Kentucky Gazette

From the Louisville Public Advertiser:

UNIVERSITY AT LEXINGTON.

Public assistance of the University and Medical College at Lexington, is matter of state interest and policy; such establishments liberally endowed, are well calculated to regain and preserve the moral and political character of the state. There was a waste of twenty or thirty thousand dollars of the people's money, at the last session of our legislature, in the time occupied in passing acts impairing the obligation of contracts; it denial of justice; and ruining the state currency. The money thus wasted would have placed the University upon a footing of high respectability and prosperity, and it is to be regretted, that it was expended on measures that will ruin and disgrace the state.

The university at Lexington liberally endowed and filled with a president, professors and tutors, of learning, high character, morals and piety, is an object of the first importance to the state. It would be filled with students from the whole western country, and bring large sums of money into the state, particularly from the states of Mississippi and Louisiana. Those states are unhealthy, and the citizens very opulent. Their youth would be sent to Lexington, and there receive learned educations. Communications, by means of the steam boats would be quick and certain; and parents could see their sons in a few days, at any time.

The same advantages would be open to the whole Missouri country. Many of the youth of the Atlantic states, who intend to settle in the western states, would be educated at Lexington.

The youth of Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, and many from the Atlantic states, would be educated at Lexington, and form friendships and connections for life. Early friendships, attachments and confidence, are essential between those who are to fill the legislative, judicial and executive stations of government, in the western states, in order to preserve harmony and the federal union.

No one of common sense can overlook the pecuniary and political advantages which Kentucky will derive from a liberally endowed University; and no one will dispute the right and pre-eminence of Lexington, over every other part of the state, to such institution. It is a populous, beautiful and healthy town, surrounded by the most fertile and well cultivated country in the United States; its markets are abundant, choice and cheap; the boarding and accommodations of the present students are better and cheaper than at any other place in the union.

If Kentucky does not now know, and feel the necessity and importance, of an elevated moral and political character, and of social and political ties and connexions with the western states, the time is not distant when it will be known and felt. Kentucky is, for a long time, to be the counterpoise to the growing power and dangerous ambition of certain "great states," and on her will greatly depend the overthrow of that combination which has for its object, the rule or dissolution of the union. In this respect alone, the purse-strings of the state ought to be untied, for the endowment and support of an institution, for the education of her own and the youth of other states. The expense will bear but a small proportion to the importance of the objects which will be gained and secured. In fact the funds brought into the state by those means, will repay it ten or twenty fold. It seems our representatives, the last session, were very liberal to themselves in being paid nine or ten weeks, for making long speeches in favor of measures violating the constitution;—destroying public and private credit and confidence; and in ruining the important office of sheriff; but were very tenacious, indeed, of the public money, when the University and Medical College needed and asked assistance.

On this subject the wishes of the people were not known or regarded. There are not a more high minded and patriotic people on the globe than the Kentuckians, and there is not a man, woman or child, who would not freely and joyfully give a nine-pence, to raise and maintain the honor, interest and character of the state.

Distinguished institutions of learning are not found in the abodes of poverty; of this truth many of the states in the union have been sensible, and have most liberally endowed their universities; unless Kentucky will do the same she will be left in the back ground.

MECENAS.