The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-07-05
AN IMPORTANT EDUCATIONAL MOVEMENT
IN THE SOUTH.


An educational movement was commenced some
time since under the auspices of the ten Southern
Bishops of the Episcopal Church.
The design originated with Bishop Polk, of Loui-
siana, in 1856. During the year he succeeded in
obtaining the cooperation Of the Bishops of the
Doceses included within the plan, and it was subse
quently fully endorsed by the clergy and laty at
all the Diocesan Conventions. These Conventions
appointed trustees to meet in conference and settle
the plan of proceeding, and organize system for
cooperation. That Convention of trustees met on
the 4th of July last, at the Lookout Mountain, in
the vicinity of Chattanooga, in the State of Ten
nessee. The Bishops, with lay delegates from most
of the States, and trustees duly chosen, formed
numerous body of distinguished men.
They framed declaration principles and basis
of action for the founding of a university ex-
tensive scale; completed the permanent organiza-
ton of Board of Trustees and appointed Business
Committees for the preparation of a charter, the
collection of information on the subject of site,
the preparing of the ways and means, and the de-
termining of the whole mode of procedure in the
work. The Board then adjourned to meet at Mont
gomery, Ala. in November last.
At that Convention, which was also fully attend
ed, site unanimously agreed upon for the To-
cation of the University, subject only to the con-
ditiOn that a satisfactory arrangement could be
made with the proprietors of the property, and
that act of Incorporation acceptable to the Board
could be obtained from the State of Tennessee
The title selected was that of university of the
South
The place selected for the site is at Sewannee on
the plateau or the Cumberland Mountains, In the
State of Tennessee and the domain secured to the
University, by incontestible title, consists of six
thousand acres of land, of which land the beauty,
salubrity, accessibility, and other physical advan-
tages of the spot Bishop Polk-whO was Chairman
of the Committee on Locations-speaks in the fol-
lowing glowing terms, as singulary adapted to the
wants and uses of the University
have visited all the places offered, and examined
them with eye specially directed to the particu
lars required to be combined in a location suitable
for purposes, and have no hesitation in saving
every other presented Its health is unrvalled its
water abundant and pure, it is surrounded by
country of vertility and beauty and great ex-
tent it has easy access to any amount of fuel in the
forest and Mines building material of several va
rieties of sand and lime stone abundant and at the
door; lumber of the best description and in any
quantity is as readily at hand. 1t is in the centre
of domain of above 5000 acres of land secured
to the University, and is reached with perfect ia
cility by railroad running through the centre of
this domain and connecting Immediately with that
whole circle of the surrounding States.
The climate is among its greatest attractions. 1t
is as cool England in summer, is free from
its intense rigors in winter, and its elevation ex-
empts it from the chilling damps of the New Eng
land spring, and at the same time raises it above
the level of the intermittents of our Southern au-
tumn. In short, we have reason to be grateful to
God for having thrust down into our cotton a
plateau so accessible and so admirably adapted in
every particular as refuge for our children dur
ing the period of their educational training, and
so well fitted for the development of their mental,
moral and physical natures.
This tract has been given to the University by
the propretors of the adjacent territory with ad-
u'lonai facilities, among which is the right to cut