The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-12-25
UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH.
IFor the Postl

great purpose. Inc original projectors were
gentlemen Of enlarged views, great public
spirit, and active christian benevolence. The
announcement, from the beginning, that such
an Institution was even in contemplation
was hailed with acclamations of delight from
one end Of the Southern country to the other,
while its imposing Inauguration in July last
seemed to be but the precursor Of brilliant
future. Such an Institution was looked to as
q chief element in the future elevation Of the
South, to literary as well as commercial in
dependence-equal, as an integral part OF
our great Union, to any other portion Of the
confederacy, in all that relates to educational
as well as physical greatness. Indeed it was
grand idea-this heralding, upon the point
Of Look Out of this new order of things
this new declaration of independence. Great
minds were at work in unfolding new and
momentous schemes-practical men were
there, men of business. looking to the com:
mercial advantages to result to our Southern
Characterization men were there, their hearts
absorbed in the contemplation Of the noble
structure about to be raised in dedication to
Religion-literary men, men Of genius and
lovers Of the real in art and learning, were
there, their faces glowing with q new inspira-
tion, and their hearts full of new hopes for
the dawning of brighter and a more glori
GUS day about to beam upon the Southern
mind. All in all, it seemed to augur brill
liant contamination of a long deferred hope.
1t was knswn that the Protestant Episcopal
Church was great--greatin influence, power
full in intellect, unbounded in christian liber.
atty, and abundant in means. Success thus
seemed certain, beyond the possibility of
contingency. But the only difficult and EN-
barrassing point in the way was yet to settle.
l aliude, Of course, to that of location-cer.
tainly the most important Of all the questions
connected with the enterprise. And now,
since this location has been made, the ques.
tion forces itself upon the minds of all who
have had the subject at heart: "Has not
mistake been made in the selection of the
point of locationl" Was it designed that
the Institution should be practical in its
workings-was it intended that it should be
a working ooncern-was it intended to be.
come lever in the advancement of the world
to greatness by seizing upon society in the
very midst of it, and lending an efficient hand
where blows fall thickest, and energy and
labor and toll amongst the mass, alone com
mands SUGGEST Then, the location is mis-
taken one. To throw itself into the breach,
or to lay hold upon the great wheels Of soci-
ETY., it was necessary to place itself in such
position as to become part of that society,
to sympathze in its workings, and to aid ia
all its efforts by its mighty influence in the
great development of human progress. 1t
should not. like the baronial tower of some
isolated lord of the olden time, be perched
upon the peak Of a lofty mountain, above the
hum of the busy multitude, but should mix
itself with that multitude by its example
and its practical bearings SO as to impress its
influence upon the community, and to be i'm
pressed in turn by that community in those
ohihSo thhb iSiaec w pFuCttSc III CuuCatiou.-
The world has at length laid aside the trans.
cendental, and education is no longer to be
unmixed with the business, with the avoca-
tions and with the daily pursuits of life
The proper location for such an enterprise
would have been in a centre of influence
Huntsville, with its beautiful evergreens and
brilliant society. and inexhastible supply of
water, would have been hailed with delight
as the point of location. McMinnville, with
its health and beauty of scenery, would have
been readily acquiesced in. Atlanta, with its
manifold iron arms stretching in all direc.
tions, seemed to call loudly for the appoint.
ment there And any point in East Tennes.
see, from Knoxville to the Georgia line, with
its unsurpassed healthfulnsss, it's teeming
population, it's great accessibility, it's bubhling
springs and gentle breezes, itsmountain scene
ny and gushing rivers-all, all, would indi-
cate it as the point above all others suited for
such an institution. speak not of the par
ticular objections to Sewanee-to the smoke
of the coal pits. the steep grades of the
railroads. the alleged unhealthiness on ac-
count Of local causes-but speak Of the 10.
cation as citizen of the South, having an
interest in common with all the citizens of
the South. l speak as one who, from the
fret, has treasured this great enterprise as
one OF the chief means in the salvation Of the
South, when | say that fear a great mistake
has been made in the choice Of a location,
and one, too, that will prove fatal to its in.
terests. ANXIOUS.
GOVERNOR WALKER.-The Washington cor.
respondent of the New York Post writes:
Mr.. Jefferson Davis boasts that he intends
to "wool Douglas" in speech in the Senate.