The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-08-22
South Carolina College.
sEM1-cENTENN1AL cELEBRATIoN.

SEM1-CENTENNlAL CELEBhhAiot''
The interest which all must feel in the ap-
sproaching. celebration by the alumni Assocsa-
xap, of the semicenteunary of this noble nstl-
tutiGa, induces US to refer to the subject now,
for. t6e>aurpose of invoking general attention
to it. The NAlumni of that college are now
scattered far ana.Wide throughout the South
and Southwest, and asthe celebration will take
place at an early period Of the ensuing winter
it may be advisable to keep the subject before
the public.
We will annex first brief abstract of pro-
ceedings at meeting of the Alumni, which
was held on last Commencement Day, Dec. o,
ls53-for the purpose of organizing the Alum
nj Association, and preparing for the semi CEN
tennial celebration.
The following officers were elected for the
purpose of giving organization to the Alamn'
Association:
W. C. PRESTON, President
JOHN L. MANNING, (vice pres'ts
JAS. H. THORNWELL, '''' ''' '''
F. w. McMASTER, Sec'y and Treasurer.
JOHN B. FLOYD, Orator.
It has been announced, if we remember cor
rectly, that Gov. Floyd-a distinguished grad
uate of the college, who, like our present Chief
Magistrate, hasy borne as well as inherited GU
bernatorial honors-has formally accepted the
duty assigned to him as first orator of the AS
sociated Alumni. The presence of such an or
ator will add much to the interests of the occa-
sion, which will be one long to be remember
ed, we doubt not.
We appeal, therefore, to the friends OF the
South Carolina College, and to the Alumni es-
pecialy, in behalf of the expected rally in De-
cember next The occasion will furnish a Joy
Gus opportunity of reunion to many who have
long been scattered up and down along llte's
dusty paths, without opportunities of renewing
friendships and alliances that had been formed
in the sequestrated shades of college life, and
it will also introduce to personal acquaintance
many who now know each other only through
the associations Of common Alma Mater
The 6ftieth year of our State College-an insti-
tuition formed amid ,pecunary embarrassments
and with a hopeful recognition OF posterity by
large-minded and far-sighted statesmen-an in.
stitution, the first of the kind in America, we
believe, that was formed untirey by State sup
port, independent of private donations and leg.
acies- an institution whose liberal Governors
have made it their chief object, in a spirit OF
catholic provision, to give it the aid of the best
talents, wherever to be derived-an institution
whose rolls comprise large majority of those
who, within the current century, have moulded
the opinions and embodied the spirit of the
State-an institution that has furnished faithful
governors, able legislators and eloquent advo.
Gates to more than one Of our sister States
the iftieth year of such an institution, we re.
peat presents an occasion that should not be
overlooked. 1t must be an occasion Of inter-
est to alI--one of peculiarly dear and attractive
"reminiscences to all who have partaken OF the
intellectual nutriment there furnished. We
trust, therefore, that all concerned will look to
the matter in time, and that a gathering of the
Alumni from far and wide may be witnessed,
such as will add much to the exercises and in
terests of commencement week"-that intel.
lectual gala and feast of reason annually enjoy.
ed by our political and literary capital.
With the Legislative history and origin of the
college, our readers are no doubt famliar.-
We refer all interested, however, to collec
ton and digest Of the college laws, compiled
several years since by Edmund Bellinger, esq,
by request of the trustees. We only annex n
few particulars, which have presented them
selves to us incidentally, in turning over con-
temporary records Of that day.
The trustees named in the acts establishing
the college met about the 20th of April, lSO5,
and adopted provisional regulations, prescrib'
ing the constitution of the classes, terms OF ad-
mission, and also gave notice that the lnstltu.
ton would open to students on the second
Monday in June, 1905.
Gov James B. Richardson, in his message
of December, 1904, refers to the approaching
completion of the college, and congratulates the
Legislature on the favorable auspices attending
the commencement ofthe great enterprise they
had undertaken.
President Maxcy, elected to take charge Of
the institution, arrived in Charleston on his
way to Columbia, on the 18th Of November,
1904:
The approaching winter, it will thus be seen,
fairly completes half century since the formal
organization of the college, and no period or
form of celebration can be so conveniently ap.
propriated to a commemoration of this imPor-
tant event, as that adopted by the Alumni AS
sociation. Let the Alumni, then, show that
they have not forgotten the nursery Of dawnirg
manhood Charleston Courier.
HARD TALK.-The National Democrat, the
Hard Organ in New York, in an article on
the Custom House in that city, says:
"There are now at responsible posts IN tfat
place forty or fifty thieves boxers, shoulder
htters, thimble riggers pugilists, asasslns' and
common blackguards, who would lick all Gre
alton if their masters are disturbed. If the
President were to attempt to put other men IN
their places, they would have their eyes knock