Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-03-31

immortal names tat not born to die ;"-states-
men, to sway the destinies Of nations, -phlcso-
piers to disseminate the pure morality which they
have learned st its shrine, bards, whose "strains
subime" shall long re-echo down the corridors of
Time, "--orators, to thrill the multitude, and enchs
the Senate, mathematics and men Of science,
kings and priests and prophets" of their day. each
one going forth as ''strong msu armed" ready
and willing for the ''work given him to do" And
these men will carry with them through life the To-
fuences of this institution, lit will beget in than
new and noLler sense OF national honor, they viii
cling to their citizenship With unwonted pride, and
the fame and welfare OF their country will become to
them a matter of important moment and individual
concern. q.
! 1t is necessity; the first need of the South at
present is just such an Institution. Well, we should
welcome the necessity if it compsls improvement.
If we sre driven to seek the right even by 'force
Of circumstance" force equally powerful with
that Of steam, we may congratulate ourselves that
it is 'for the best" The reasons why the South
needs such an institution are manifold. Her self
respect, her reputation abroad, her usefulness at
! bone, most imperaively require it. Hitherto she
has been permitted to enter upon the broad and ri
| pened fields Of knowledge not so much psopri
etor, but simple Ruth, cleaning after the reapers,
| who now and then, out of mere compassion ''let
fall few handsful of purpose for her" and allowed
| her to "gean among the sheaves" But let this
enterprise 90 into successful operation, and she
will be no longer the humble cleaner, but the
chosen wife OF wealthy and powerful Boaz,
eating from his table, and surrounded by the
comforts and blessings Of his household. All
thinking minds must desire to see the South
emancipating herself from the educational and lit
erary trammels imposed upon her, and to have
literature of our own we must undoubtedly have
first an educated commonwealth, to create, appre-
ciste, and sustain it. We must train our own
! teachers, professors, authors, and clergy. Self
preservation il tie fret great law Of Nature and if
we would preserve liberties, protect our usti-
buttons, and defend our just rights, the ooly way
lies in sel-educaton II is only by that good blade
that we can dsarm of its sting the Northern sneer
in regard to the "moral destituton of the slave
States" generous competition 10 letters, spring
ing up between the North and South could not but
prove blessing, and this is the only species of ri
valry intended by the founders of this University.
Il wou be grievous error to appeal to sectional
feeling, or prejudice in behalf Of such an enter
prise as the one now under consderati or, entire
" foreign to the ideas of the distinguished church
men engaged IN il. 1t would be doing them an in
justice and grossly misinterpreting their feelings
and intentions. Calculated, if conducted in accOr
dance with their designs, to prove only bond Of
Union, the States al heart, where alone
union is valuable, or efficient, no one could be 30
thoughuess as to attempt to establish it by appeal
ing to the sentiments directly in opposition to its
avowed spirit. 1t has been said OF the principles
which are to govern this enterprise, that they
"strike home powerfully to our fresdes." Yes,
and il is for this very reason that it will be aJ- to
furnish Us with a means of making fast the foun
dations of the State, securing a sound aud healthy
feeling in the social condition, and preserving in
their integrity the great truths Of our holy reli.
gion."
As yet have seen bu. one objection urged
against the establishment Of the proposed Univer-
sty which IL, that it is designed to be under the
entire control of one denomination Of Christians.
The same objection might be urged against almost
every leading ution the Northern States ami
set Southern parents not very scrup Ilous upon
this point when selecting place for The education
Of their children. With us at present. the question
resolves itself into one simp prop )4ilion, viz are
we to have University to be under the control of
one denomination of Christians, or are we not to
haze It at aHF II prejudice eOul 50 govern the
minds OF our people to cause them to choose the
latter alternative, | woul e1chm in utter despair
for them,
"They are Joined to their idols, let them alOnei"
That sectarianism has its evil tendencies, no one
will deny but as have already AFR ned it is not
proposed to interfere with the liberty of con-
science" of any pupil attending this Institution.
Yet, even ifit were SO proposed,-if we must have
sect&rianism, or no religious instruction at ALL |
would cay, by all means, let US have the former.
Rather than sit in total darkness let Us have the
lamp Of one peculiar creed, we shall be benefited
by It's light even if il be not our own particular
star. / am aware thaII will find many ,-perhaps
the majority Of persons, opposed to this opinion
therefore let consider il for few moments.
recognize the fact that many persons 10 this our
lay, "men of mark " they NAV be too, entertain
the idea that he youthful mind should not be pre-.
iadiced % IA (arOr Of religion, nor be taught its
precepts, until, arrived at maturity, il is able to
Judge for ITSELF Such a course might possibly an
swcr If that place 10 the minds garden designed at
maturity to be flled with virtues fAirest flowers,
could remain until that time a perfect vacuum.
But win it remain sog II we do not SOW the good
seed, does not every day experience teach Us that
the tares" viii spriog up 10 that negi,c ted SOIL
and every hour the wild triaE, the thorn aud the
thistle grow broader and higber!" Ii is TACT but
TOO well known to the agriculturst that weeds are
the spontaneous offspring of the soil, while bis
beautiful flowers aud valuable products require not
DOLLY tn be planted, but also his continual in
cultivation And what is obvious in the natural,
is no less true OF the moral world. An aneedote
Of Therwal and Coleri5ae will illustrate this point;
The former entertained similar opinion to that OF
he lree-tbinkess, or perhaps more appropriate
" no-ihinkers, OF our day. showed him, re-
marks cOleridge. " my garden, and told him il was
my botanical garden. How SOL" "he ex-
claimed Z" u is covered with weeds" "0hi
replied. that Is only because Il has not yet come
20 years Of discretion, and choice The weeds you
.,e have taken the liberty grow, whils csosid-
cred Il unfair p ne 70 pr'iadee The soil in lasor OF
osss and strawberries Without foundation in
aasure in reason. or In revelation, the dogma up
aeliby ThsEwal should, ! think, By an enis htsnsd
people, have long since been consigned 70 TIE dark
..Iomb 81 tbs Cap0lsis Bas ~ am 10 error. ia
-, ho,sst opiplon wi!lapy one De Kind enoueh