The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-02-15
From the Carolina Spartan.

In answer to the many questions respecting
the education of the Blind of this State, |
would say that it is my intention to provide
for them as soon as possible.
trust that the parents and friends of such
children will not regard it as a want of proper
sympathy, that we have not heretofore bestow-
ed as much attention on the Blind, as we have
on the Deaf and Dumb. 1t has been the want
ofmeans to prepare suitable rooms and obtain
competent instructors We now think it pos.
sible, that we may receive class of some eight
or ten in 1854. We have plan for build
ing before us, which, it is believed, when COM
pleted, will meet the appreciation of the State
q copy of which will be transmitted to the
Governor, and may be scen,I presume, in the
Secretary's Office. Three thousand five hun.
dred dollars have been placed at my disposal,
which, it is thought will build the first wing.
The entire cost of the building will probably be
about twenty-five thousand dollars.
In looking over the various Reports of the
different Institutions of the kind both in Eu-
rope and America, see there is a general dis
position prevailing with those who have the
means to settle the endownents, aunulties, &c :,
o. such institutions thereby perpetuatng their
usefulness under the care Of State or otherwise.
This institution is, at present. private prop
erty but it is my intention, at a proper time, to
ask the State Of South Carolina to receive it,
and carry out the plan.
In the mean time, should any citizen of this
or any other State, desire to contribute in any
form or amount to aid, at once, the building
contemplated, even yet while it is private
property, we arc desirous that they. should be
gratifed, and that too in manner, that the
same may be applied to the benefit Of the un.
therefore, propose that such person or persons
desiring to settle on the institution any amount
in any form, forward the same to the Govern
OF, who is chairman Of the Board of Com.
missioners, directing in what manner such
amount is to be applied, which will be pub:
lcly acknowledged in the annual Report which
we propose henceforward to publish. And for
the better security Of such gratuity thus appro-
priated, until this becomes State Institution,
| will, at all times, keep, in the care of some
proper person, a Will, by which | vii place
the Institution in condition that the State
can possess it, through her Commissioners,
within five years from and after my death
they being, in that case, negotators between
the State and my heirs.
Should live to petition the State to accept
the institution, then, in that case, said Com
missioners on the part of the State, and by my
consent, and pledge heretofore given, shall
have the right. as may be directed by the State,
to value the property, and thcrefrom deduct
such amount or amounts as may have been set
tied on the institution by individuals.
have thought proper to submit this plan to
the public, not because | intend, or believe it
necessary, to beg individual subscriptions for
the support of this institution, the wants Of
which, have been so promptly met thus far by
the Legislature of the State, but to meet the
wishes of any who mayIfeel disposed, from
their abundance, by gratuity, to lend their help
ing hand for the more speedily appearing Of
perpetual State Institution for the Deaf, Dumb
and Blind of our State, and for all whose lot
may be cast with US.
Such individual aid would, without doubt, be
appreciated not only by the immediate partici-
pants, but also to those perhaps yet unborn.
N. P. WALKER.
Cedar Spring Asylum, Jan. 1853.