Vault Early Papers of the University Box 1 Document 14

ReadAboutContentsHelp

Pages

1
Needs Review

1

New Orleans Weekly Crescent.

Monday Morning, January 21, 1859.

The University of the South

Since the distinction of "The South" has been de fined in its proper understanding[,? ;?] indicating a sec tion of the whole country in which there are marked peculiarities of manners, thought and institutions which distinguish it from the northerly portion of the Confederacy, there has justly been a continually realized feeling of the insufficiency of educational advantages for the sons of the South. We had no great institution of name and fame, no venerated _alma_mater_ of which the diploma was the holder's endorsement for the accomplishments of scholarship, and to which he could point with pride and gratitude as the fostering mother of his intellect, not only in the graces of general erudition, but in the cultivation and perfection of the peculiar instincts which would send him forth a true and enlightened Southron, to give him a confirmed Southern American bias at the same time that he would be fitted for cosmospolitan adaptation to life anywhere.

In this great lack of the means and place of thorough education, the only course which could be pursued was adopted, and that was the sending of Southern youth to Northern institutions, to Yale or Harvard--where, with the classics and belles lettres, they at the same time drank in poisonous prejudices, through the numerous influences inevitable, whether designedly or undesignedly, brought to bear, which sent them back to their homes, in many instances, lukewarm Southerners--learned, indeed, but most ill instructed. Recognizing these things, it has long been the idea of thinking Southerners, who, with reason, despaired of such being the fruition of private enterprise in its behalf, that it should be the work of the Governments of the States to found, erect and endow an institution of learning which would do away the necessitites of subjecting our youth to cor rupting influences, and of importing clergymen, pro fessors and literary men, for few well-educated South ern men assume these professions, those sent to North ern colleges being mostly the sons of wealth, who are absorbed in after life by the professions of medicine, or of law and politics, or whose means render no pro fession necessary. But Governments have not had the duty in consideration, civic corporations, to whom it would next devolve, have neglected it, and there has been no general sentiment in favor of a movement to the end being inaugurated by a religious denomi nation, as the impression was that its efforts would point to sectarian aggrandizement.

Such was the status of a thought which all felt must one day be realized to a result--such was the consideration of a want which all knew must some time be supplied--when two years ago the dilemma in which it was placed was badly grappled with by a religious denomination, the Protestant Episcopal Church, acting by its high authorities, which with Southern catholic spirit resolved to set the ball in motion, to be untrammeled in its movements by any sectarian bounds until its perfected work shall stand a monument of Southern enterprise, the watchtower of Southern literature and enlightened progress--a pop lar institution for the benefit of the whole people of the South, its character such as is set forth in the fol lowing extract from the Address of the Board of Trus tees of "The University of the South:" And we call upon the men of the South to rally around us ; not upon churchmen only, but upon all [good men?] and true of whatever na[an and p?]rofession ! We hav [undertaken this thing as?] [cause?] there was no other way of doing it [?] of such an university [?] its principles, v[is?] sense intend[?] extend t[h?] --its [?]

Last edit over 5 years ago by ameoba
Displaying 1 page