The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-02-06
AN IMPORTANT MEASURE


.1ti. tf For the Poet.
NJ. Edifor:--whilea severe cough confines
me 70 my house, l cannot, perhaps, do bet
ter thing than to give TO you and to your MI.
msrous readers some account Of an institution
which We Eplscopaians propose to establish
here in East Tennessee. Many Of nv friends
and perhaps some Of your readers, may re.
member to have heard me speak. years AGO.
Of the dssirableness and feasibility Of such
an institution being established among us
that this portion Of the State, where the
whole system Of Southern and South w estern
Railroads find common focus and ceutre.
seemed to be marked out by these improve.
ments, and by other advantages, as the edu.
cational region-that Is, where not only ,pe
but all other religions and charitable bodies
might find salubrious, beautiful, plenteous.
central and accessible region, in which the
sons and daughters Of the South might be ed.
ucated. And this idea seems to have taken
possession Of manyukher minds besides my
own.
y said the thought had occurred to me years
go. Indeed, I have often given il expression
in public addresses in nearly every city In
the South, but it was not until in June last
that met in New Orleans an individual of
name character, position and influence, who
himself, when q resident of Tennessee, had
then and afterwards thought of the same
the present able and pious Bishop Of Louisi
ana. who, with large and wise forecast, EN-.
braced the magnificent SCHENECTADY its need
it's feasibility, and triumphant success. If
rightly presented and managed. Before left
him II was agreed that he should issue an ad-
dress to our leading men in ten Of the South.
ern and Southwestern States, viz: in North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama
Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkan-
and Tennessee, proposing to our friends
n those States that they should unite with
us in an effort to establish Oh an institu.
tion--which we will henceforth call the
South western Jniversity---on broad and
liberal basis, and the Southeastern corner of
Tennessee was named as good location, as
being somewhere near the centre of the ter.
ritory proposed to be united in this effort
That address was issued in July last, and it
was well received. In October our friends
who had been addressed by Dr. Polk had a
meeting. or rather several meetings, in which,
with great unamty and credibiity, they con
Cured in the scheme and resolved to recon.
mend to the several Diocesan Conventions,
and to all our people, and the friends of the
measure generally. to unite in this effort
At this meeting second address was issued,
and which is now widely disseminated among
our friends in these ten States, and which, 50
far as ! have heard. has been received with
universal approval. The substance Of their
suggestions is, THAT for us there is o great
educational necessity, inasmuch as we have
not single college or school for our sons in
in all Of these ten States" and "the ooliga
ton to make suitable provision for the
intellectual, moral and religious training of
our youth has never seemed so pressing as at
this moment;-for at no time, in all the past,
have we been so threatened with the spread
e n,,,1
therefore, has there been so great a call to
put into operation and multiply agencies
whose high conservatism shall furnish us with
the means of making fast the foundations of
the State, securing a sound and healthy feel
ing in the social condition, and preserving in
their integrity the great truths Of our holy
religion" 1t will be seen, therefore, that the
whole tone Of our proposed institution will
be Southern, but at the same time constitu.
tional and Union.loving, and also conserva-
tive.
The address then pays we'll deserved tri.
butte to ''the high character and eminent ser
vices Of many of the institutions already ex-
listing in these several States--tbat these in.
stitutions, whether founded 10y the States Sc.
verally, or by one or other Of the religious
denominations, have discharged the duty of
| training those committed to their care with
honorable success and on an extended scale
and that the capabilities and claims of these
institutions cannot be ,spoken of otherwise
than in terms of the higt est respect and vene.
ration. Still it is believed that the whole
ground is not occupied-that the work to he
done is beyond the power Of the laborers who
are employed in it-and that the entrance Of
another institution, Of high grade, upon the
field to be cultivated, so far from being un
called for, should be hailed as a welcome al
ly." And welcomed. doubt not, our insti
tuition will be, by all generous and patriotic
minds-especially when they see that, will
on honorable and noble desire for good only
we desire to enter upon the same career o
usefulness that for so long has distinguished
others; and when they see, also, that we &C
knowledge our obligations to the severa
States that afford us protection. to contribut,
what we can to the consolidation of the
power. the perpetuity of their duration, ant
to the honor and well being of common
country that hitherto has thrown over all tn
broad shield Of the Constitution of Law an,
Order With these obligations, due to pat
riotism and to the love of country, we ais
acknowledge those that are due to our pos
!, terity, ITO originate some plan for the benefi
Of our offspring, and for whose careful train
, ing we are deeply responsible, not only t
them but to their and our country, to thei
3 and our God"
o In this view OF our necessities, THAT ar
common to all these States alike and whic
y are so pressing that no time should be lost i
l. relieving them, "the conclusion is arrived
that no plan seems so promising and effectut
as that which would unite the energies an
: resources Of all our friends in these ten Stat,
in one common effort. Thus united, it is pr,
posed that all our strength shall be exerted
= founding an institution upon scale of sue
n magnitude as shall answer all our wants.
j. This we propose shall be University, wit
d all the Faculties upon plan so extensive
q to comprise the whole course usually embra
ed in the most approved institutions of til,
grade, whether at home or abroad"
owe are aware" says the address, Il
N the magnitude of our enterprise--the lar,
q. amount of capital necessary for its foundatio
and the very weighty responsibility restil
upon those who shall be charged with the d
10 ty Of shaping its plans and conducting the
ID to q snceessful contamination. But when '
n reflect upon the farreaching and pervadil
If influences for good such an institution mu
- exert upon all the best interests Of the cou
;. try, religion, and rosterity; and reflect, al.
20 upon the extent Of the field whence we pr
. pose to draw, not only the means for its
tablishment, but the minds to found and &c
ern it, and the students (which we hope m
n be numbered by hundreds to fill it, we da
ar not hesitate to believe that all the resourt
Of necessary, of whatever description, are vii
in our reach and will be forthcoming as so
as they shall be needed"
IN, There is thus presented and developed,
es measure, which cannot but regard as t
IRE most important, In view Of its relations e,