Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-06-27

Tribune, the location of the Baptist
University will have been made
The people of Madison county will
go before yhe locating committee
with strong arguments and with a
liberal donation. But at this time
we deem il proper to present a few
facts for the consideration Of the
Commissioners, who will visit our
city on Tuesday next. In what we
say, we believe that we simplv
speak the sentiment of all West
Tennessee, and in a measure the
sentiment of the great and grow ing
southwest, a people upon whom
the success of the institution will
mainly depend. In the first place
jackson is in the very heart of West
tennessee, the richest and most
rapidly developing division of the
State, with more railroads built
and projected than all the balance
OF the State put together. With
more wealth than either of the 9TH
or divisions, and hence more ability
TO contribute 10 such an institution.
than either Of the others. No inte-
rior city of the State, or of the
southwest, has so great a future as
Jackson. She has more than thrib-
bled her population since the war,
aud her progress has hardly yet be-
gun. Her fame for Intelligence, for
social excellence, for enterprise and
Tor liberality is known and admir-
ed throughout the country. Here
epidemics arc unknown, and good
health the rule. Il rich aud incroa-
sing country surrounds her, and
she is the center of a wealthy and
aspiring population. Sheis already
styled the Athens of the southwest,
and her splendid schools arc annu-
ally attracting refined and veal
thy class of people from other
States. Besides, while the patron
age of East Tennessee is divided be-
tween two Universities, and that of
Middle Tennessee between five,
West Tenn. has, as yet, not one,
and should this University be loca-
ted at Jackson, the wealth and am
bition of all West Tennessee would
combine to make it great and pros
porous. This is an important fact,
ono that should be weightiK con-
sidered. Again, when Thos. Ben
ton stood upon bluff of the Miss,
aud pointing his finger westward,
exclaimed, "there Is The east" he
was a prophet; and when we look
to the great southwest, with its
tceming fields and ever swelling
population, and say there is the
hope, and the power, and the fu-
turc of the south, we utter proph-
ccy no less true than Bcnton's.-
Hence We say that the institution of
learning that gets nearest that mag
nilicent empire of the future, with
out entering the miasmatic fever
belt, will be the Oxford and the
Cambridge of the south southwest.
Jackson is near enough and not too
near, and the location here of the
Baptist University, would be a
stroke of genius and foresight APP
proaching inspiration. If the friends
of this great enterprise, in Missis-
sippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tex
as could be heard on this question,
we have not doubt but what their
united voices would be for Jack son.
At all events sound reason urges
upon the Commissioners 10 look be-
You'd local prides and prejudices,
beyond mere present, into the
broad and Astounding fields of the
future. Their action on the Sec
ond' is not for a day or year, but
for perhaps centuries. Theirs is a
great work, and with Thorn rests
success or failure. Let them re-
member that all West Tennessee,
rich, powerful, and advancing be-
You'd comparison, plead that this
great boon be granted them. Let
them remember that if this institu-
ton is located in jackson, that one
grand division of the great State of
Tennessee will have an undivided
interest In its prosperity. Let them
remember that the southwest, the
future homo OF a vast and rich pop
ulation, can thus be made an ex-
haustless tributary TO its usefulness
aud greatness. Let them remember
that neither cholera, which so often
devastates other districts of coun-
try, nor yellow fever, that so often
dcpopulates the regions south of
Jackson, ever visit this favored sec
ton. Let them remember that
Jackson is destined to be the great
est of all the interior cities of the
southwest. Let them remember
that their action is vital for veal or
woe to the cause they hold in their
hands, and that to conciencious
bitter as the words sit might have
been" Let them remember all
these things, and by the light of
such facts make their selection,
STANDARDIZATION the questions
of tariff and finance the country is
divided more by geographical than
by party lines. This is significant
fact, especially when we consider the
growing interest these questions are
exciting throughout the country. The
great Calhoun, in his last speech iu
the United States Senate more than
twenty years ago, argued that the
tariff Question would become, some
day, a moro exciting and a more fatal
element in American politics than
4 Il.