Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1846-11-11
From the Soulht,a Chronicle. i /. !,

90 sensible andisvaluabie an ally asihe
editor Of the Charleston Ne.os, who has
been recently ably following up our own
imperfec, suggestions, on The necessity @ o.
making some more edeetual .leeislal,ss
provision for the dirninulion oftbe number
of free white voters in our Stale who can.
no, read the ticket they put into the haNo'
|box. He has come up most maniuiiy "
our aid in this importan, matter, and his
remarks are we'll worthy Of the attention ot
every enlightened member ofthe Leslsla.
,ure, who feels bis 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 10 read or
write; and neither labor nor cost should be
spared to wipe away this disgrace.
"Impossible :" once said Mirabeau TO
one of his secretaries. "never name TO me
that beas, of a word" The same seDtif
men, should animate our legislators. for in
so holy cause as that ofbrinsing light 10
the darkened intellecls of their fellow
citizens, their efforts, if made with the
fitting energy 10 the proper spirit, must
succeed-at least, the great interests in
volved imperiously require Of themto make
The trial. This is no question ofpolicy or
expeIiency, bu, Of urgent necessity and
duty; lei them act, aud mol only talk about
il. r. Al..a.,l
| We have high hopes orIhis Legislature.
AS celebrated physician once tried sue.
cessfully the experiment Of restoring the
worn ou, energies Of an enfeebled patient
by the infusion Of youthful and more healthy
I blood. SO our present Legislature has re-
ceived strong accession Of new members,
many of them fresh from The halls Of Col
lege, who slill..feel The benefits of the ir-;
slruction they have recently received, and
who. ifthey will only exert their energies
in this noble cause, may secure the lasting
gratitude of their State. A more noble
field for exerlion never was presented TO
any rising body Of statesmen, and we ap-
peal 10 the Young Men Of our State 10
press forward this great reform, If their
older and more polite brethren will give
lit up in despair. . -. -.
We intend no reflection on form er
Legislatures, which have slurred over all.
proposed amendments as visionary or
impracricabe, but we know the influence
exerted upon the strongest minds by long
continued habits OF, thinking, aud therefore
earnestly en,reat those as yet unbiased,
| seriously 10 meditae some plan for the in. :.
reliecctual redemption Of South Carolina.
Even failure in such cause will beshon.
orable TO him who makes the attempt
| Who will be the Cdrlius 10 plunge into
This yawning pit ignorance which sihrea.
tens to engulf our State /! Unless some
such be found, no, man can telilthe result.
We will be left far behind in the rapid
march Of inlelleci pushing on all around
us.-Even North Carolina has free
school system superior to ours. -, -.
But we desire 10 deal in plaid facts.
| The first step necessary TO make an effec.
: tual. improvement, isrto ascertain ). the
actual working Of The! present system,
which canonly be done by, be appointment,
of person specially selected, and empow-
cred by the Legislature TO make the ex-
elimination, by personal inspection of the
schools all over the Stale. This las been
urged upon the Legislature by almost u
the eminent gentlemen at different lines
appointed TO examine into the system:
| Ttey have all declared that ,hey wanted
light on the subject, only to be procured
! 10 that way. We need only, mention lhe
names of Professors Thornwell aud
Elliott, of Messrs. Bellinscr, Blandipg,
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
a Recommendation so wise and SO power
fully sustained. The nexl step should be
the creation Of an adequate fund for the
purpose ofcarrying, out any plan deierrmin-
ed upon. The present annual approprI, /,
alton Of S37, 900 is totally inadequate Tex
cept as a bounly 20 few teachers,) as
these gentlemen have conclusively shown
in their several reports. We would. with
all due Difference to the opinions Of ttose
better qualified TO judge, propose the estab-
lishment Of system Of free schools. ad-
equate 10 The wants of,he whole community
in place Of the expensive private schools,
where the children Of The rich enjoy almost
monopoly Of education, those ofthe poor
being either deprived Of it, or receiving it
as an act ftharity-an alternative CALLING
to The pride of the .humbles, ofour citizens,
and productive Of much Of the ignorance
Elhat. prevails. i.l .-fe&. srs
We would suggest that a fund for the
purpose indicated be raised BY lcvying a
direct tax Of one dollar upon every citizen
of the State qualified 10 vote !; the poorest
could pay that. From this source fund
of a, least Sl50,000 could annually be ad-
ded as Tax upon corporation stocks, plate,
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
L.