Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-12-07

IN the art of war, this object perhaps from
want OF due attention to the subject, mas not
been fully attained. To demonstrate by practice
in The field, the lessons they have received in the
recitation room, the students must be furr;shed
with all the necessary means, in some Of which
the scholars are very deficient. To supply these
wants, Iadvise the purchase of apyrotechric la
boratory, engineering nstl umcnts, and battery
ofartlery
lagain commend to your notice the Deaf and
Dumb School at Cedar Spring Spartanburg Dis
.ict, under the superintendent of Mr.. Walker
Inc number of mutcs in tho State is supposed To
be about seventy, of whom only thirteen are re-
ceiv'ng instruction. Impressed with the convic-
ton that the public are not we'll informed CON
corning The advantages ofNIr Walkers Seminary.
have invited that gentleman to attend at lie
Capitol, wiz, a few of bis pupils in order TO sat
lsiy the Legislature of their progress and bis ca.
pacity 20 teach.
AS the Acts and Resolutions of the Legisla-
turc were not published until late in March, /
was not informed until that time that had been
authorized TO appoint fit and competent person
to ascertain The practical operation of the Free
School System. From the latenoss of the season,
twas soon apparent that n despite OF persayer-
ing cxertions L should fail in realizing Your ey
pectptions--a result which was subsequently,
verified.
In the belief that no action had been taken on
inc subject OF my recommendation by the I.c9is-
ature,l issued q Circulart to the Commissioners of
Free Schools, pioproundiug certain queries
copy OF which with their answers shaft be laid
before you. The inlerences, deduciblc from these
papers, are: first, that tho present system sue
cccds only where, with n dense population, the
funds for educational purposes, enlarged by con
t,ibutions from Other sources, are ample; second
~, That the teachers, mainly from Inadequate
compensation, are, rs n body, unqualified for
their stations and thirdly, that in the sections of
the Statejn which the population is sparse, the
public bounty is meagerly provided
Aproiound solicitude for the moral aud incl
lectual welfare of the people induced me to sug
gest TO tlie Teachers throughout our limits, the
proprety of assembling at Colombia, 10 consider
the subject of Free Schools the preparation at
home of elementary and other books for the use
OF our schools the best mode of insurinp the
progress of education, and other kindred matters
A copy of the proceedings of Tho convention,
composed, in part, ofmen distinguished for talent
chaiacter'an usefulness take great pleasure in
transmitting TO you, accompanied by the express
sion OF my hearty Concurrence in the conclusions
nj which il arrived SIS
The ascertained truth, chat over 10000 persons
oil our population are igAorant of heir alphabc t.,
is indeed we'll calculated to excite general and
ar-ousnquiry concerning the causes of so pn;n.
iul q moral calamity. According 10 the official
reports of the Boards of Commissioners in 1915.
it appears that there are IN the State alo FREQ
Scheols, OLD Teachers and SO63 Scholars. aud
the appropriation for The support of The schools,
was 300, equivalent TO about $40 annually
for each Teacher, and 81 80 for every pupil.
South Carolina expends for the purpose of cd
ucation nearly one-fourth of her income derived
from taxes. 1t would seem, that il so large Il ,lis
bursement were wisely and economically appor-
TONED, it might secure all the benefits which tho
wisdom of The Legislature DESIGNED: but so for
tunate n rdetlt has not been produced.
In submitting The whole matter 10 your care
full consideration, Icoosder it my duty to rccom-
mend the appointment Of a general superptcn-
dent ofGree schools, and that the several Boards
Boards of Commissioners be authorised and in
structed, where The school fund is esuiicient, to
raise, by assessment on the general tax Of their
respective Districts and Parishes sum OF money
equal in amountto Chat appropriated by the Leg
islature. The probable effects OF this duplica-
ton of means, will be The multiplication of scbol-
ans, embracing perhaps all who may be entitled
to the public bounty; higher grade Of nstruc-
tors, and the establishment of the right, in con
sequence of his contribution when every citizen
would feel that he possessed, os copsgning his
child to tue mental guardianship of the State.
The expedieucy Of revising our criminal eatlc
seems TO be universally conceded The number
of offences punishable car;tally isunwise and re-
pugnant TO the dictates Of humanity. Many OF
the statutes of force in South Carolina i'm relation
to crimes, arc wholly inapplicablc to The condi-
tion of our society, andI may add, form of Coy
crnmeut. Enacted in Great Britain, at a., early
period Of her history, but subsequently, modified
in part with q view TO their adaptation to The
spirit of the age, aud The progress of society vet
in this State several Of them are unrepealed, md
others nre practically imperative
Undsiinguisbed by large cities, n sparse popr-
lation which tGo Is almeat exclusively devoted
toagriculturat pursuits, exemption from the evils
of foreign emigration, and the class TO which
transgressors of the law belong being substituted
blythe slave, who Is rarely guilty of "a heinous Of
fence, are the causes Of fbe paucty of crime In
0nr limits aud which have rendered unnecessary.
until now, any material changes in n code that IA
other communities, The public safety would have
imperasiyely demanded. $50
Twenty -twocsimes, of which seven are clergy.
able, are punishable with death; sill, hanging Is
an common spectacle in South Carolina. The
public whipping OF 49, white man, ,-----.
Ibelleye TO be nopposition topopuiar sentiment.
IN my Judgment, it Is innumaD, de&rad::lg aud a
yiolaliono of The rules Of sound policy III a south.
ern hinnity. Unlawfal ie%ding aud srafiisking
with slaSSs, bywhich white person knowingly
intiicts upo society, and especially his vichage,
widespread and prolific OWLS IS perhaps one Of
the very few olfencee deserving Of corporal pnn-
ishment. ~
: imprisonment, unaccompanied by lsbor of any.
Kind, experienea has demonstrated 10 be Of little
efficacy as = means of reformation Th0perio
for which cuIprits are confined, seldom lasts as
long as tysn yeefa fns tho most yated {ranss
grossions. Is too short for The mind to be ava
kened to the necessity of 9irtuous course of fc-
t'nu.
Fiucs arc seldom paids In perhaps two7thirdsl
of shc cases which have been brought to ny no.
tice, the piea Of poverty or inability at tho time
TO comply with tho requsition of the law, was Ger
tain to be urged Atthe cxpiyation oftbe term
of their confinement, the benefit ofthe Priso,i
Bounds act is taken, by wh;cl, in tepsiags Che inn