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


Mr.. Editor:-Whilea severe cough confines
me to my house, cannot, perhaps, do bet
ter thing than to give to you and to your nu
merous readers some account OF an institution
which We Episeopslians propose to establish
here in East Tennessee Many of my friends,
| and perhaps some Of your readers, may re.
member to have heard me speak, years ago,
OF the desirableness and feasibility of such
an institution being established among US
that this portion Of the State, where the
whole system Of Southern and South western
Railroads find common focus and ceutre,
seemed to be marked out by these improve.
ments, and by other advantages, as the edu-
catonal region-that is, where not only ,ce
but all other religious 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 many other minds besides nv
own.
said the thought had occurred to me years
ago. Indeed, have often given it 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 a resident Of Tennessee, had
then and afterwards thought of the same
thing. This individual was the Rev. Dr. Polk,
the present able and pious Bishop of Louisi
ana. who, with large and wise forecast, en-
braced the magnificent scheme-saw its need,
its feasibility. and triumphant success, if
rightly presented and managed. Before left
him it 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, Ala bama
Florida, Mississippi Louisiana, Texas, Arkan-
sas and Tennessee, proposing to our friends
in those States that they should unite with
us in an effort to establish such an institu-
tion-which We will henceforth call the
South western Jniversity-on a broad and
liberal basis, and the South eastern corner Of
Tennessee was named rs a good location, as
being somewhere near the centre. of the ter.
rtcry 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 DIR. Polk had
meeting, or rather several meetings, in which,
with great unamity and credibility, 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 a second address was issued,
and which is now widely disseminated among
our friends in these ten States, and which, 50
| far as j have heard. has been received with
universal approval. The substance of their
suggestions is, THAT for us there is q 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.
tion 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
of the widest opinions; and at no period.
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 consttu-
tiona and Union-loving, and also conserva
tive.
The address then pays well.deserved tri-
butte to "the high character and eminent ser
vices Of many Of the institutions already ex-
listing in these several States-that these in
stitutions, whether founded by 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 or an extended scale
and that the capabilities and claims of these
institutions cannot be spoken of otherwise
than in terms Of the highest respect and vene-
ration. Still it is believed that the whole
ground is not occuped-that the work to be
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 I'M
called for, should be hailed as a welcome al
ly." And welcomed, doubt not, our Insti-
tuition will be, by all generous and patriotic
mnds-especially when they see that, with
an honorable and noble desire for good only,
we desire to enter upon the same career Of
usefulness that for so long has distinguished
Others; and when they see, also, that we &C
knowledge our obligations to the several
States that afford us protection. to contribute
what we can to the consolidation Of their
power the perpetuity of their duration, and
to the honor and we'll being of common
country that hitherto has thrown over all the
broad shield of the Constitution. of Law and
Order. With these obligations, due to pat
riotism and to the love Of country we also
acknowledge those that are due to our pos.
terity, "to originate some plan for the benefit
Of our offspring, and for whose careful train.
ing we are deeply responsible, not only to
them. but to their and our country, to their
and our God"
In this view OF our necessities, that are
common to all these States alike and which
are so pressing that no time should be lost in
relieving them, 'the conclusion is arrived at
that no plan seems so promising and effectual
as that which would unite the energies and
resources of all our friends in these ten States
in one common effort Thus united, it is pro-
posed that all our strength shall be exerted in
founding an institution upon scale OF such
magnitude as shall answer all our wants
This we propose shall be UNIVERSITY, with
all the Faculties upon plan so extensive as
to comprise the whole course usually embrac-
ed in the most approved institutions Of that
grade, whether at home or abroad"
1--WE are aware" says the address, "of
the magnitude of our enterprise-the large
amount Of capital necessary for its foundation,
and the very weighty responsibility resting
upon those who shall be charged with the du-
ty of shaping its plans and conducting them
to q successful contamination. But when we
reflect upon the far.reaching and pervading
influences for good such an institution must
exert upon all the best interests OF the coun.
try, religion, and posterity; and reflect, also,
| upon the extent Of the field whence we pro-
pose to draw, not only the means for its es.
tablshment, but the minds to found and gov
ern it, and the students (which we hope may
be numbered by hundreds,) to fill it, we dare
not hesitate to believe that all the resources
necessary, of whatever description, are with.
1 n 4 r