The Winchester home journal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-12-12
WINCHESTER:
SATURDAY MORNING, deer 10
RctrIsCt Ill

the 9Th inst, we take the following
item in relation 10 the Southern Uni,
versitv, which has been located at Sc.
vance, about twelve miles from this
place:
UNIVERSITY OF IuR SouTn.- Our
Montgomery correspondent informs US
that the Board OF Episcopal Bishops,
who assembled in that city last week
located the university OF the South
at 'Sewancc,' Tenn, on the top Of the
Cumberland Mountain. We had
lively hopes of its being established in
Huntsville, and we yet think it would
have been the most suitable point
The location we think peculiarly un.
fortunate, being on the top of Cumber-
land Mountain. in a region where we
know the horrible poison Milksick to
abound. ...
Now, Mr.. Wigs, when you came to
the word "point," you should have
stopped. Your addition is by no
means creditable to a high, toned and
important journal. 1t displays only a
feeling of prejudice because the To-.
cality of Huntsville was not regarded
as the most favorable spot for the Uni
vcrsity by the men who were selected
as a committee on location. That you
had lively hopes of its being cstab-
lished at Huntsville is not on y pre-
Sumable but commendable, situated
as you are in the midst of its inhabit-
ants. And that you regarded Hunts
vile as the most suitable point, we will
not dispute, nor impugn the motive
that prompted You SO to regard it.
But we do think there are several and
'yeighty considerations that should
have prompted you to stop with those
suggestions, without adding an opin-
ion which we believe you would not
have expressed had you been resi-
dent Of this, your birthplace. Nor do
we think your opinion as to The ''pecu-
culiarly unfortunate" locality of the
University, weighs as heavily as the
opinions Of the most competent engi-
neers that could be found for the pur-
pose of locating it. Those engineers
consisted of Walter Gwynn, of S. G.,
J. l.. Randolph and Theodore s. Gar
nett, of Va, and Chas. r. Barney, of
Md. They thoroughly investigated
the grounds that were indicated by
the Board Of Trustees, and reported
accordingly. Their reports, and the
opinions of scores of outsiders, were
duly canvassed, and it does seem to us
that the decision of the convocation
held al Montgomery must have been
not only the best, but far above the
opinions of those less qualified to
know. The Bishops certainly had
more lucrative offers than were made
in favor of Sewanee, but then they
were determined that money should
not impel them to select location
that nature had made less attractive.
We believe that there never was a
more unbiased and impartial decision
than was made by the Bishops. None
of them had personal desires to graft
fy, even i they had been so disposed.
And if in their wisdom, with the opin-
ions Of so many before them, they
saw fit to locate the University else
where than in the neighborhood Of
Huntsville, why should a report be
recklessly cast upon the public breeze
that the location is an unfortunate onel
What makes it an unfortunate one?
Does its high and noble situation az
fordng a beautiful view Of the plains
below, and the towns and mountains
in the distance-its picturesque scene
rs, its extensive area of fine level
grounds, its abundance of timber,
suitable for all building purposes, and
that "can be secured on the spot" the
large amount of suitable stone near
by, and that "can be worked in ne
most economical manner" the Aun-
dance and cheapness of its sand and
lime. the many and copious springs of
fine chaIybcate and frecstone water,
the large quantity of clay suitable and
convenient for making brick, the ire.