<hi rend="bold"> Letter from Cushings B. Hassell to Charles Manly, June 12, 1867 :</hi> Electronic Edition. Hassell, C. B. Funding from the University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill supported the electronic publication of this title. Text transcribed by Bari Helms Images scanned by Caitlin R. Donnelly Text encoded by Caitlin R. Donnelly First Edition, 2007 ca. 16K The University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, North Carolina 2007

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 University of North Carolina Papers (#40005), University Archives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Letter from Cushings B. Hassell to Charles Manly, June 12, 1867 C. B. Hassell 4 pages, 4 page images 1867 Call number 40005 (University Archives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

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 </bibl> </taxonomy> </classDecl> </encodingDesc> <profileDesc> <langUsage> <language id="eng">English</language> </langUsage> <textClass> <keywords scheme="unc_history"> <list> <item> Any special keywords assigned for this project </item> </list> </keywords> </textClass> </profileDesc> <revisionDesc> <change> <date>2007-05-31,</date> <respStmt> <name>Caitlin R. Donnelly</name> <resp/> </respStmt> <item>finished TEI/XML encoding.</item> </change> </revisionDesc> </teiHeader> <text id="unc09-67"> <body> <div1 type="official letter"> <pb id="unc09-67-p01" n="[1]"/> <head> Letter from <name key="pn0003089" reg="Hassell, Cushings Biggs" type="person" rend="yes">Cushings B. Hassell</name> to <name key="pn0001074" reg="Manly, Charles" type="person">Charles Manly</name>, June 12, 1867 </head> <opener> <dateline> <name key="name0001236" reg="Williamston, NC" type="place">Williamston N. C.</name> <date>12<hi rend="sup">th</hi> June 1867</date> </dateline> <salute>Hon. <name key="pn0001074" reg="Manly, Charles" type="person">Charles Manly</name>.</salute> <salute>Dear Sir</salute> </opener> <p>I had the privilege of attending Commencement last week at our <name key="name0001146" reg="University of North Carolina" type="organization" rend="yes">University</name>. I was disappointed in not seeing you there, but understood your health was poor. I was mortified to witness the languishing condition of the <name key="name0001146" reg="University of North Carolina" type="organization">College</name>, and discover the little interest that is felt in it by the Citizens of our State.</p> <p>There were only seven trustees present, including the president of the faculty & Gov. <name key="pn0003255" reg="Worth, Jonathan" type="person" rend="yes">Worth</name>.</p> <p>Nothing was done or proposed in regard to the prosperity of the <name key="name0001146" reg="University of North Carolina" type="organization">Institution</name>, and I could not understand that the cause of its languishing condition had been ascertained either by the <name key="name0000107" reg="Board of Trustees" type="organization" rend="yes">trustees</name> or the Committee appointed by the <name key="name0000763" reg="North Carolina Legislature" type="organization" rend="yes">Legislature</name> to investigate it.</p> <p>Patronage is needed, without this the <name key="name0001146" reg="University of North Carolina" type="organization">institution</name> cannot survive. In order to obtain it is it not necessary to adopt such a course of studies & such grades of scholarship, as is maintained in some other Colleges, that are now drawing off the young men of <name key="name0000745" reg="North Carolina" type="place">North Carolina</name>, to be educated without her borders.? </p> <pb id="unc09-67-p02" n="[2]"/> <p>I do not know <hi rend="underscore">what</hi> is the matter, but I know that <hi rend="underscore">something</hi> is the matter and I feel deeply humiliated at the thought that our <name key="name0001146" reg="University of North Carolina" type="organization">University</name> has only about 100 students, while the <name key="name0001163" reg="University of Virginia" type="organization">University of Virginia</name> is said to have 450 and the <name key="x" reg="x" type="organization" rend="">College</name> at <name key="x" reg="x" type="place" rend="">Lexington</name> about 300. The mortification is increased by the information also imparted that many, very many of these 750 boys are from <name key="name0000745" reg="North Carolina" type="place">North Carolina</name>.</p> <p>Have we not reached that period in the existence of our noble <name key="name0001146" reg="University of North Carolina" type="organization">Institution</name> when we must either go on in accordance with the improvements made in similar institutions or go down? </p> <p>An improved system of instruction rigidly enforced by the <name key="name0000107" reg="Board of Trustees" type="organization">Trustees</name>, would no doubt be sanctioned by the Faculty or at least a majority of them and give satisfaction to the public. If it turned out that any member of the Faculty was opposed to the change, he could retire & allow some one else to be appointed in his place who would sanction the new plan.</p> <p>Giving diplomas to young men who did not merit them has no doubt damaged our <name key="name0001146" reg="University of North Carolina" type="organization">University</name> greatly.</p> <pb id="unc09-67-p03" n="[3]"/> <p>If it was well known that no young man could graduate there unless he was thoroughly approved by every Professor in <name key="name0001146" reg="University of North Carolina" type="organization">College</name>, then he would be spurred on to greater diligence in his studies, and in the end merit the diploma which he received and take it home with him signed by every one of the Professors. For the want of this <hi rend="underscore">merit</hi> in the case, some of the Professors cannot conscientiously sign <hi rend="underscore">all</hi> the diplomas that are presented them and therefore in order to escape the individual responsibility of making an invidious distinction, they refuse to sign <hi rend="underscore">any</hi>. </p> <p>Perhaps Gov. <name key="pn0000604" reg="Graham, William Alexander" type="person" rend="yes">Graham</name> may do something for us from the Peabody fund; perhaps the <name key="name0000763" reg="North Carolina Legislature" type="organization">Legislature</name> may give us additional endowments; perhaps Gov. <name key="pn0001702" reg="Vance, Zebulon Baird" type="person" rend="yes">Vance</name> or some able advocate might go through the state and arouse the people to a heartfelt interest in behalf of the <name key="name0001146" reg="University of North Carolina" type="organization">University</name> if urged. So to do; but I seriously doubt whether either or all these measures will avail us much except there first be made a great change in affairs at the <name key="name0001146" reg="University of North Carolina" type="organization">University</name> itself</p> <pb id="unc09-67-p04" n="[4]"/> <p>I am so ignorant as not to know whether this change lies in the power of the <name key="name0000352" reg="Executive Committee, Board of Trustees" type="organization" rend="yes">Executive Committee</name> — a mere quorum of the <name key="name0000107" reg="Board of Trustees" type="organization">board of Trustees</name> at any time convened or the annual meeting of the <name key="name0000107" reg="Board of Trustees" type="organization">Trustees</name>. But if any thing could be done for the recuperation of the <name key="name0001146" reg="University of North Carolina" type="organization">Institution</name>, the present prospect indicates that it should be done at once. </p> <closer> <salute rend="center">I have the honor to remain</salute> <salute rend="right">Yours very Respectfully</salute> <signed> <name key="pn0003089" reg="Hassell, Cushings Biggs" type="person">C B Hassell</name> </signed> </closer> </div1> </body> </text> </TEI.2>