His work on moral philosophy is not particularly profound or interesting.But I suppose we have only the skeleton of his course; and, as he illustrated it orally by his reading and wide observation of mankind, I believe it was useful and attractive.He discussed such authors as Leibnitz, Clarke, Hutcheson, Wollaston, Collins, Nettleton, Hume, Kames, Adam Smith, Reid, Balfour, Butler, Balguy, Beattie.He had vigorously opposed Hutcheson in Scotland, and he sees the logical result of his view of virtue in the systems of Hume and Home, who are criticised by him.He refers to the theory of his predecessor in office, Edwards, that " virtue consists in the love of being as such," but without approval.His own view is summed up in these words:
" There is in the nature of things a difference between virtue and vice; and, however much virtue and happiness are connected by the divine law and in the event of things, we are made so as to feel towards them and conceive of them as distinct, -- we have the simple perceptions of duty and interest." " The result of the whole is, that we ought to take the rule of duty from conscience, enlightened by reason, experience, and every way by which we can be supposed to learn the will of our Maker." {189}
But Witherspoon was a man of action, rather than reflection.His administration of the college seems to have been successful.Following the original theory of the American college, Princeton college was placed in a village supposed to be away from the temptations of great cities."It is not," Witherspoon says, " in the power of those who are in great cities to keep the discipline with equal strictness where boys have so many temptations to do evil, and can so easily and effectually conceal it after it is done.With us, they live all in college, under the inspection of their masters; and the village is so small that any irregularity is immediately and certainly discovered, and therefore easily corrected." The rules of government which he explained to the tutors are admirable."Govern, govern always, but beware of governing too much.
Convince your pupils, for you may convince them, that you would rather gratify than thwart them; that you wish to see them happy; and desire to impose no restraints but such as their real advantage, and the order and welfare of the college, render indispensable.Put a wide difference between youthful follies and foibles, and those acts which manifest a malignant spirit or intentional insubordination.Do not even notice the former, except it be by private advice.
Overlook them entirely, unless they occur in such a public manner that it is known that you must have observed them.Be exceeding careful not to commit your own authority or that of the college, in any case that cannot be carried through with equity.But having pursued this system, then, in every instance in which there has been a manifest intention to offend or resist your authority, or that of the college, make no compromise with it whatever: put it down absolutely and entirely.Maintain the authority of the laws ,in their full extent.and fear no consequences."But his influence was exerted and felt far beyond the college walls.As might have been expected from his love of liberty, and his impetuous spirit, and the part he took in Scotland, be early threw himself into the struggle for independence, and he was elected a representative in Congress for the State of New Jersey, in 1776, and declared there the way by which he had been led." We were contending for a restoration of certain privileges under the government of Great Britain, and were praying for a reunion with her.
But in the beginning of July, with the universal approbation of all the States now united, we renounced this conviction, and declared our selves free and independent." His is one of the names -- the most honored of any in America-attached to the Declaration of Independence, and his portrait adorns Independence Hall.I rather think that-if we except Washington, Franklin, and perhaps half a dozen others --none bad so important an influence as Witherspoon in guiding the American Revolution.It will be remembered that one of the decisive battles of the war was fought at Princeton;and, in 1783, the Congress sat for months in the college, presided over by one of the trustees, and with Witherspoon as a member.When in Congress, he exerted himself to secure a firm, central government, and a gold instead of a paper standard.He retired from Congress in 1783, to give himself to his college work.He died, Nov.15, 1794.{190} From the picture of him by the elder Peale in Princeton college, and the account given by Ashbel Green, we learn that " his stature was of middle size, with some tendency to corpulence.His limbs were well-proportioned, and his complexion was fair.His eyes were strongly indicative of intelligence.His eyebrows were large, hanging down at the ends next his temples, occasioned, probably, by a habit he had contracted of pulling them when he was under excitement." His whole air is that of a man of strong character; and we see traces of his being naturally a man of strong passion, which, however, he was able to subdue.
Scotland did not allow him, what would have been for her good, to become a leader of men; and Scotland's loss became America's gain.
