The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-12-07

ether reject the gilt, or receive IL without
benefit or gratitude; but rather foun-
tain flowing for all, at which they nav
freely partake. Upon tie same school
forms and by the same masters should he
Taught the elements of education to all
the youths of the State; and let those
whose tastes or means enable them &c do
SO, pursue chose o,her avenues of know
ledge which will lead them to more am
bilious eminence and wider field OF dis
play. But let the basis of the education
ot the young OF the State he laid in her
primary schools. This will afford that
patronage which is necessary for the sup
PoIt OF any system. 1t will be not done
immediately; but by pursuing u judi
clous design, to be carried into effect by
capable individuals. this end will Le ulti-
mateIy accomplished.
Such a design does not preclude the ex-
IStcncc of private schools. Extend instruc-
ton, and the more instruction will be re-
| quIred. Pierce this barrier OF prejudice
and ignorance, which refuses all approach
to ;he adoption Of better views of public
| instruction. and for one school already cs-
tabshcd, fifty will spring into existence.
len years ago, twenty thousand adults,
besides children were unable to read and
write in South Carolina. Has our free
school system dispelled any of this guor-
ance. Are there no reasonable fears to
be entertained that the number has in
creased since that period? Are genera
tons to come and 90, II; d still see no i'm
provcment i'll the education ofthe humble
portion of your population Ifno change
is effected with increasing commerce, with
1900 miles Of railroad, with your machi-
merry, with your merchants, engineers, ma
chiniStS and mechanics and your farmers?
a reformation in public instruction, if
| any be made, cannot be effected directly
by your agents. | recommend to YOU the
! establishment of n Board Of Education.
and the appointment of a Commissioner
| Of Public instruction, whose duty il shall
be to gather facts with regard to this State
and thoroughly inform hiwSc,f upon the
systems Of such other governments as cd
ucate their people best, and report the re-
suit OF his laburS to the Board of Com
mSsioners, who together shall digest a
plan to be submitted to you for ratitica-
on or rejection. Pay them either 10y an
appropriation, or by a per centage from
the free school fund.
The Board, suggest, shall be appoi t.
ed 10y you; the Commissioners of Public
| instruction t. hc chosen by the Trustees
of the South Carolina College, by and
| with the consent Of the Executive.
Accompanying this communication is
letter, from the President of the South
Carolina College upon the subject of Pub
lie Education, which contains views so we'll
considered and ablc, rs to induce me to
lay it before You, with the hope that you
will give 1t such attention as the impor-
,ance of the subject demands.
shall now proceed to lay before YOU
subject which cill engage your jugde-
ment as we'll as interest your sympalhes.
Undoubtedly among the first duties of
government are to lcgi>latc for the secu-
rity Of life and properly, and the protcc
ton of morals. Next in order is the cd
ucation "f all classes Of citizens. The
third is to make provision for those who
10y natural or other infrmalives arc una
bic to care properly for themselves in
the affairs of te. Among all nations the
performance of this latter obligation is re-
g9rdcl as the highest evidence of crirht-
| ment and civilization. Those who arc Sc
'ccicd 10y their fellow myn by reason Of
Their superiority of intellect to provide for
! al their social and political wants, ourht
surely to be such as are most regarlful of
the condition OF that class of society from
whom the light Of intelligence and reason
has been removed, and who arc already
the most happy Of mankind.
In the year 1921, when the Asylum
Tor the Insane Of this State was estab-
IlShed, the arrangements made for its in
mates were far in advance Of any similar
institution, not only in this country but in
Europe. In it the system of coercion was
abolished 10 n greater cXtcn than anv 9TH
er similar establishment; the personal
comforts OF the patients more amply pro-
vidrd for; and the whole system, as for
meriy adopted in the Bicctre and Salpe.
trivre, where the insane were regarded as
condemned fclons or bru;es,. was supersc.
ded 10y more gentle and hnmane treat
ment. But since that period, whilst this
institution, from the character Of the build
ing erected for the accommodation of na-
tents, together with its unfavorahlc loca-
ton and the limitel ext,nt Of tie grounds
about it, has from necessity remained
stationary, others, both in this country
and in Europe, have left il far behind in
the improvements which science and ex,
perience have suggested and they now
present us in turn examples from which
our own system can be greatly amended.
have made il a portion of my pub
lie duty to examine into the condition of
the State Asylum for unatics, and tho re-
suit Of my observation has been to recon-
mend to you a thorought change from all
the present arrangements. Provision is
made onI y for 100 patients--against
about 400 Iunatics, which are estimated
as :he number in the State. The accom-
modnions, therefore, are too small; and
the duties of legislation upon this subject
will be but imPerecIy discharged as long
as there remains single lunatic within
her limits unproyided for. The situation is