The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-08-25
ALABAMA UNIVERSITY.
Iasu sUral Address Of Commodore
~ Matthew y. Hnury.

10 10 TIBuk anu proper tndL slOulu
make known to the friends of edu-
cation In the South, and the good
| people of Alabama, the line of con-
duct proposed for the University,
and show them the goal which I aim
to set before It.
The main features of the plan pro-
posed for the present have been sub
mitted to the honorable Board of
Regents. We are of one mind. Sup
ported by them and assisted by an
able Faculty, the comse of instruc-
ton at the University of Alabama
will be so adapted as best to meet
the educational wants of the day,
and enable the South successfully to
assert her moral and intellectual su-
premacy.
The University has been modelled
after the Military Institute Of Vir-
ginia. l am fresh from one of the
chairs Of that institution, and have
| us uisSitAiHS 40 V1...os-----
65nese;ial 65nFyese; schools, the subject Of els2Sie ls2Sie
plan and courses OF the University
Of Virginia are not unfamiliar to me.
These noble Institutions are the
most fourishing in the South, and at
present, they seem best to satisfy
the educational wants Of our young
men. In their example, the UniVer-
sity of Alabama finds the lights of
experience to guide her, and she will
copy after them as nearly as the diff
ference of circums tsnces will admit,
but with such departures as my own
observations and experience suggest
for improvement.
For lads who are qualified to enter
no higher than the third or fourth
class, there will be the curriculum OF
the Pennsylvania Military Institute !;
for young men of higher attainments,
the open course Of the University of
Virginia is offered, with the privilege
Of entering any special school
which the wishes and qualifications
of candidates make desirable.
The aim is to build up and en-
courage this Institution until it at
tains to the proportions of a real
University, complete in all its ap-
.pointments; and then to crown Il
with a polytechnic school Of high
order, to the halls, galleries, museums,
laboratories and work shops of which,
Southern youths of whatever State
may come, and without fee, qualify
themselves for any one of the me-
chanical arts or industrial callings.
1t will take time to reach this
goal; but s wise policy candidly
made known at the beginning, and
steadily pursued, will be sure to win
favor with the State and in the end,
bring her University out triumph
antly.
In seeking to raise the University
up, and start it prosperously on its
new career, | am not unmindful that
great changes since last its halls were
crowded with the State, have been
wrought throughout the South.
These are making themselves felt
with marked effect upon onr indus
tries, and the occupations of our
young men.
They called for corresponding
changes both in the direction to be
given TO the minds of our youth, and
in the subjects to be taught.
New revelations and discoveries
are daily increasing our knowledge
as TO the laws Of nature and proper
ties Of matter, and these are giving
us more and more power over the
physical forces of the universe.
Such power and the value of it can
not be over estimated. Ii stands
second only to that moral and intel
lectual superiority which belongs TO
the mind and character of good and
great men.
In our mastery over these forces
consists the progress of the age, the
greatness of nations, and the pros
perity of people.
We must sill appeal to strangers
to come here and assist US 10 harness |
these forces i'll the service of the |
South, unless our course Of instruc- !
ton be such as to teach our young
men 10 master them for us.
This is what our University will |
aim to do, and so enable the South |
to take her true position in the on
ward and upward march of nations |
That it may accomplish this OBJ
ject the more effectually, the Uni |
versity is to be organized so as to ad- |
nit readily of readjustments, to the !
end that its course of instruction |
may keep pace with scientific dis |
covery, and its alumni go forth year
after year, well up in the march of |
improvement and familiar with all |
the newly discovered laws, proper
ties and processes which give mind
its dominion over matter.
1t is natural (and we may honor the
fceling) that the parent should desire
his son to be taught the things he
learned at school. But let MS sec
where the adjustment of our institu-
ton to this desire would, in the pres
ent condition of the South, lead our
youth. There be parents living
whose Alma Mater, in their day, rec
ognized in its special schools and
courses, neither the marine engine;
nor the locomotive nor the rail way
nor steam used as a motive power;
nor photography, nor the electric tel
egraph, nor electricity as an indus
trial agent, no spectrum analysis
with the new world which it is OPEN
ing up for exploration and research,
nor any other of the newly discov-
cred forces, both of pOnderables and
imponderables, that have given at
this day such wonderful compass to
Nhe mind and such marvellous strength
to the nerve of man. By the might
which this knowledge and this
power have given, multitudes of new
industries have been created, i'm
mense fields for human occupation
have been opened, and honest means
for bread-earning to millions all
these subjects are to have place in
the courses of our University; and
so are the IIumanities, for these have
lost none of their Importance; but
some of the time that was formrely
given to them in institutions of chari-
acter, has now to be given to the
Physical Sciences. They therefore,
while preserving their Importance in
the course of liberal education,
will lose a little of their ancient
prominence, but only for time, and
until VIC can build this institution
up, and invest it with all of the
qualities and attributes of great
University. The qualifications for
admission arc so modest in their
degree that any lad of good
character not under fourteen years
of age, and with such an edu-
cation as is usual for boys who at
tend the common schools to have ac-
quired at that period, will find admit
tance. The acqirements, beyond read
ing and writing, consistin an ordinary
acquaintance with the rudiments of
arithmetic, geography and English
grammar. For youths who are more
advanced, and for young men who