Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-05
rRInAY. oCToRER 5. Isee.
PROPOSITION TO ESTABLISH A COL
LEGE-WHAT HAS BEEN DONE
THE LOCATION. ETC.

PROPOSITION TO ESTABLISH A COL
LEGE-WHAT HAS BEEN DONE
THE LOCATION. ETC.
FDrToRs UNION AND AMERIcAs: In th
summer Of 1860, several gentlemen, citizen
of Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Geor
gia. and, believe, Virginia and Arkansas
accidentally met. either nj or near Nash
vile. They were all, or most Of them, mel
Of wealth and intelligence. In addition d
this, they were the active and jealous friend
of Education The subject Of an institution
Of learning Of high order-a first class col
lege ii you please-located IN Middle Ten
nessee. was broached and discussed. It wa
found that entire unanimity as to the neces
sity Of such an institution, and but verl
little difference Of opinion in regard 10 tn,
plan upon which il should be founded, ex
listed among them. They at once set abou
20 determine how 10 concentrate their infu
ence for the purpose Of putting into practical
operation their views upon the subject. A
meeting was appointed 10 take place al
Franklin, in Williamson county, Tennessee
in nsMay-if / am not mistaken-of the nexi
year, 10 perfect an organization 70 carry Out
their project. The meeting was held, q
Board Of Trustees from among the best citi'
zeDs Of the adjoining counties selected, and
an agent appointed 10 canvass the States
before mentioned, with a view to raise funds
10 build and endow the institution. About
twenty-five thousand dollars was subscribed
on the spot, and the Rev. w. D. CARNEs
chosen as agent. A time and place for q
subsequent meeting Of the Board Of Trustees
was named, and then the meeting adjourned
Thus was the initiat0ry step taken.
Prof CAREEs Immediately entered upon
the duties Of his position, and ere long lad
received solid encouragement in the shape
Of a very large subscription list, besides en-
listing the sympathy and influence of many
Of the best men Ia the South. In the mean
time the buildings known as franklin
College" situated some six miles east OF
Nashville, erected some years before, were
chosen as the neucleus of what was intended,
and a school wasimmediately opened under
the supervision Of the Rev. TALBERr FAN
MING, with Prof CARhEs as principal. This
was but a temporary arrangement, yet every
thing seemed favorable 10 success and all
connected with the enterprise felt sure OF
being the founders Of an institution Of learn
ing, such as would be the pride and glory Of
the people Of Tennessee.
But alasl the war began-schools were
everywhere broken up-and the incipient
enterprise soon had neither name nor local
habitation" These who had inaugurated
the project we're scattered far and wide, and
only few remained near enough 10 feel the
the desolation amid which their hopes for the
time perished. The school at Franklin was
continued by Prof CAREEs until war, with
is alarms was at his very door, when he,
too, succumbed, and transferred his influence
and talents TO another field more remote
from the scene Of action. The war ceased
most Of the gentlemen connected with the
enterprise in its inception still liUe and, al
though coming out Of war comparatively
poor, they retain their zeal for the cause OF
education, and special partiality for their
pet scheme. They are now more determined
than ever to carry il through. One or two
preliminary meetings have already been
hed-the former organization resuscitated,
and a Gnal meeting Of the Board Of Trustees
called at Franklin on the 9th inst. to locate
the school.
What have written above is but the in
PRODUCTION to the main purpose of this com
munication. These gentlemen intend to
establish this school. They have the ener-
Ky and ability 10 accomplish their purpose.
They should be encouraged and sustained by
the citizens Of Tennessee who have children
10 educate and who feel the necessity for
such school here among u.s. We have no
Harvard-nothing approximating TO it-no
Princeton, no Dickinson, no first-class college
in fennessee--ai least no literary institution
pretending TO be such. We have, it is true,
medical and law schools Of a high order, but
for purposes Of a thorough literary and
scientific education we have to send our chill
dren 10 be finished OFF, 10 some Northern
State The plan upon which the school is
70 be conducted Is, believe, in this State,
peculiar TO Professor CARNEs. II is 10 be a
mixed school. He believes that boys and
girls-young ladies and gentlemen, il you
prefer it-shouid be educated together, not
indiscriminately mingled, but under the
same roof in the same room. He argues
that the character of boys is softened and
polished by the companionship of girls, that
thew acquire that ease and seii-p0ssession in
their society which renders them agreeable
companions, and not awkward educated boo
hies. / shall not argue the point He does
il with force and / believe his doctrine
good. Is il not a grand idea that Of hayS
ing a school where our children, Of both
sexes can have thorough will not say
a iinished-educatiou
Another feature in the plan Of itsfounders,
and think a very important one, is, that
Il shall not be sectarian or ihat the tests of
no peculiar religious sectshall be taught.
IL IA 10 be conducted upon Christian princi-
pies; Of course, the Bible isto be one of its
text books; yet, as its originatOrs are mem
bers Of different denomitions 80 its teachers
are to be selected from them-qualification
alone being the test. Will not this be an
element Of success in the builing up Of such
4. ssrf alaec f3ffs-rrrg M
scientific institution for boys and girls, free from
thc influences Of any sect, yet tolndtd upon lhc
ground uork ef one common Christianity.
/ beg, in conclusion, TO call atten-
ton 20 some facts in regard 10 il
location. Ii Is generally eSreed, be
lieve, that health is the first requisite. II
Is also conceded, by those even who desire
its location near them, that no point in the
low land counties or What Is termed th'
salurian basin of Middle Tennessee, hai
this sine qua non. The water is mostly lime
stone, and to some extent unhealthy. Th'
temperature is low and productive of feyers
Pure air and good water are indispensable
to perfect health. It's location must be easl
Of access from the great railroad centres. i
must be TO sOme extent, at least, retireS
from the fashionahly vicious world-not on
Of the world, bat in the best moral stmos
phere 10 be found would, therefore, urg'
upon the Trustees the claims Of Manchester
Coffee county, which think combines al
the essentials required in selecting a loca
ton. II is situated upon high table lsnd
with eligible sites for the bulldogs al
around it-with hundreds Of never failin
free-stone springs on every side of il, wit
the best Of mineral water near il, an atmo'
phere the most salubrious-a railroad no.
finished and running to it-and a populatio
Of quiet, refined people, thus combining ey
erv essential necessary in the estahlishmet
Of such an institution.
THNNIsoN.
MANCHESTER Oct. 8, 1866.