The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-04-01
The University Of the South.

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| Cumberland plateau, called Sewance. and
having finally settled the question uf location,
acomm'ttec consisting of Bishop, Elliott and
roik. the Rev. Alex. Gregg, and Mcssrs Geo.
Fairbanks. and Jno. A. Calhoun W ere appointe ed
TO set forth the reasons Of the decision. md ia
furnish the fullest information us to the ad-
'ah'nges OF the locality. We are Indebted to
a ifirnd FOR copy of this address, which pre-.
sents IN clear point of view. the many con.
siderations which determined the Board to
make Sewanee the site Of the projected Insti
! tuition.
This Institution is intended to concentrate
the patronage Of ten Diocesee Of the Episcopal
Church, extending from the Southern line of
Kentucky and Virginia to the Western limits
OF Texas and Arkansas Though under the
| charge of n church, it is in no sense intended
to be sectarian, hut appeals to the symIathy y
and patronage of men of every name and pro.
| fession at the South 1t is designed to eIe
vate the standard of literary culture and sci.
| entific attainment in our midst, to relieve us
from the necessity Of importing our Instruc.
! tors. moral and intellectual from other lnnds :
and whilst with its ample endowment Of $3 900.
600. it will furnish every literary facility, it
| Will afford an education imbuad with the spi.
rit of our nstitu'ions. and in harmony with
our cherished principles.
The Address sets forth IN detail the alvan-
tagcs of the proposed locntion.-It was desir-
| able that the selection should bc made q fa
central position. of fundoubtcd health. and easy
comnun ication with all parts of the con feie-
ration. and which should be surrounded by n
farming country. furnishing all the neccssari.s
of life Mt moderate expense. Again ns a lit
! erary institution at the South should furnish
employment to the student during the Sum-
rner months, when the paternal mansion is de.
| serted, it should be located in a high mountain
region where the cool brucing climate will re.
store the energies which are wasted by intel.
lectual toll Again the location should possess
| those natural attractions which would mike it
| desirable residence. and thus create n social
atmosphere Of its own around the University.
These advantages nre all combined in the
location which the Board has chosen at Sc
wannHe. 1t stands upon the elevated plateau
OF the Cumberland mountain. 1900 feet above
the level Of the ocenn, possessing n climate
equivalent to that Of Flat Rock in NC IL is
above the level ofinlermittent disease is bles-
sed with an abundance of the purest water, is
covered with excellent timber has the very
best building stone. and an inexhnustiblc SUD-
ply of fuel in the coal mines at irs very door
and is connected by Railroad with one of the
richest farming countries Of the West. Form
ing the Eastern limit Of the Great Mississipni
valley. and easy of accass nj many points il
must form the Summer resort Of those W ealthy
planters, who desire to recruit their fam nilies
during the Summer months, ut a convenient
distance from their planting interest
After clear and forcible statement of the
advantages Of the proposed location the Ad-
dress concludes with the following eloquent ap
peal in behalf of the University which must
find a response in every Southern breast:
Such are the reasons which have induced the
Board Of Trustees t" adhere to their choice of
Scwnnee as the fttest site for the University.
They have had but one object in view. the best
interests Of the Institution which they are en-
deavoI ing 10 create for the benefit and bles.
sing of the Southern States. Could they have
been swayed by any merccnary or short sight
ed motives, inducements of pecun iury Kind
would have directed their attention elsewhere.
But they were acting under solemn Sense of
the deep responsibility which rested upon them
in this matter. They felt that they had vuun-
teered to perform for the South work which
was to bless it for ages to come, which WAS to
mould its morals and its learning. which was
to raise its trailing banner from the dust and
plant it upon ali equal height with those of
other civilized people. lfthey failed. the scheme
was likely to fail with them. Its very marni-
tude would prevent Others from undertaking
It, and there would be IL" hope Of high scholar
ship engendered among ourselves. We should
continue to be dependents in this as in every
thing else. We should continue to impurt
Teachers. Clergymen. Professors, and Literary
men from other lands We should return moth.
ing to the common stock of literature and
science and should he aliens from the common
wealth Of letters. We should leave our ipsti-
tutions With the stigma resting upon them of
degrading instead Of elcvating our social con.
dition. All these consequences were before us
when we made our choice. and in full view of
them, with a holy pride for the elevation of
our homes, with becoming zeal for the moral
culture of our people. with love, pa assing the
love of woman. for the land of the sun and
the slave. we were willing to stake our iudg.
men,s upon the selection aud leave it to timc to
vindicRte its soundness.
And we call upon the men Of the South to
rally around us: not upon churchmen only.
but upon all good men and true Of whatever
name and profession We have undertaken
this thing q Church. because there was no
other way of doing it. The government OF
such an university must be an unit. harmonious
in its principles views and feelings But it il
in no sense intended to be sectarian Ita curricu-
lum will extend through every branch of lear.
ming and science-its doors will be open To still
dents Of every name and sect-its conduct will
be Catholic in the very highest sense of the
word. Ii the Stntes could have done this
work, we should have let il alone. But they
could not accomplish it, for there can he nc
unity in State Institution. 1t can be accom-
plisl,ed only through body. whose principles
are settled whose basis is immovable. whose
officers are permanent, whose spirit while de-
termined, is large and comprehensive. Conf
dent in our possession of these things we have
undertaken this task We have shadowe ed
forth our ideal-we have laid the foundation.
broad and deep 1t RENAME for you to rail-,
around us. and by your wealth, your counsel
your active co operation, to enable us to build
up an University which ehall offer your son,
the highest literary culture, which shall sur
round your homes with the, refinement %
scholarship aud piety. and which shall yindi
| cate the Southern States from the obloauy O.
ignorance and barbarism.