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University Wanted.

the foundation of a seat of learning, in which for many successive generations the youth of a nation may learn the Greek and Latin languages, with a sprinkling of Conic Sections, and a mild flavor of Campbell's Rhetoric, is a matter which occupied the minds of our fathers, and not seldom appeals to the pockets of us, their degenerate descendants, inasmuch as it is the fashion, upon all possible occasions, in all proper and improper spots, to found what is called a University, and to invite juvenile aspirants to enter for the purpose of induction, deduction and seduction, within its thrice-consecrated walls. We are, therefore, not at all astonished to find The Louisiana Democrat declaring that the subject of “A Southern University” is now “engrossing the master-minds of the South,” which means, of course, what it modestly declines to express, that it is universally engrossing the attention of the whole Southern intellect; for all Southern minds are well known to be master minds. Harvard is to be rivaled, and Yale is to be knocked into a common hedge-school. “The South,” says The Democrat, “must establish a University where our [62] sons can drink deeply.” 5 We believe that they have not drunk sparingly in those institutions of learning already established; but The Democrat does not allude to cock-tails and punches; for when it speaks of “drinking deeply,” it refers to “the pure streams of learning.” In favor of that particular tipple The Democrat is arguing.

“Where our sons,” it goes on to say, “may drink deeply from the pure streams of learning, without imbibing the poisonous waters of bigotry and fanaticism — where the high-toned, chivalrous youth of this sunny land can receive the highest collegiate degrees without submitting to the galling restraints forced upon them in Northern institutions, by men who are at variance with their principles, and envious of their beautiful, luxurious and wealthy home”

Of course, it is necessary to have a college where there shall be no sunrise prayers and subsequent recitations; where the Commons table shall be adorned by early turtle and late lamb; where it is the prescribed privilege of Freshman and of Sophomore to pull the presidential nose, or to assault an offending tutor. It is a college in which every Freshman may be called to recitation by his private and personal Sambo, and may even employ a learned “nigger,” if he can find one, to coach him through Euripides and Cicero. This is the college which is to knock into a sort of classical and mathematical Carthage, dear old Harvard and always respectable Yale, Dartmouth, which produced Rufus Choate, and all other Northern seminaries whatever. No wonder The [63] Louisiana Democrat looks forward to such a foundation “with pleasant emotions,” and anticipates “a new impetus to the science, learning and literature of a great country.”

A Southern University! What a pleasing notion! How suggestive of exegesis, cumulative and conclusive, concerning Joseph, Abraham and Moses, Paul and Onesimus, illustrating the true significance of “doulos,” and historically, critically and classically proving, that “a nigger” is not a white man — a position which considering that nobody has disputed it, our Southern philosophers seem to be over eager to establish — bursting upon us with rekindling ethnological light, and sweetly and sagely conducting us to a serene acquiescence in the sanctity of slaveholding! This is what a Southern University would do; this is why a Southern University should be established; this is why our contribution to the scheme--one bass cent — may be had by any person bringing the proper certificate, upon call, at the counting-room of this Journal.

April 22, 1859.

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