Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-09
EDUCATIONAL.

In another column there appears
communication describing the condition,
prospects and necessities of Washington
College, Virginia, presided over by Gem
eral Robert +. Lee, and adverting to the
mission of General Lilley, the agent of
the Board of Trustees, now in this city.
The paper offers cogent reasons in behalf
Of the great work Of establishing first
class Southern educational institutions,
and an effective appeal for support to
the one to which it specially refers We
cheerfully give place to it, and cannot
speak in too high terms of Washington
College. Since its revival two years ago,
it has been ably and energetically man.
aged, and the success which has at
tended it will add to the high character
it bore in former times, and cause it to
rank among the first colleges in the
country. Its faculty is complete and Of
superior qualifications, and its distin-
guished head is an accomplished scholar
as well as great soldier, and in every re-
spect is a mirror in which the young
chivalry of the Southern land can glass
itself to the noblest forms,
But while we commend this institution
to the favor of the people of this region,
it is proper that the fact that its Trustees
are soliciting in Tennessee. and laying
among this population theground work of
a patronage to be diverted from our own
University, should be cited to the attention
of those charged with the care of the
latter 1t gives pertinent occasion for
the oft,made inquiry in regard to the
re>establishment Of the University of
Nashville. There may be sufficient rea-
sons why no steps have been taken in
this regard, but the people generally are
ignorant .of them, and those who feel
interest in the subject are continually
demanding that measures thereto shall
be instituted It is forcibly argued that
the longer it is delayed, the more difficult
it will be to revive it in successful COM
petition with those who take the lead
1t is true the section from which the stu.
dents are to be drawn is greatly impover~
ished, and the stringent financial condi-
ton is embarrassing to the curators Of its
endowment fund But these condition
apply equally in Virginia, Kentucky and
North Carolina. In these States, how
ever, there has been displayed an
energy and perseverance which has
refounded their old institutions and,
with more or less success they are
now in operation They are taking
pos session Of a field also from which, in
few years, it win be difficult to dislodge
them. Though the means Of defraying
college tuition and its attendant expen-
ses is deficient, there are scattered over
the broad South and Southwest hundreds
Of youths who intend to acquire Uni
versity education, and upon whom time
will not wait The number is not so
large as it would be if times were pros
porous but it is sufficient to justify a
commencement and ifthose upon whom
devolves the duty Of reopening the Uni
versity of Nashville, have not concluded |
to indefinitely postpone it and abandon
for a generation perhaps, the attempt to
restore our city to its ancient renoyn as
a seat of learning, they viii wisely meet
the public expectation by moving in the
matter without delay The resuscis
.ation Of the South from the ruin Of war
has been slow, but it is in process and
It's completion is inevitable. There Is a
lime not far distant when educational
facilities of the first grade win be in
active requisition Those who are pre-