In conformity with the principles of our constitution, which places all sects of religion on an equal footing
I find it interesting that the founders would choose to conform to "the principles of our constitution" on the issue of religion, and what solely seems to be religion. While religious freedom is a very integral component of American society, there is so much more they could have to conformed to as well. What about the idea of rights, personal freedoms, and social equality?
Three places were proposed, to wit Lexington in the County of Rockbridge, Staunton in the County of Augusta, and the Central college in the County of Albemarle: each of these was unexceptionable as to healthiness & fertility. It was the degree of centrality to the white population of the state which alone then constituted the important point of comparison between these places: and the board, after full enquiry & impartial & mature consideration, are of opinion that the central point of the white population of the state is nearer to the central college, than to either Lexington or Staunton by great & important differences, and all other circumstances of the place in general being favorable to it as a position for an University, they do report the central college in Albemarle to be a convenient & proper part of the State for the University of Virginia.
It would be interesting to know how they studied these factors (e.g. fertility, maturity, etc.). As per Doing Fieldwork, when an anthropologist goes to study these areas there are certain key elements of consideration. How did those studying these three areas determine their satisfaction to the factors, and then select the best?
What, but education, has advanced us beyond the condition of our indigenous neighbours? and what chains them to their present state of barbarism & wretchedness, but a besotted veneration for the supposed supe[r]lative wisdom of their fathers and the preposterous idea that they are to look backward for better things and not forward, longing, as it should seem, to return to the days of eating acorns and roots rather than indulge in the degeneracies of civilization.
To think that 200 years ago, education was used as a method to develop supremacy of one group over another. When I read this portion of the document, I cannot help but think of that as the foundation, the very edifice, for which this university had its beginnings. Later on in this passage, when attempting to describe the importance of this type of education, which is now referred to as a liberal arts education, there is a phrase that is used. I recognized this phrase from the College of Arts & Sciences convocation, in which the Dean of CAS said the purpose of a liberal arts education. It's crazy to think how the importance of this education remains the same, but the recipients have been amended.
Three places were proposed, to wit Lexington in the County of Rockbridge, Staunton in the County of Augusta, and the Central college in the County of Albemarle: each of these was unexceptionable as to healthiness & fertility. It was the degree of centrality to the white population of the state which alone then constituted the important point of comparison between these places: and the board, after full enquiry & impartial & mature consideration, are of opinion that the central point of the white population of the state is nearer to the central college, than to either Lexington or Staunton by great & important differences, and all other circumstances of the place in general being favorable to it as a position for an University, they do report the central college in Albemarle to be a convenient & proper part of the State for the University of Virginia.
The qualifications by which these sites were chosen exhibit an interesting criteria. What is meant by healthiness and fertility? Is it of the ground? Is it of the resources and material? Or is it of the people, as later stated? It seems that 200 years ago, when the cornerstone was placed at this university, only the "healthiness & fertility" of the white population was the chief concern, and thus a central location by which they could further education became important.