Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-12-21
From The Columbia Times, Dee. IL.
DIR. COOPER'S CASE.

Hier a series OF tncessnnt attarks on DR.
C's. presumed iu6delity during the whole oil
the year 1881, this case was 6rst brought be-
fcre the Board Of Trustees, in Dee. 1881. To
insure full attendance OF :he Board, il was
deferred to The l6;h OF May, 1882. II wns then
put oil until tho regular meeting of the lionrG,
in Dc. 1892. AT tho meeting Of l6h Muy,
DR. Cooper moved that his irisl ami tho pro-
eeedings reatiog To the charges against him
should be held in public. This was ngreed to
by the board.
On the Ord Of December 1882, tho Trustees
met, but not in full board tho Trial was
gain put Oft To the evening of the 5,h. aud cd
lourned To the Hall OF the House Of Represeu-
tatives: on which, and on he succeeding even
ing. DIR. Cooper made and closed his defence.
The proceedings occupied altogether about four
fonrs, including ,o,h evenings.
The charges. in number three, brought M aims,
tins gentleman, were in suhstanrc, thar by VA
r'ous publications.. such as his Political Economy
his Letter 10 any member of Congress, and hIs
translation of Bronssa,s on IAsaaiiy, be hu.i
unnecessarily advanced opinoiis. espeetius re-
figion oHcnsivc totbe pareuta ST Sts,deo,s com
united to his care. and to large classes of citi-
ztns and injurious TO the interests vf the Col.
lego, and that lie had II lectures and OIL other
occasions, interfercd unnecessarily with the
religious opinions,of the students, and inculca
ted upon them doctrines contrary TO those m
which he knew they had been educated, and
offensive TO tl,eir purenis and guardians.
In supporter these charges, the books above
mentioned, svere al a former meeting produced
and passages read; and letter also was read
from one the students, containing avermen,s
OF the lat part OF the charge. This letter was
not on oath, nor any examination had of the
wrierf and il was furnished by DR.. G. himself
OH the evening Of the 5h.
TIE evidence of students, summoned by The
Trustees in support of the charges, and by DR..
lie Hpfa nav, ,.l.,,
oatll before Judge MartaiU, and Col. Preston
and being sealed up when taken, wa, read on
the evening of the 9Th December, 1882.
When the reading Of the testimony was Fl.
nished, DIR. Cooper was called GU to make h,s
defence. He began Ivy stating that this was
new scene in Repub lean America aud
would furnish new page in The history of
>. CarOlina-he stood there an accused person
before court of ecclesiastical inquisitiou, all,
ting under legislative authority, 10 Inquire into
all false doctrines. heresies aud schins O,
which the President of the College might have
been vehementty sUspecfed.-Uhe usual express
ion of the Courts of lnquisition- prototypes
OF the presently This inquiry took place, in
the middle of The 10Th century in 8. Carolina -
State at this moment trembingly alive TO the
usurpatons aud infraciions OF our national
compact by Congress, and The substitution OF
discretionary jurisdiction. in lieu of The express
authority OF the constitution, and in defiance of
its wholesome limitations. The Trustees (said
DIR. CT are now called onsby my accusers, 10
commit the very same UsurpationS, that they
complain of In Congress.
This WIS not the case $50 years ago, when
John Locke. OF EuEland, in 1868 was 4s,l,
pointed 10 draw up constitution for NC colon, |
Of South Carolina, containing "A clause 'tiiat
no one should be moiested on accouR, of his
religious tenets; or prohibited Oh thai aecoun,,
from any Office under the civil government of
the colony." This constitution, was deIibe-
rately confirmed after 20 years experience in
1862, and declared to be the constitutional law
the colony forever. tie stated tina, the 'res,
act of England had passed in 1878, and tho re.
vocation Ofthe cdict OF Nantes in 1858. The
liberal constitution of South Carolina, attracted
hiIher those who revoites! at religious perseru
Ion 10 England, as well as very many of the
oppressed Huguenots OF France: greatly 10 the
advantage aud prosperity of the colony. In
1000, John ArchdaIe, Quaker, was chosen
Governor of the colony, and served with exem-
I.lary fidelity aud reputation.
DIR. Cooper hoped, that no descendant of the
HDgusnots, who ranked among our most re
spectacle citizens, was Rmopg his persecutors
on the present occasion.
Far different, however,, was the case now:
the march of mind had been relrogadt; and he
now appeared before court Of ecclesiastical
inquiry, TO defend himself for holding opinions
which the evidence that accompanied them had
stitutiou Of the United States and this State, had
guaranteed the right tn profess and avow. He
tbeD enumerated briefly, the substance of the
arguments 90 which he proposed 10 rely; but
which, not having time during that evening to
dwell upon so fully his case required, lie
craved time till the succeeding evening Tor that
purpose, which was acceded 10.
On the succeeding evening in the hall Of the
House Of Representatives.. which was crowded
with. members, and townsne0, aud citizens
from the country, DIR. Cooper, about quarter
past b began Ills deicDce in chief. Tue lrgu-
mems IIe dwell upon were as follows, viz:
That tho charges brought against him. must be
proved as laIdi that accusation of itself no
proof; that if convicted he must &c convicted
on the testimony produced; that the two facts, of his
opinions being offensive to large classes Of people,
and to the parents Of The young men, and that these
his opinions had beeen injurious to the college,
facts not TO be assumed, but to DO owed. He APP.
peacd to every trustee who had heard the testimony
read, whether there was syllable of evidence,
that had the least bearing either of these two
facts; or any attempt TO sbew that, the publications
referred TO, had been circulated in this state The
only substantial point of inquiry for the trustees
was, had DIR. Cooper's opinions eksened the mum.
Der of the students? He stated it fact officially
known to every trustee at the board that during
the year 1881, when the presses tccmed with
phlets- against him, and the papers through
out the state with weekly invcc;ve, greater mum
Der of students had applied for admission into
college than had been known before, OK.
cept on one occasion. lie called upon every
man, VINO had heard that testimony read. To say,
whether it was not, in every part Of it, and from
every stodent examined, without exception, one
continued and ample panogyrc on bis caution
his impartiaty, his foithu discharge of duty, and
his total abstinence from all interference will
the religious opinions of the young u1en under bis
caro-; every one of whom when examined, declare,
upon oath, that Dir. Cooper, was accustomed, OF
all OCCASIONS to direct tho students batiL was the
duty, while at college, to abide by the religion o
their parents1 and that he never did Interfere, il
any manner, with their religion, nor bad they owe