Polk Family Papers Box 9 Document 12

Sir, we are, as I think, fortunate in our surroundings, in the condition of the whole atmosphere, at the present moment. The{underlined} temper{underlined} of{underlined} the{underlined} outside{underlined} public{underlined} is{underlined} ripe{underlined} for{underlined} just{underlined} such{underlined} a{underlined} movement{underlined}. It is the thing of all others they are best prepared for. The events now ripe & current, have forced the Southern mind back upon itself. It has been, & is being, driven from the north in spite of itself, especially for means of educating the young. A large number of young people will be forced back from the other side of Masons & Dixons line. Right or wrong, their parents are in their own language "done with northern colleges! {delete symbol: "} "They w'd rather their children should go half educated than send them thither." But they w'd still better propose, they shd, while being protected from the taint of northern fanaticism

have access to the highest educational advantages? How is this to be effected? If it is done, it is to be done by them= selves & their fellow citizens of the South. It is their{underlined} work{underlined} for the benefit of themselves & their sections. They cannot do it without they unite. We have it is true many colleges {insert symbol}already but they are local. They do not affect to do more -- specially{underlined} -- than provide for their several states. They have not the claim -- the prestige of any thing like nationality, about them, -- they are not common stock. They are not placed on such a footing as will supply the facilities or advantages offered by Yale or Harvard. Our people feel this. They are {illegible: twitted?} with the deficiency. They feel the taunt. They could not be rallied upon any one of the existing colleges to supply that deficiency. They w'd

[Aug. 20, 1856]

find it easier to unite in a new thing, especially if the auspices {illegible struckthrough} under which it was {illegible struckthrough} intro duced & was to be managed were completed. Such I believe to be just the condition of the present movement. I believe the Southern mind, outside the Church is ripe for this. I believe it will hail the movement with pleasure. Especially if we strike high & with a good strong firm hand & a united heart & will. If we propose to them the sort of thing which will supply that of which they are deprived by abandoning the North. To be attractive it must come up to the measure of the necessities of the occasion . It must fully meet their wants. If we propose this - we{underlined} as{underlined} churchmen{underlined} -- & pledge ourselves to its administration as heads of these dioceses & leading clergymen & laymen of these dioceses, we shall not want the money necessary to

4./

carry out the wishes of all parties. To be any thing, this movement must be, as to educational provision, every thing. Its very amplitude will be its chiefest claim to the confidence & support of the public. {Illegible struckthrough} As a highly intelligent Methodist editor said to me in regard to it, "the fact that people give grudgingly "to lesser or local enterprises, is no "proof at all they will be guarded by "that rule in such an enterprise as this." As to how the proposal is likely to take with the public generally, you will see from the notices taken of it by the New Orleans Secular press. These papers, copies of whose issues I have caused to be sent you, represent all opinions in politics & religion. They are the exponents of public sentiment, & to a man take favorable notice of the movement commanding it & sanctioning it as {insert symbol}meeting a necessity. This they have done of their own free will &

{illegible: &? 7.?} accord, & have thus stamped upon it the approbation of the Southern public & to a certain extent guaranteed for it Southern continuance & substantial aid. So far at least as the region {struckthrough: from} which they represent is concerned.

I hear on all sides of outsiders who are willing to aid in its establishment, on{underlined} sectional{underlined} account{underlined} alone{underlined}. They have confidence in the integrity, capacity, & social power & influence of the Church. If we will say we will take the labouring oar they will accept the service & be pleased to use us for their purposes & those of the region. There ought to be enough of a love of learning & religion in the Church itself to found & endow the institution we would establish, amply. I think there is a large amount at our disposal, enough perhaps for our purposes. If not, we have happily another influence at our disposal which