303

a peculiar civilization which may retrieve some
of the errors of this too self-confident {illegible} century
-- & to fulfil this mission our intellectual progress
should be parallel to, but not in the wake of,
the progress of the age. Most of the discontent
of the South seems to me to have for its cause
an almost unconscious perception that she is
not in the position which the Lord of nations
has assigned her. When she shall have assumed
it, it may be that our people may again look
upon the Union as the blessing which their fathers
thought it, but if like Abraham & Lott {illegible: me & ou.? we sou.?}
{illegible} {illegible} must choose our different {illegible: part? past?}.,
we shall -- thanks to your noble efforts -- be prepared
to take our place among the nations of the {illegible: world?}
without fear of that anarchy & those intemperate
counsels which now threaten us.

Think me not an enthusiast when I
look upon your University of the South as the
greatest work of modern times. It carries in
its womb the future {illegible} of the South &
therefore of the whole race of the Sons of Ham.
It is a matter of pride to me that I should
have had the privilege to be an humble
witness at its inception, for permit me to
tell you that the plan was frequently & thoroughly
discussed in my presence at the house of
Mr. C T. Pollard of Montgomery, & I even