Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1846-11-11
.Erom ,. ne southt,a Chronicle. y,

81 -
l-IVehail with pleasure the assislapcesof
40 sensible and valuable an ally assthe
editor Of ibs Charleston Ns1os, who has
been recently ably following up our own
imperfect suggestions, on The necessity o.
mating some more ef1ectual legislative
provision for the diminulion oftbe number
of free white voters in our Stale who can.
not read the ticket they put into tho baN''
box. He has come up most maniuiy ~
our aid in this important matter, aud MS
remarks are we'll worthy Of the attention OF
every enlightened member ofthe Leglsla-
,ure, who feels his responsibility 10 his
Stale. The first great duty of every free
State is 10 educate its citizens al whatever
cost, and that State has not properly
performed tha, great duty, which numbers
among its voters 10000 unable TO read or
write and neither labor nor cost shouldbe
spared to wipe away this disgrace. '
"Impossble !" once said Mlrabeau TO
one of his secretaries, "never name TO me
that beast of a word" The same septiT
men, should animate our legislators. for in
so holy a cause as that of.brinsing light 10
the darkened intellec,s of their fellow
citizens, their efforts, if made with The
fitting energy in the proper spirit, must
succeed-at least. the great interests in
volved imperiousIy require Of them to make
The trial. This is no question ofpolicy or
expeIiency, bu, Of urgent necessity and
duty; lei them act, aud moi only talk about
it. ., <,.;.,.=
We have high hopes oflhis Legislature.
AS a celebrated physician once tried sue.
cessfully the experiment Of restoring the
worn out energies Of an enfeebled patient
by the infusion Of youthful and more healthy
blood, so our present Legislature has re-
ceived a strong accession of new members,
many of them fresh from lhe halls Of Col.
lege, who sllI.feel The benefits of the ir.
slruc,ion they have recently received, and
who. If they will only exert their energies
in this noble cause. may secure the lasting
gratitude of their State. A more noble
field for exerion never was presented to
any rising body Of statesmen, and we ap.
peal TO The Young Men Of our State 10
press forward this great reform, if their
older and more polite brethren will give
it up in despair. -. -.
We intend no reflection on form er
Legislatures, which have slurred over all.
proposed amendments as visionary or
impracticable, but we know the influence
exerted upon the strongest minds by long
continued habits of thinking, and therefore
earnestly en,rea, those as yet unbiased,
seriously 10 mediate some plan for the in
teliectual redemption Of South Carolina.
Even failure 10 such cause will beshon-
orable TO him who makes the attempt.
Who will be the Cdrtius 10 plunge into
this yawning pit ofisnorance which llirea.
tens to ensulf our State? Unless. some
such be found. no man can ,ellrhe result.
We will be left far behind in the rapid
march Of intellect pushing on all around
us.-Even North Carolina has a free
school system superior to ours.
But we desire 10 deal in plain facts.
The first step necessary TO make an efiec'
tual. mprovement, is'to ascertain !: the
actual working Of The presen, system,
which canonly be done,h ,hy,bc appointment
of a person specially Selected. and empow-
cred by the Legislature TO make the ex-
elimination, by personal inspection Of the
schools all over the State. This las been
urged upon the Legislature by almost all
the eminent gentlemen at different lines
appointed to examine into the system.
They have all declared that ,hey wanted
light ON the subject, only 10 be procured
in that way. +, We need only mention the
names of Professors Thornwel aud
Elliott. of Messrs. Bellinser, Blanding,
Nc. Cord and Johnson. 10 provo what
weight of authority the proposition carried
with it. The paltry prelext Of erp'nse
surely should not be permitted 10 sci aside
recommenda so wise and so power
fully sustained. The next step should be
the creation Of an adequate fund for the
purpose fcarrying out any plan deiermin-
ed upon. The present annual appropri. /.
alton of S37 900 is totally inadequate Tex
cept as a bou6Iy 20 few teachers,) as
these gentlemen have conclusively shown
in their several reports. We would, with
all due Difference to the opinions Of tlIose
better qualified TO judge, propose the estab-
lshment of system Of free schools. ad-
equate 10 the wants ofthe whole community
in place Of the expensive private schools,
where the children Of the rich enjoy almost
monopoly ofeducation, those ofthe poor
being either deprived Of it, or receiving it
as an act tharity-an alternative CALLING
to The pride of the .humbles, ofour citizens;
and productive Of much ofthe ignorance
that. prevails. :. -.
We would susges, tha, fund fOr, the
purpose indicated be raised By levying a
direct tax Of one dollar. upon every citizen
ofthe State qualified TO vote ;the poorest
could pay that. From this source fund
of at least Sl50,000 could annually be ad-
ded as tax upon corporation stoeks;ipla,e,
pleasure carriages and other luxuries; as
we'll as the surplus revenue due 10. the
Stale from the. sale Of the public land,
which could not be better bestowed. The.
sum thus raised would be amply sufficien,
90 h,t;11 cob ot' hou,ao ,,,,l 49,, ~ ro,