The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-04-25
From the Mobile Register.
The University Of the South.

| the UfsJ secular JOuTnal lnaL Hau HlduS HlOIe
| than a casual allusion to the subject-sketehe1
the plan and scope ofthis great institution, ma
| nv Of our readers may have supposed that en-
| thusiasm for the scheme had seduced our i'm
agination, and that, as in an artists portrait
Of his lady -love, our canvas reflected rather the
glowing hues Of cherished ideal than the
faithful lineaments Of q sober reality. The
report of the COMMITTEE of the Trustees TO
draft constitution and code of statutes for
the University" enables US to say that not
only did we then correctly describe the de-
sign but so far from exaggerating its compre-
hensiveness, our description fell short Of its ac-
tual magnitude If carried out-and there is
every human probability in its favor-not
France, nor Germany, nor England, will have
University equal TO ours, and in less than
one generation, students from the Old World
may come to seek knowledge on the noun
tain plateau of Sewanee. Indeed, we fear,
that Of those who read this report, many, Ia
king for their standard Of comparison the mod
cit dimensions of our educational institutions,
will be started by the grandeur of the concep-
ton and think our strength and resources in
commensurate to its execution. Let those
who conceive such doubts, consider the prince
| Iy munifcence which nine Southern States
| have shown to the work, the consummate
! prudence with which the founders Of the in
| stitutiOn have secured it against all the chan
ces Of failure that human wisdom could fore
| see Let it be kept in mind that no step has
been made or will be made except upon ground
proved solid, that nothing is left to hope, that
| not only no debts will be incurred but nnta
| dollar of invested capital expended, hu. that
| the whole growth Of the institution will be on
the income derived from its productive prop
! erty. And if, despite this, some doubts should
/ still remain as to the expediency of aiming so
high, let it be considered that the object is not
merely to establish an academic institution in
which school boys are taught smattering Of
Latin and Greek and little mathematician
| is to give to the South University in the
fullest sense Of that word, temple Of learn
| ing, where the lovers Of science Of any age or
class may find those appliances and facilities
to which individual efforts are inadequate.
The first requisite of such an institution IS
that it possess the dignity which commands
respect and impresses the imagination. Say
what we please OF the beauty Of science and
the nobility of intellect, this is to a great ex-
tent a question of money. We live in an age
when gold is potent, and wise men adapt their
means to the practical exigencies of attendant
circumstances. 1t is therefore proper that
| the scale of salaries of all connected with the
| University be such as to command the servi-
ces of men Of high social positions. Thus the
Vice. Chancellor, or real head of the UNIVERSE
| ty, receives a handsome residence and 5000
per annum. Each of the professors, besides
a residence, receives $1,000 per annum and
an interesest in the tuition fees Of his school,
which shall not exceed $1,000 more. The
heads of the professional schools, law, medi-
cine, theology, and practical agriculture will
probably receive greater compensation.
,af 10 ,l.av- ,f hsrNrv
thus making SO many distinct professorships,
besides the number Of assistant Professors,
tina. in course OF time will become necessary.
The arrangement Of these thirty schools is adj
mirable the most critical examination has
not enabled us to detect one useless division or
homogeneous grouping Among them we no.
tice, to our great qualification chair Of Eth
nology and Universal Geography, cognate and
inseparable sciences Thus the University Of
the South, in spirit truly southern, and with
a far-seeng perception of the necessities Of our
time and civilization, has for the first time re-
cognized the science which teaches the apti-
tudes and comparative position Of different hui
man races, as entitled to equal rank with the
older and traditional divisions Of profane learn
ing.
We notice with pleasure, too, the provision
for Fellowships. From among the Masters
Oh ATIS OF the OuiNeISlIy luTee rSllOWs may
be annually elected, the tenure OF each Fell
| lywship being for five years and to be vacated
in case of election to higher office. The privi-
leges of Fellowship are the free occupancy of
asuite Of rooms and an ualstipend of $500,
with liberty to take private pupils. Thus
young man of limited means having diligently
completed his academic education and distin-
gu;shed himself for unexceptional conduct is
assured Of an honorable position and means Of
assistance for the few years necessary to per-
feet permanent career and during that time
continues to enjoy the facilities and advanta-
ges Of the first University in America.
