third new year's letter from
Cabell written a week later "to touch upon a subject that has engaged my thoughts for a long
time past"—that of withdrawing from public life at the end of his present term of service.
"Such is the weakness of my breast," Cabell complained, "that to ride from Court-house to
Court-house, making speeches to large crowds, exposed to the rigors of the season, might
carry me to the grave, or bring on me further and more distressing symptoms of pulmonary
affection." He reassured Jefferson that his feelings and opinions regarding the institution had
not undergone any change and that he did not secretly wish to stand for the United States
Congress or "any other public station." "I have been here thirteen winters," he declared
simply. "My object now is domestic, rural and literary leisure."[437]
On the same day that Cabell replied to Brockenbrough's plea for legislative action for the
university, Jefferson himself penned a caustic and gloomy response to Cabell's January
letters, of which he said, "they fill me with gloom as to the dispositions of our legislature
towards the University. I percieve that I am not to live to see it opened." The
shortsightedness of the General Assembly in failing to increase its annual appropriation for
education, in Jefferson's opinion, would force the university to resort to another loan. That
being the case, $60,000 must be sought, enough to build the library and reserve $2,000 a
year "for care of the buildings, improvement of the grounds, & unavoidable contingencies."
"My individual opinion," said Jefferson, "is that we had better not open the institution until
the buildings, Library & all, are finished, and our funds cleared of incumbrance." That latter
stipulation would delay the opening for 13 years, he estimated, disagreeable for sure to the
"common mind" which could be satisfied with running the school "with half funds only."
However, the delay could benefit the university by preventing it from becoming another of
the "paltry academies we now have," one that instead could compete with Harvard and
Princeton for the minds of the educated youths of Virginia who in the north were "learning
the lessons of anti-Missourianism" and returning home, "no doubt, deeply impressed with
the sacred principles of our Holy alliance of Restrictionists."[438] As painful as it would be
not to live to see the university in operation, Jefferson nevertheless reserved most of his
brooding for Cabell's personal consideration.
institution, for desertion I must call it. I know not the necessities which may
force this on you. Genl. [John Hartwell] Cocke, you say, will explain them to
me; but I cannot concieve them, nor persuade myself they are uncontroulable. I
have ever hoped that yourself, Genl. [James] Breckenridge and mr [Chapman]
Johnson would stand at your posts in the legislature, until every thing was
effected, and the institution opened. if it is so difficult to get along, with all the
energy and influence of our present colleagues in the legislature, how can we
expect to proceed at all, reducing our moving power? I know well your
devotion to your country, and your foresight of the awful scenes coming on her,
sooner or later. with this foresight, what service can we ever render her equal to
this? what object of our lives can we propose so important? what interest of our
own, which ought not to be postponed to this? health, time, labor, on what in
the single life which nature has given us, can these be better bestowed than on
this immortal boon to our country? the exertions and the mortifications are
temporary; the benefit eternal. if any member of our college of Visitors could
justifiably withdraw from this sacred duty, it would be myself, who
'quadragenis stipendüs jamdudum peractis' have neither visor of body or mind
left to keep the field. but I will die in the last ditch. and so, I hope, you will, my
friend, as well as our firm-breasted brothers and colleagues mr Johnson and
Genl. Breckenridge. nature will not give you a second life wherein to atone for
the omissions of this. pray then, dear answer, dear Sir, do not think of deserting
us; but view the sacrifices which seem to stand in your way, as the lesser duties,
and such as ought to be postponed to this, the greatest of all. continue with us in
these holy labors until, having seen their accomplishment, we may say with old
Simeon 'nunc dimittis, Domine'. under all circumstances however of praise or
blame I shall be affectionately yours.[439]
"It is not in my nature to resist such an appeal," he replied. "I this day handed into the office
of the Enquirer, a notification that I should again be a candidate. We will pass on to matters
of more importance."[440]
436. Cabell to TJ, 4 January 1821, ViU:TJ, and Cabell to TJ, 18 January 1821, ViU:JCC; see
also Cabell, Early History of the University of Virginia, 194-95, 196-97.
438. TJ to Cabell, 31 January 1821, ViU:JCC; see also Cabell, Early History of the
University of Virginia, 201-3.
439. TJ to Cabell, 31 January 1821, ViU:JCC; see also ibid., 201-3. "Partly because he was a
long-term optimist, Jefferson was a notably patient man," wrote Dumas Malone, "but the
Old Sachem, as Cabell called him, knew that his sands were running out and wanted to lose
no time" (Jefferson and His Time: The Sage of Monticello, 365). Even the near approach of
his 79th birthday could not force Jefferson, whom Edmund Bacon later called the "most
industrious person I ever saw in my life," to enter into the expected rest of old age (Bear,
Jefferson at Monticello, 84).
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Chapter 6
The Building Campaign of 1821
Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 | |