Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-06
NASHVILLE. AND HIS UNIVERSE
TIES, PRESENT AND PROSPEC-

4
found and endow University "to be 10
Gated in or near Nashville, Tennessee"
The corporation to which It was rendered,
has formally accepted the gift with its
premises and conditions.
The first three items of the profer de-
vOlve certain duties! and powers upon
Bishop McTyeire, to-wit; To procure 8
site; to have plans and specifications for
buildings prepared to be approved BY the
donor, and to supesirtend the erection of
the buildings In accordance Herewith. In
the performance of these functions, requir-
ing, as it does, forecasting wisdom and
business capacity of the first order, it may
be remarked that there is no man superior
to the eminent clergyman 10 whom They
have been entrusted. The fifth "condi-
ton" annexed to this gift-stipulating that
its location shall be "in or near" this city.
brings Bishop McTyeire individually, and
in behalf of the donor and the corporation
of the University, into very important re-
lationship with Nashville and its citizens
and it Dehooves us-in corporate capacity,
and as individuals, to properly appreciate
that relation, and to encourage, aid, and,
as far as he and those with whom he may
be associated may request it, to afford coun-
sci how best he may execute this funda-
mental feature of the great trust with
which he is clothed.
Nearly hundred years ago, the region
Gin or near" Nashville was the recipient Of
grant from the State of North Carolina,
Of certain lands, as the foundation and en-
dowment of seat of learning. These
lands lay Gin or near" this city-''near,"
only, perhaps, when the grant was made,
but ''in'' for number of years past. This
grant was committed to Board of Trust
with powers to perpetuate its succession,
and carry out the objects Of the donor. Its
chartered specifications and powers-its re-
lation to the State Of Tennessee (if there
be any,) and any notifications and amend
meuts to the ORIGINAL grant, and minute
information thereunto regarding, we are
not in possession of. This grant, however,
has maintained for seventy odd years, a
seat of lesrniDg. 1t was first called the
Davidson Academy-afterward, assuming
the more imposing title of Cumberland
University. In 1924 or 1926, it was styled
the University of Nashville-the designa-
ton which it now bears.
The intent and purport OF this article
does not permit inquiry into the history of
this grant and endowment, nor 8 recount
ment Of the results achieved through it.
The University which sprang from it is
venerable in age, renowned in the charac-
ter of its alumni, and eminently respectable
in the persons Of those who have conduct
ed its affairs, both as trustees, and in the
staff of teachers. Whether, as UniU err
Sity, it has ever STAINED that degree ofsuc-
cess, which its munifcens endowment
would seem to have warranted, or whether
it now maintains that rank, are questions
not Immediately pertinent.
The single question now to be presented
is: Can the region Sin or near Nashville"
most eligible, as it certainly is, and justly
celebrated as an educational point, success
fully become the site of two competing uni
versities? and the question growing direct
ly out of this, is: Cannot the North Caro-
Ina endowment, hoary with age and hon.
ored with illustrious names, alike Of teach
ers and alumni, with fund of fine build
ings and valuable lands, more ethan twenty
to fifty acres" in extent, Cor at least so far
as the latter item is concerned, able to
purchase such an area,) be amalgsmated
and fused with the Vanderbilt gifG and en-
dowment, which is instinct with the life of
the present, and full of the ''sinews" of
yigor, to-wit: "Seven per cent. first mort
gage bonds Of the New York Central and
Hudson River Railroad Company" s'pre-
ferred" as an investment and profered as
gift by one of the first fnanciers of the
century? Is there any feature in the letter
OF donation which would inhibit Bishop
McTyaire from accepting these lands and
building:p and offering them as a part at
least, of the first specification in bis sched-
ne of duties? Is there any clause or fea
ture in the North Carolina charter which
presents legal obstacles to the Board of
Trust of the University Of Nashville in con-
veying the property now held by them,
either by warranty deed, or in ninety-nine
years lease thereof, and perpetuating their
succession in the trust Of maintaining seat
of learning, by its delegation to the Corpo-
ration Of Vanderbilt University? Or, is
there not some practicable mode of fusion
of the two Corporations?
If possible, it is the opinion of many |
that this is t'a consunmation most deVoutly |
to be wished" The favor with which Ma |
ture endowed Nashville and its environs |
as site for educational institutions, and |
the fortune which, in a century, has bless
ed it with two such munifcent founda-
tions for university purposes, are fully ap-
preciated by this community, and they are
solicitous that they be utilized to the high
est degree. The first endowment has &C
conplished ap?rtion of the work, and in
one of its depah ments-the Medcal--has
maintained itself among the first in the
country for more than twenty years. If |
from any causes, the University as whole,
has suffered from the "drS rot" they have
become chronic, and it needs rehabilitation
of some sort; and by this, nothing is inten
ded to reflect upon the excellent Literary
Department in the able and accomplished |
hands now conductingit. We simply mean
to give expression to the general opinion
that, as University, the completeness of
It's success has failed to come up to the
standard which its broal and liberal foun-
dation created the possibility of attaining.
We state fact, the explanation whereof
r--...I;o, - ,ra rdin1 tho historU of tho