Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-12-04

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arsenals should be removed from the loca-
lions where, they may be subjected 10 sur
prises, and established al Some spot in the
interior, less accessible. and at The same
time cheaper and more healthy Such a
spot might be found on one or The other
branch of The railroad, which affords such
facilities for transportation that a posi-
lion anywhere upon it would be as con-
venient for military purposes as at Char.
lesion or, Columbia. The sale of the ar
senal and magazine buildings and grounds
at these places, would | have little doubt.
furnish ample funds for erecting brick
arsenal and extensive wooden barracks in
the country. without requiring dollar
from The Treasury. The constellation of
the two schools would enable ou 10 dis
pcnse with one set of Professors and other
officers, which, with the cheapness Of liv
ing, and the number of pay students that
might be expected if thr situation was
known TO be perfectly healthy, would in
all probability reduce the expenditure to
one-half The sum now appropriated 10 their
support. That amounts. a, present, 10
about wenty-eight thousand dollars. In
suggesting this plan, l by no means desire
10 be understood as recommending any
change as regards the, school system. IL
is. a great improvement Oh that OF a hired
guard, and the cadets are as efficient pro
lectors Of the arsenals as the guards we're;
neither being anything more than nominal
lily SO. The cadets united in one body. and
increased by an unlimited number OF pay
students. would AFFORD ample projections;
while So fine school, at a healthy location
in the country, would induce a large pro
portion Of the rising generation 10 prepare
themselves for future service, both militia
ry and civilby embracing its advantages.
The policy heretofore pursued, ofrepair
ing damaged arms, is questionable, They
are, for the most part, not worth the ex-
pense. The appropriation Of two thous-
and dullafs per annum. for repairing arms
and arsenal purposes, may, Il think, in
any event, be hencelorlh judciously cur
tailed one half.
| transmit you report madeto me by
our very efficient AdJutanl General, whose
recommendations are entitled to your Sc.
rious attentions; and also interesting Re
ports from the military schools.
Permit me 10 renew to you recon.
menda,ion which made to your'prede.
cessors, 10 establish central academy al
some suitable point in every District in
the State, with an endowment Of a thous-
and dollars year TO each. lfyou are
unwilling to abandon The free school sys
lem, and appropriate The funds TO this OBJ
ject, | see no reason why twenty eight
thousand dollars additional might not be-
annually devoted TO this important pur-
pose. Ourexpendilure would then be far
short of tha, made by many Of the States
in this Union, and in none, of ,hem is a
more liberal one required than in ours.
We have but few well conducted acade.
mics, and these, as soon as they acquire
any reputation, are inconvenienly crowd
ed; and depending as they do for their sue.
eess upon Ihe. accidental circumstance uf
appreciated, they seldom dispense then
advantages to he same degree, for a length
OF time. Our common schools are, for
the most part, disgrace 10 an enlightened
people. A system of:permanehta
mics, literally endowed, one of which
would be within the reach ofevery citizen
conducted by such men as your appropri
alton, and the tuition funds would atrac
and teaching uniformly course prescri
he'd by the Trustees of lhe College, would
produce revolution iu The eucatIon OF
the State in a few years. Theannual ex-
penditure would mol equal that now in.
Cured Tor military purposes. While am
far from censuring that expenditure, and
trust that the apathy of longpeace may
not be allowed 10 delude u no false Sc.
curity, still it is certain thai, ,uuder God,
the world is now mainly governed by The
force Of intellect; aud ii is TIE duty of a
wise Government to bestow its highest
care upon the menlnl culture . lis people.
We have expended millions Tor internal
improvements, which have nser yielded
dollar Of clear revenue to tn Treasury,
nor perhaps brought valuate emigrant
or preserved an useful citizen bus. The
interest OF single half millionppropria-
ted TO The establishment aud dsupporl:o Of
central academies. will give arimpulse To
education which in short Iin, would he
fell in every artery Of our poiical, mer
chanlile, and agricultural sysms. You
have. literally aud wisely proded for he
education of the more wealry by estab-
fishing College, which ha done. and
continues TO do more for theState than
every other corporation pr together,
within her limits; aud you bslow annu
ally large sum for the menll improve
men, of the poor, which | Ish could
say produced corresponding beefirs. Bul
for that large and slbstaniabody, con
stituing here, as it does 10 d countries,
the. broad and solid foundatil oE which
i, rests The frame work Of i political
syslem-lhat middle, class, wi. may not
take advantage of your lree scools, and
cannot conveniently take admtage Of
your College-you have, oninothing.
These central academies wouldieel Their,
uy;ahec mr. ai teasf, their wants Tile me- 1