Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1851-08-22
From the Memphis Appeal. Saturday Ausnst Is.
"Disunionisra in Southern College

90, unQcr tfi1S Cdpiiols dl dltdch Oh tne
Young and fourishing University of Mis-
sissippi, located at Oxford. Under the
conviction that it might safely be permit
ted 10 pass without comment, we did not
notice it, as it seemed to US that its only
effect would be to exibit the Eagles pc
culiar political affinities. But since Pres
ident Longstreet has dignifed it with
passing notice, and as the charges have
since been reiterated, after his satisfactory
card and the publication of his Baccalau-
reate Address, it has risen to an impor-
tance we should never have thought for
moment of awarding it.
The charge was formally made by the
Eage of July 22d, in these words:
aZeaIous as we are for the honor and usefulness
of our literary institutions have heard with deep
regret that, in the Mississippi University, at Ok
ford the spiIit of Disunion.sm prevails among the
students and that it is stimulated and encouraged by
some of the Professors"
The peculiar character of the Eagles
zeal for the '.hono1 AL usefulness of our
literary Institutions" may elicit some
speculation, since it does not hesitate to
make the serious charge of disunionism as
PreUailing among the students and "stim-
ulated AID encouraged by some of the
Professors of University in our sister
State, merely upon what it has 'Aeard''-
a mere floating rumor, the truth of which
it does not even vouch for Yetits whole
article is based on the assumption of its
truth Now if the Eagle desires to do
justice to this young and deservedly pop
ular Southern College, let it give its proof,
or as an honorable journal retract the
charge. In its issue Of Wednesday the
charge is implicitly reiterated, and the
editors seem to consider it proved be-
cause the "reports" which had reached
them have "necer been cOntradicfed." Has
any one so low an estimate of the sense
of dignity and self respect of the Profes-
sors and students of the University of
Mississippi, as tosuppose that they would
dignity every idle report, which may
have found its way into the newspapers,
with formal contradiction The idea
is absurd. And the fact that no such
contradiction has been formally made is
quite satisfactory proofof their conscious
ness of their own patriotic position, as
well of the conviction that it could not
suffer from such idle and unattested as
saults. The Eagle declines publishing,
as requested by President Longstreet, so
much ofhis Address 'as provoked its strick
tures," and assigns as reason that it
"kneW nothing-and therefore said moth
ing particularly about President Long
) streets views. Having made charge
/ of disunionism, based on "reports" against
the students generally and "some of the
professors without particularizing, it de-
nies manly, though tardy justice, by
publishing the speech of the o0zcial head
of the institution. And it makes this de-
NAL ON the ground that it did not pARrIc-
ULARIzE the President. Every one can
see that this is but shallow subterfuge.
The Eagle admits that it "hne,U nothing
of President Longstreet's views. Why
then, did it not except him from its sweep
ing charge? We apprehend that it kme,o
as little, from authentic sources, of the
views of the students, and Of "some of
the Professors" forii character ICES its own
; information as mere ''reports.'
i President Longstreet's Address is be-
fore US, and there is nothiug in it to war
rant the Eagles attack. If he is disu-
nionist, his assailants are free-soilers. The
theme is the paramount Claims Of the State
upon its people, and it is treated in mas
terly and eloquent manner. While he
delineates with masters hand the dam
ger of this degenerating into vast, splen-
did, consolidated government, absorbing
in its folds the sovereignty of the states,
he declines even giving an opinion as to
where the ultimate sovereignty resides.
We venture the opinion that the senti-
ments and reasoning of the speech would
be approved by vast majority OF the
people of the Southern States, and even
by all real patriots in the North. We
will in future number crafty our read
ers with extracts from it. The Eagles
attempt to cast ridcule on the beautiful
passage describing our national emblems
is ludicrously melancholy.
At such crisis in the history Of the
South as this, when it is vastly essential
that she should use every means which a
favoring Providence has placed at her
disposal to maintain her rights, we would
prefer that some evil spirit should palsy
our arms forever, than to attempt to in
/ jure a Southern Institution, where the
/ SOLS VI lllC AoOutu 1Ao AOOSisO q NJouth
education among the people with whom
/ their lot is cast and amid the institutions
which they have now to defend against
the world. Southerners have been too
long educated in the North and in foreign
countries; and it is our policy, as it is our
high and patriotic duty, to foster, encour-
age and build up Southern Institutions,
and not seek to depreciate them or to rob
them of patronage by attacks upon them,
based upon grounds acknowledged to be
no better than mere '.reports."
The Eagles attack upon this particular
Institution in our sister State, it is too ev-
ident, was prompted by desire to make
little paltry party capital. Everybody
is disunionist, in the Eagles opinion, who
does not adopt its peculiar views of the
Compromise and the 'Union." The case
also afforded handsome opportunity to
our contemporary to give his views on
the proper mode Of discipline TO be adop-
! s.d-what studies should be pursued and
so forth, &c. No doubt President Long
1 street yyill greatly profit bv the profound