Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-31

deliberatIon.. and very extensive consultation
among the leading minds of the South, and
the preliminary arrangements are, as we IN
derstand. now so thoroughly perfected that
the trustees are prepared to make their appli-
cation for the large pecnniary aid which they
have reason to look for from the intelligence
the patriotism, and the interest of the South
ern people.
We have heretofore mentioned in their or
der the measures, originating with the Bishops
of ten of the dioceses of the Episcopalian
Church in the Southern States. for the estab-
lishment of this university to be of the
highest order for the purpose of complete edn-
cation. and for that purpose to be endowed
in the most ample manner. A charter Of the
most liberal kind, drawn up by the friends of
the institution. has been obtained. and extern
sive grants of land. and privileges and facili-
ties conceded for the ere elton of the necessary
buildings ON suitable scale at the place
which has been selected as the site of the in
stitgtiOn.
The selection of a site was a subject of
some difficulty, and originally of considerable
diversity of opinion. The Board of Trustees
at their meeting held in July last at Beershe-
ba Springs. rcaffirmed the decision made at
Montgomery. Alabama, the previous Novem-
Der, in favor OF that portion of the plateau of
the Cumberland Mountains in Tennessee call
ed Sewanee. They appointed committee.
compns' of Bishops Elliot, of Georgia, Polk,
Of Louisiana. Gregg. of South Carolina. and
Fairbanks. of Florida. and the Hon. Jno. A.
Calhoun. of South Carolina, to st forth the
reasons for that situation. and present the
public with the fullest information to the
topography and advantag of the site.
The report of this committee is now before
MS, just received from Sat annah. where il has
been publish d under the direction of Bishop
Elliot. 1t is a pamphl t of sixteen pages
and contains two large maps. one illustrating
the communication by railroads and other
routes of travel. which makes the place ac-
cessibe, with speed and comfort from all parts
of the country; and the other and larger one
showing tn lands upon which the university
is 10 be built. with the vicinage the plat
eau, and beyond the slopes, on all sides, with
a geological section of the elevation. These
maps will. we understand, be separated from
the pamphlet and hung mp in public places
for general inspection.
The conditions for a site to answer the pur-
poses of such an institution as this Is propos-
ed to be. are that it should he as nearly cen
trail rs possible inclining as far a. practicable
westward, in which direction population ex-
paudS. That it should offer undoubted health
fulness-Of easy communication in all dirrc-
tions-and that it should be in an agricultural
region competent to furnish the necessary
supplies for the population it is desired to
intimately connected with the social life OF
the South, was also to he considered. In the
Northern colleges, to which our children are
mostly sent, the season of study Is the winter
vacations and relaxation aud travel are
for the summer. In the South. our plantations
and our cities are abandoned for travel at the
time when pupils are relieved from studies.
and they lose the home education and associ-
ations which are of the mot precious value
to them as heads of Southern families. The
vacation from studies, IN the South, should he
for these Objects. in the wintcr months and
one great desidtratum was to find a Southern
location i'll which academical pursuits may
continue through summer ard the students be
sent home when the family circle is complete
and the business of home life is in full agtivi-
ty on the plantation or in the cities Of the
South.
The lofty table land of the Cumberland
plateau, protruding itself into the centre of
The cotton growing region, fertile accessible.
hralthful, and so cool in the hot seasons as
not to imp-de intellectual labor. presented
advantages of the most decided character.
The table land is 1000 feet above the sea
level possessing climate equivalent to that
Of the Flat Rock in North Carolina. Ii is
above the level of all intermittent diseases
and has abundance of the purest water, and
in the neighbOrhoOd a variety of valuable
medical springs. 1t is covered with a great
variety of the finest timber. 1t has ineXhaus-
tible quantities of the finest building stone
and coal mines, on the spot, worked by a
wealthy company. 1t is not "a region of peaks
but elevated table land, with an area from ten
10 twenty miles in width, and reached already
hy the s vance Railroad. which connects with
the Nashville and Chattanooga road at a dis
lance of fifteen miles. a road is already
guaranteed by citz ms in the vicinity, from
the Chattanooga road to the University
grounds, and the Chattanooga road is an ave
nue. to the who'll country. A glance at The
map shows that by the network of railroads
Scwanee, although near no large city. can be
reached from all points of the ten Southern
Statcs-Texas only eXccptcd-within forty
eight hours and from most of the principal
cities in thirty hours: aud the chain of tele-
graphic communication follows the railroad.
The sc .nery il described as extremely pictu-
RESCUE and beautiful ,offcI ing inducements for
another purpose. for which this university is
warmiysustained by large class four citizen.
The vicinity affords every attraction for the
erection of country residences, healthful and
delightful for Southern families to be near
their children in the pleasant summer months.
and thus preferable to the point tor relaXa-
tioa at the Northern watering-places. In the
vicinity of great literary institution, a re-
fined population may grow up. and the add
vantage of cultivated association furnished
to pupils infinitely to be preferred to that
which they might fad associated with SO much
p ril. int he great cities.
Such is general rccapitulatiOn of the adj
vantages assigned to the position selected
and OF SOM Of the peculiar benefits expected
from the proposed institution. They have
the sanction of the best names in the South
ern country. and thy Offer satisfactory evil
dcnce that the plan is well maturtd, aud that
nothing has been overlooked or neglected
which gives il claim TO the confidence OF
the Southern people.
The work is now ready TO be presented for
the material support which it requires To car
ry up the magnificent sign thus far laid on
solid basis into a complete structure for the
highest order of usefulness to the whole
country. The faithful trustees having done
their work of preparation, are about 10 make
an application To the intelligence aud the
wealth Of the South, for the means to build
up this university. They have reason to eX-
pet large. liberal and prompt aid. While
the plans were undeVelOp"d they had gencr-
Gus assurance of support from various quar-
tiers so soon as they should b. in condition
To employ it, and in its present condition, be-
fore the public has been formally appealed to
or any canvass been attempted. several mn-
niiccnt donations have been prolfered, In sin-
gle sums from five thousand 10 twenty-five
thousand dollars.
The season Is propitious for ready listen
ing To such appeals. The whole Southern
country is prosperous. The crops OF all
kinds are abundant, aud prices are good.
The planters and the merchants are all easy,
and indeed rich. There is no cloud ahead 10
chill them with fears for the future, and one
OF present abundance. There never was
greater ability 30 provide for great public
want, to bestow on the present and future
gene rations greater benefit, which will be of
inesiilnable aud enduring value. pro-
In another respect also, the times are lite