We have not space to enter into all the fea-
lures Of the Constitution and Code Of Statutes
as reported by the committee appointed for
that purpose. Suffice it that the University
combines all the best features Of the English,
French, and German systems, and enjoys an
inestimable advantage over all its rivals in
that the latter were either founded in the twi-
light period of modern civilization or framed
in slavish i'm tation Of such medieval models
Thus it is quite possible for an English stu
dent to graduate with ordinary distinction at
Oxford or at Cambridge without having any
critical acquaintance with his own native
tongue or knowing anything Of the natural
science at all. In no University that we know
of excepting ours are the Natural Sciences,
Political Economy, the Philosophy Of Com
merce, Engineering, the Modern Languages,
all these important elements of modern civili-
cation, placed on an equal footing with the
study Of the Classics and Mathematics The
immense changes in the ideas and the neces-
sites Of mankind which distinguish our age
from all others, have hitherto been ignored
or only reluctantly admitted within UNIVERSE
~ walls, and for any practical effect they
have had on the system OF scholastic instruc-
ton, all knowledge worth knowing might still
be locked up in Greek and Latin manuscripts;
the telegraph need not have revolutionized our
IDEAS of space; steam vessels need not plough
the eacean wave steadily through storm and
calm railroads need not have pierced noun
tains and bridged valleys and brought the
most distant nations within ear-shot Of each
other chemistry which enters into every de-
partment Of science and daily life, might still
be puerlle effort to convert the basest me-
tails into gold and to concOct an elixir Of
Life" Petrified scholastcism has hitherto
been proof against all the appeals Of common
sense that system which was admirable in
the fourteenth century is obsolete in the nine
teenth, and 1t has hitherto contested ITSELF not
to mt man for the practical pursuits OF life,
but to leave him to fit himself as best he can.
after having given it his best years. The men
tai training resulting from harsh curriculum
OF studies has been-- nearly the whole benefit
that the student derived from his COLLEGE
course, and most men make haste to forget
that painfully acquired knowledge which does
not assist them in their several walks Of life.
In THESE remarks we do not undervalue the
Importance OF classical studies we only pro-
test against converting delightful couch into
procrnstean bed OF torture. We only urge
o. =,
be adapted to the aims and wants of adyapc-
ing civilization. This the University of the
South has undertaken to do, and in doing il
has lett all competitors centuries behind. and
placed the South in the front rank of civilized
nations.
With our heart warmed by the contemnla-
ton OF thus magnificent scheme, we must vet
point out one deficiency which we hope 10 see
supplied Ia the definite adoption of a Consti-
tuition or Code OF Statutes. A University like
that in progress must attract a great number
of students OF mature age. Abandoning the
senseless imitation which would transpoTt the
seasons of Northern Europe into semi.tropi.
cal region, 1t conforms to the climatic laws of
our latitude by holding its scolastic wear dn-
ring the summer months. The cool breezes
Of the mountain plateau on which it erects its
seat, will invite the parched sojourner Of dusty
Ctu0S W Vue VI suS must ueHShIiul summer
resorts within the South. Elegant and taste
ful residences will spring up all around il.
where the parents may enjoy the presence of
a cultivated and refined society. Busy men.
relieved from the ordinary routine of their la
bors, may give additional relish to their re-
taxation by the indulgence Of some fayorite
taste. The practical planter may find an in
ereSt in listening TO the lectures of some dis
.inguiShed authority on practical Agrieul
ure" A large landowner may sit under the
teachings Of celebrated Professor on "ATines
md Mining" Even the experienced engineer
nay refresh his earlier learning in the 'sSchool
# Civil Engineering and Architecture" The
merchant may hear with pleasure the course
n the "SSchool Of Commerce and Tradep in
luding the history and laws of Banking. E&-
hange, Insurance, Brokerage, go Nav.
.atrnn statesman might he nttra,,.l l.. -