Vault Early Papers of the University

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Vault Early Papers of the University Box 1 Folder 1858 Surveys Document 12

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Return of Wages for Surveys &c

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Vault Early Papers of the University Box 1 Document 13

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University of the South [Gasette?], Septr 23, 185[9?]

A Correspondent of the New York _Journal_of_Commerce_, writing from Se wanee, Cumberland Plateau, Tennes see, writes interestingly concerning this pleasant and eligble site of the proposed "University of the South:" It is but very recently that this part of the country has come under the no tice of tourists. Prior to the construc tion of the Nashville and Chattanooga Rail Road, it was _terra_incognita_,[;?] but now, thanks to the facilities of the iron rail, it is becoming one of the Fashion able resorts of the southern country.

The watering place, _par_excellence_, is Beersheba Springs, which are daily becoming popular--less for the virtue of the waters than for the pure moun tain air, and even temperature, which is so bracing and pleasant to those whose home is in the low cotton lands.

The Cumberland range differs, I be lieve from any other mountain range in this country, in the character of its for mation. It is an elevated plain from five to forty miles in width, and when, once on the mountain, you see only a gently undulating region around you without a rock or peak in sight. The idea is well expressed by the remark of a writer, that it seemed as though this was the true level, and that the valleys below had been scooped out. Pleasant shady roads, a generous growth or tim ber, a meadow-like grassy surgace, ches nuts, oaks, pines, and elm and hickory, give it a beautiful verdure.

Much attention is now being directed to this locality, on account of its selec tion as the site of the proposed Universi ty of the South, under the auspices of the ten most Southern Dioceses of the Episcopal Church. Instead of wasting their means in local Institutions, they have wisely united in a powerfull effort to establish what as yet is unknown to this country--a true University, on a scale as extensive as any in Europe.

The Cumberland Plateau has been selected as its site, on account of its elevation and salubrity, and a princely domain of 10,000 acres has been secured for the institution, traversed by the rail way of the Sewanee Mining Company.

The whole of their domain is beauti ful and picturesque, affording every va riety of scenery, from the quiet, shady nook, the purling stream and the spark ling spring, to the extensive views and tremendous chasms and cliffs along the crest of the mountain. Imaging the Cattskill Mountain House to be on the margin of a plateau of miles in width, and over a hundred in length and you will have an idea of some of the views on the University site. More than a hundred springs, some of them chalybeate and some freestone, have been discoverred bursting from under the sandstone cap which overlays that part of the plateau. This principal spring, formerly called Rainy Spring[,?] is now appropriately

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named after the projector of the Univer sity, "Bishop Popes" Spring.

There seems now no question but what the magnificent plan will be car ried out according to the conception of its founders. More than $400,000, dollars have already been secured for its endowment during the last twelve months, and this from probably not over one hundred persons. A more general canvass will be made during the ensuing year, and it is expected that not less than one hundred million of dollars will be secured.

Operations will be actively commenc ed towards the buildings early in the ensuing year. It is a part of the sys tem that the interest of the funds raised shall alone be used--thus keeping its constantly increasing principal intact, so that when it goes into operation it will have the income of its whole capi tal to further its developements and se cure its success.

The plan seems very popular with al[l?] classes at the South, it is by no means consiidered as restricted to the religious body under whose patronage it is crea ted, but as a great institntion designed to benefit the whole South and to raise the standard of education throughout the whole country.

It is a part of the object to encourage the establishment of summer residences for the planters of the South, where they can bring their families and ser vants and pass the hot season with all the advantages of a temperate cli mate and with the pleasant association of a literary and highly cultivated soci ety; while the advantages of proximity to the libraries and lecture halls of th[e?] University will be an additional attrac[t-?] ion.

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Vault Early Papers of the University Box 1 Document 14

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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 [?]

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Vault Early Papers of the University Box 1 Document 15

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THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH.

The most pleasing phenomenon upon the rising spirit of Southern literary sentiment just now, is that which points directly to the necessity of a Southern University.

