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

. An educational movement commenced some
n I'm since under the auspices of the ten Southern
bishops OF the Episcopal Church.
Inc design originated with Bishop Polk, of Ioui-
siaha, IN 1896. During the year he succeeded in
2motainlng the cooperation of the Bishops of the
DioceSes included within the plan, and it subse-
quently 1ully endorsed by the clergy and laty at
all the Diocesan Conventions. These Conventions
appointed trustees to meet in conference and settle
inc plan OF proceeding, and organize a system for
cooperation. That Convention of trustees met on
the 4th OF July last, at the Lookout Mountain, in
tne vicinity OF Chattanooga, in the State of Ten
hessee. The Bishops, with lay delegates from most
OF the States, and trustees duly chosen, formed a
numerous body of distinguished men,
They framed declaration of PRINCIPLES and basis
OF action for the founding of university on an ex
tensve scale; completed the permanent orpapiza-
ton OF Board of Trustees and appointed Business
Committees for the preparation of charter. the
colieetlon OF information on the subject of SITE
the preparing OF the ways and means and the de-
termlnlng 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, a site was 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 OF 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, ofwhich land the beauty.
saubrity, 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, singularly adapted to the
wants and uses of the University
have visited all the places offered and examined
them with an eye specially directed to the particu
lars required to be combined in location suitable
for our purposes, and have hesitation in saving
every other presented Its health is unrivaled its
water abundant and pure, it is surrounded by a
country OF rare vertility and beauty and great ex
tent 1t has easy to any amount of fuel in the
forest and mines; building material of several va
reies of sand and lime stone is abundant and at the
door; lumber of the best description and in any
quantity is 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
cllity by railroad running through the centre of
this domain and connecting Immediately with that
system of railroads which as radii penetrate the
whole circle of the surrounding States.
The climate is among its greatest attractions. 1t
Is as cool as new England in summer, is free from
It's intense rigors in winter and its elevation ex-
efmpts it from the chilling damps of the New Eng
iand spring, and at the same time raises it above
the level OF the intermttents of our Southern au-
tumn. In short, we have reason to be grateful to
God for having thrust down into our cotton zone a
plateau so accessible and so admirably adapted in
every particular a 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 proprietors of the adjacent territory, with adj
ditionai facilities, among which is the right to cut