Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-09-04
For the Journal.
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOVTH,

Messrs. Editors AS yet but little gen.
eral interest has been felt by the people of
North Carolina ia the University of the
South, and probably many of your readers
have not even heard of the proposed es-
Enlistment of such an Institution.
Our own University at Chapel Hill has
heretofore furnished facilities for the edu-
cation of our young men, but since it has
been seized by the political party now in
power, and is likely to be forever ruined
by unfriendlY and mistaken legislation,
other places must be sought for training
those who, by their intellect and learning.
are to rule and govern our Southern coun-
try when it shall have been released from
the grasp of the ignorant fanatics who
have been invested with power by the Re
construction Acts of the Congress of the
United States.
I have therefore thought that it might
be useful at this timeto give, through your
columns, some account of the proposed Uni
versity.
The first public record in regard to it
may be found in 'an address to the mem
bers and friends of the Protestant Episco-
pal Church in the Southern and South
western States, published at Philadelphia
in 1856, and signed by the then Bishops of
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Arkaneas and Texas.
In this address it was ably and strongly
urged upon the people of the South that a
great necessity existed for an institution of
high grade among them, for the intellec-
tual, moral and religious training of the
young-and that, although the enterprise
upon the plan proposed was one of great
magnitude, the means which were possess
ed at that time, by the portion of country
interested, rendered it desirable and Judi
cious to enter upon the undertaking with
out delay.
| It was proposed that the Institution
should be on the most extensive plan pur-
sued by the great Universities of Europe
that it should be under the sole and per-
petual direction of the Protestant Episco-
pal Church, and managed by Board of
Trustees, consisting Of the Bishops of the ten
uniting Dioceses &c obicio, and one cler-
gyman and two laymen from each Diocese,
to be elected by their several Conventions
and 100000 was fixed upon as the small
est sum with which TO commence the en-
terprise.
The proposition was promptly and heart
lily responded to by the people of the South
Subscriptions to the required amount were
obtained, chiefly from planters of large
weath-the Board of Trustees was organ
ized-a magnificent site was selected on
that portion of the great Cumberland pla-
teau, in Tennessee, known as SeWanee
Mountain, where (chiefy by the liberality
of the land owners) nearly 10000 acres of
land were secured to the University-a
highly favorable charter was granted by
the Legislature of Tennessee in 1858, and
a Constitution and statutes for the govern
ment of the Institution were adopted in
1860.
The corner stone of one of the principal
buildings was laid with appropriate ceremo-
MES in the presence of thousands, and
every preparation was in progress for put
ting it in full operation. But the war then
came ON, and in its unhappy results has
well nigh blasted the hopes of the friends
of this great enterprise. The wealth of
those who had agreed to contribute of their
abundance to it's endowment was lost, and
but little if anything can be realized from
the subscription list. The buildings--pub-
lie and private-which had been erected,
were destroyed by the Federal troops, and
the corner stone, before referred to, IA
block of elegant Tennessee marble, weigh
ing six tons,) was blown to atoms with gun
powder. Nothing remained to the Univer-
sity after the war but its splendid domain,
and the undiminished affection of it's i'm
poverished friends. Through the instru-
mentality of the Bishop of Tennessee, aid
ed by the Rev. Mr.. Tremlett, of London,
subscriptions have been recently obtained
from friends in England to sufficient
amount for putting up the necessary build
ings, and furnishing all that is required for
establishing a junior department of the
University, and the Trustees have decided
to put it into immediate operation, trusting
| that the iberality of its friends through
out our whole country and abroad will
enable them to extend their operations,
until the Institution shall become, as it was
originally intended, a great centre for the
diffusion of learning and refinement, and
of moral and religious influence through
out the land.
The services of Gen. Josiah Gorgas have
been secured as Head Master of the Ju-
Nor Department, which is to go into oper-
alton on the 18th of this month. His we'll
known administrative ability, and the high
testimonials which have been given by the
best and greatest men of our Southern
country in regard to the purity of his char
acter; his high scientific attainments, and
his admirable qualification in every respect
must command the confidence and secure
the support of those having sons to be ed
ucated.
One word more as to the remarkable site
which has been selected for the Universe
ty. It is on an extensive plateau, on
the top of the Cumberland range in Ten
nessee, about sixty miles west of Chatta-
nooga, near the Railroad from that place
to Nashville. The elevation is nearly 1000
feet above tide water, and about 1000 feet
above the neighboring valleys; but rail
road from Cowan station to Coal Mine at
Tracy City passes directly through the
property of the University and affords a
daily communication to that point, the dis
lance being only s miles, and the ascent
of the mountain by the trains being &C.
complished in about one hour.
The climate is very much like that of
Buncombe county in our State, and sick
ness is almost unknown.
The mountain abounds with variety of
the finest timber; sandstone of the best
quality for building is abundant, and the
most beautiful marble is easily obtainbale
in the vicinity. The plateau is very extern
sive, unlike any other mountain top have
ever heard of. Some idea may be formed of
it, from the fact that road which has
been mapped off, skirting around and
within the limit of the property, is thirty
miles in length, varying from perfect lev
ell only by the most gentle undulatlons,