Already, the literary sentiment of the South has taken a higher step into writing ; in the first trial of its genius ; and is daily struggling between the higher suggestions of original lierary tasts (indigenous to its fruitful mind), and the sluggish servility of Northern sentiment that is rained upon it in merciless showers, with each evolution of the rotating shafts of the steam-power press.

The prevailing light spirit, of Northern literature is chargeable alone, to the educational system of that division of the Republic, which with its hundreds of schools, colleges and institution[s?] of learning, has failed to establish a single University. But this might be forgiven did [no?]t a more deplorable fact exist in their institutions, and that is, the want of Scholastic Doctors to direct and control them. In all the literary commerce of the Northern States, with every part of the civilized world, the scarces of all their sentimantal commodities in the aggregate, is that of scholarship ; hence it is, that the prevailing passion of the American people becomes manifest for light reading, which is, emphatically,a national misfortune, but not the fault of the masses. This fact reveals, to the thinking mind, the curious result of original and creative genious ; directed into such false and ridiculous channels, arising from an imperfect system of education.

It is not, that this nation is incapable of inventing and establishing an original school of literature, such as the world had never before saw. Under the influences of a free government and independent religious opinion there is no necessity for imitation, and a strict conformity to those nations, which have set up such models as the mind of Doctors invariably lean upon in the absence of scholastic acquirements.

It is for us to speak just now of Divisional, and not of the so-called National sentiment, and of the evidences of a higher reign of literary taste in this division, than that which has been set for its imitation.

In no feature of its whole character is this more striking, than in the knowledge of their first great need of an University--the superstructure, upon which their rising literature is to be built.

To give a cinsistency to the spontaneous growth of genous, like that of Provence in the tenth century--the Savans of the South have wisely determined to establish a Southern University in a central location, which is the very first step taken, in the right direction in this Republic, since its organization of confederative States.

The project is the beginning of a new era in American life and character ; and marks its own epoch in the chronicles of the nineteenth century. Nor is this phenomenon anomalous in comparative history, which has through all time marked the direct on of the current of learning flowing Northward from the South.

It was the University of Alexandria that caused the princes, and philosophers of Persia, Greece, and Asia-Minor, to seek the sunny plains of Egypt, in search of these treasures of knowledge, which were garnered in her scholastic store-house. From this fountain flowed that pure stream of civilization, which fer[tile?] barbaro[u?]s mind of other nations of [?] world, into marvelous refinedment. [?]

[?]terior [gen?]erations[;?] and the young nations of the Pacific coast and the Southern Eldorado will reach forth their golden cups for a draught. The tawny children Anahua[c? e?] will carry its influences into the ancient realm o[f?] the Montezuma[s?], and the sons of the Antilles come hither in quest of knowledge. From this fountain is destined to flow a mighty river of united sentiment which shall find a thousand tributaries ; stretch in from the two great oceans that clasp our territory in their embrace ; and the same philosophical and political axiom[s?] extend, from the banks of the Mississippi to the golden River of the Amazons.

The State Colleges of the South, have proven themselves but feeble auxiliaries to the growth of intellectual pursuit. They have in many instances fallen a prey to the petty quarrels of their Doctors, and have become the theatres of the most disgraceful contention, between Northern fanatical prejudice, and Southern principle. The prevailing feature of Northern Institutions, is fearfully manifest in those of our own-the want of scholastic excellence. The most obvious defects of these system[s?] are the intenerency of professors; and want of perpetuity of the Institutions.

The guardi[a?]ns of the " University of the South," are for the most part perpetuated by that great system which controls the Episcopal Church; and is not likely to va[r?]y, until a revolution shall have changed the polity of that ancient and sublime system of church legislation. The dignity of its Bishopric control is in strict conformity to those of the ancients. The renowned Universities of Seville, Cordova and Palermo [,?] which were the propelling agents of civilization throughout Christendom, were controlled by the learned Hildephonsus and his associate Bishops --and the same system has been adopted by Britain with the most wonderful success.

