Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-03-26
THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY.
Reported for the Daily State Register

Mr.. Maury refers:
THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY.
[Reported for the Daily State Register.]
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 26.-The Convention to
take into consideration the establishment of a
National University, assembled in the Adiutant
Generals Room, in the Capitol, Wednesday
morning at II O'Clock. The Convention was
called to order by y. W. OlcOtt, of Albany, on
whose motion DR.. I. Romeyn Beck, of Albany,
was called to the Chair, and Rev. DIR. Kennedy,
was appointed SECRETARY. Hon. II. S. Randall,
Secretary Of State, moved that a committee of
twenty-Cne be appointed to report plan for a
National University. which was carried The
following gentlemen were designated as such
committee.
Hon. Henry S. R Randall, Secretary of State;
President Wayland, of Brown University; Bish-
Op Potter. of Pa; II Oil. Washington Irving n.
y; Hon. Guiian c. Verplanck, N. Y; General
John a. Dix, of \. y; DIR. Romeyn Beck of
Albany; Hon. Washington Hunt, of LOckport;
President Hitchcock, of Amherst; Hon. John
V. l.. Pruyn, Of Albany; Prof. Horace Webster,
Of N. Y; Prof Che$tor Dewey, of Rochester;
Hon Albert H. Tracy, of Buffalo: Bishop Hop
kins, of Vermont; Frof. c. s. Henry, of n. Y.
John Delafeld, Esq |, of n. Y; Prof Bache, of
Washington; Prot. Mitchell, Of Cincinnati; Prof
Pierce, of Cambrige; Lieut.. N. f. Maury, of
Washington; Prof Hickock, of Union College.
1t will he seen that Lieut.. Maury's letter re-
ports plan for "A National University" Tor
Universities) in compliance with his apoint-
ment as a member of the above Committee -
his plan recommend IS the establishment of a Ma
tional University at Or near Albany, New York;
another at Peoria, Illinois; and a third at Knox
vile, in East Tennessee. These Universities
are by no means I'd interfere with the State
schools, colleges, or Universities; they are to be
for the instruction of men rather than boys; and
are to take up the student where the colleges
and universities of the States leave him, and
carry him on into the inner penetralia of science
and general learning.
In the National Z diversity, Agriculture, that
most important but hitherto neglected depart
ment of study and research, is to be particularly
attended to. This feature will strongly corn
mend itself to the whole country, and will, we
predict give to Lieut.. Maury's project an inter
est and favor with the great body of the peo-
pie, which nothing elBe could have lentit.
As to the constituE Eional power of Congress
to create such an Institution, we presume no
question will be raiseh i. 1t is plainly deducible
from the granted POWERS specified in that instru-
ment; and its exercise, as is shown by Lieut..
Maury, was contemplht and favored long ago
by George Washington himself.
What Lieut. NJ. says Of the fitness Of East
Tennessee as a location for one Of the National
Universities, will meet with the hearty approx
al of every one acquainted with that interesting
division of our State. 1t has been often called
the Switzerland Of America" is noted for the
sublimeness of its climate; and has always been
remarkable for the patriotism and intelligence
of its citizens, as it soon will be, notwithstan-
ding its mountain baTries, for its accessibility
from every part of the Union.