Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-06-11
State Affairs.

We have Just soothed ourselves down from the ell
fects of political contest of deep interest," and as ex
citing perhaps any in which the State has been en-
gagged The late Convention it seems, has put an end
to the intestine war. Separate Secession now sleeps
in tho tomb of the Capulets and Cooperation has
been handed over to the convenience of Georgia and
other Southern States. While we may suppose that
those States are lesurey "chewng the cud of bitter
fancies" let US employ ourselves in good works at
home Some one has well said that it is better to wear
out than to rust out-and although we have been foil
ed in cherished political purpose, still we prefer to
wear ourselves little in smaller though useful Efforts
rather than be consumed by inglorous corrosion-
There are many matters Of internal interestto which
we may well turn our attention. for even the optimsts
among us will hardly suppose that we have reached
the point Of absolute perfection in all matters whatso-
ever Weinteni therefore from time to time, to throw
out certain hints with the hope that they will attract
the attention of wiser heads than our own
The part that the State should act in promoting pop
uar Education-what can be done for the agrlcultu-
raj, commercial, and manufacturing interests among
us-are subjects most worthy the consideration Of the
press of the people, and the government OF South Ca
rolina These open field in which the harvest IS
plentiful but wherein the aborers heretofore, have
been too few Perhaps political speculation "a prolific
and easy theme has too much excluded from the mind
of tho country matters ofpractca utlity-each should
receive due consideration and propose to devote
our attention hereafter little moro equally to all.
We would first invite the attention Of our readers to
the subject of popular education. Our ewn has been
recently pointed to that subject bs intelligent cor
respondent of the Lancaster Ledger" The theme Is
very trte but weare not ashamed to utter the stale m
ism that right moral and intellectual culture OF the peo-
pie should be the first OBJECT Of those who would prop
erly direct the affairs Of Republican Commonwealth.
We feel that the sentiment is as common as the lam
guage in which is expressed and has been repeated
for thousands of ycars-from the days of Aristotle to
the time of Calhoun. We doubt if any young asprant,
just stretching his unfcdgcd wing in the genial sun
light popular favor. ever delivered himself from the
stump OF the sweet pains Of his virgin conception, With
out announcing with doe solemnity Of voice and ges-
turo this tnehonored but ever neglected truth. Of
course we will hear often again. for it is good chord
to strike and the heart of the people will always vi
bratc momentary response. But this is not what we
Waul-WS 10 QOL UcSHctO NdSC IuS SuUCSe D'OuShV
forth again and again. to make merely vain parade,
or sl'ng effort barren Of good fruit We desire
that it shall be pressed homo deep into the minds Of the
sober rejecting wise men ,f the country that they
may rerove the matter seriously and strike out some
plan that will yield all the benefits Of which good
plan is capable
1t evident that the present free school system
,c ,IoJ prinn
is manifest that it works out result OF benefits at all
proporonae to the means employed; nor are the means
employed adequate to the general purpose.
For lear, however, Of wearying the patience of our
readers by further continuance of the subject at pres
cut we will take future occasion for the development
of these ponts-hoping in the meantime that some
friend of the country and Of the rising generation par
tcuarly may give US the benefit of his thoughts and
SO save the public from our lucubratons.