In all the extended territory of the South[,?] there could not have been a more fit locality than the one seleced for th[is?] Monument of a nation's literary pride--in the wild and pictur -esque district of Tennessee, lying between the inclined walls of sloping hills, which lends an enchantmənt to the object. There Pastoral verse, may weave its rustic witchery, amid the sombre shadows of the mountain sides or reflect the vernal beauties of the mead below. Upon this sublime height will sit the august Oracle which shall tell of the furure of a whole nation--the Parnassus where the inspiratio[n?] comes down in a silvery rain and the gari[sh?] light of pure philosophy shine through its dewy mist,

It will be indentified by all nations as the rallying point of Southern sentiment -- The Bassorius of the New World,whose fire of knowledge, blazing upon a Southern shore, will illumine the young empires of a whole continent. The plastic sentiments of our budding legislators, will be directed into such channels as will venerate and sustain the institutions and polity, which our fathers invented.

With this impregnable fortress of national sentiment, the South will have fashioned for herself a bulwork of mighty power ; behind which, she may laugh at the missiles thrust at her institutions by the engines of her f[oes?] Scholastic dignity will give to citizenship higher claim, and, from the remotest boundari[es?] of her territories, a griendly and united feelin[g?] like the precious ointement on Arron's be[a?] will run down to the skirts of the garments [u? ?ades?] of her pupils.

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Vault Early Papers of the University Box 1 Document 19

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Beersheba Springs Grundy County Tenn: August 13.1859

Upon notification the following persons, members of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees ofthe University ofthe South. Rt. Rev Jas: H. Otey, Chairman, Rt. Rev L. Polk, Rt Rev Stephen Elliot, Rev David Pise, Jno M. Bass Esqr., Geo R. Fairbanks Esqr., and together [were?] organized by the elect appoint= =ment of ^Rev David Pise, D[.D.?] Secr.

On motion of Bp: Polk, it was Resolved, That [&c?] [it?] (Ob[servatory Instruments &c?])

On motion of Bp: Elliot, it was Resolved, That [&c?] B. (Bp: Otey's Polks corresp[ond?] for Gardener.)

On motion of Geo. R Fairbanks, it was Resolved, [&c?] C. (Public Documents.)

On motion of Bp: Elliot, it was Resolved, That [&c?] D. (C[orrespondence?] with Dr. [Jelf?].[A??])

On motion of Bp: Polk. ^Resolved (E.) ^Horse, & Forester.

On motion of Bp. Polk. Resolved [&c?] F. additional cabins.

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Proceedings of the Executive Com: of Univ. of South Beersheb. Aug 13th/59.

David Pise Sec'y

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A.

Resolved, That the Chacellor of the University be requested to open a correspondence with [Lieut?] Maury of the National Observatory with of the view of obtaining for the [use?] of the University, a ^complete Set of the instruments for Meteorological Observation /in his hands for/ [distribition?] ^by the Smithsonian Institute [&c?] to be placed in the [? for?] hands of the Engineers of the University with for the purpose of Cond[ucting?] determining Scientific data.

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[C?]

Resolved, That the Chancellor of the Univer sity be requested to take such steps as may be requisite to procure all the publications of the G[ov?] made under the authority of the General Government for the use of the University

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A.

Resolved that Bp Polk & M Bass be authorized to go to Winchester & [sett?] make arrangements to settle the titles [of?] ^to all the lands granted to the University by the Sewanee Mining Com. & [other matters?]: & also to make any arrangement [they may think important?] for the [increase of the terri-?] to the interest ^tory of the University, which they may deem nescessary.

B.

Resolved, That the Rt Revd Bishop Polk be authorized during his [Visit?] [at?] the [North?] to open a correspondence with C[??p??d?] for the purposes of ob[taining?] a Landscape Gard[ener?], for the use of the University.

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