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to the present hour. I must meet this apprehension, not out
of regard to those who would willingly entertain it, but of
those whose love to the Union makes them tremblingly alive
to the semblance of anything inimical to its perpetuity.

Why should this enterprise be deemed sectional rather than
national?

Is it because we have used the name "Southern University?"
The name is one of convenient description; it is no party
war-cry, no sectional pass-word; all such interpretation,
we utterly disclaim.

Is it because it is to be founded on a Southern soil,
and must promote chiefly the interests of those contiguous
to it?

Some geographical position it needs must have. The very
nature of the case requires it to be in our midst. Its
location looks simply to the wants of a region greater in
extent by 7820 square miles that the original thirteen
States of the Union: a region whose urgent necessitites can
be met only by an institution set up within its borders.

Do we any wrong to our brethren, do we violate any pledge
of friendship, or brotherhood, do we evince any jealousy
or distrust, when, in the discharge of a solemn responsi-
bility, we provide for our own, and seek to elevate the
society of which we are members?

We affirm that our aim is eminently national and patriot-
ic; and as such, should commend itself to every lover of
his country. We rear this day an altar, not of political
schism, but an "altar of witness" that we are of one faith
and household. We contemplate no strife, save a generous
rivalry with our brethren, as to whom shall furnish to this
great Republic the truest men, the truest Christians, and
the truest patriots.

Again, I repel the suspicion, because of its injustice
to our brethren of the North. Not a bishop, clergyman, or
layman, to whom this subject was mentioned at our last
General Convention, but, so far as its known, approved the
object, and heartily bade its projectors "God speed."

I appeal to the wll known conservative character of
our Church to rebutt this groundless suspicion.

It is cause of devout thankfulness to Almighty God,
with every member of our Church, that our last General Con-
vention, which met in Philadelphia, on the eve of a most
excited election, avoided all disturbing questions,
transacted its business with calmness, separated in
Christian harmony, and by a unanimous vote appointed its
next meeting in Richmond, Virginia.

These facts discountenance the idea that Southern men,
in devising the plan of a Southern University, have
contemplated evil to this Union. We regard this