The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-12-19
souTH-cARoL1NA LEGISLATURE.

| 10 tle house from LHe SeHdle, VIZ ~ Dlll u
amend the law relating to the duties Of Ordina'
ries, in taking administration bonds, which
received its first reading; also Bill to punish
assaults made by concealed weapons.
Mr.. McGowen, from the Military Committee
reported unEavoraby on bill to exempt Min.
istcrs of the Gospel and other persons from pa.
troll duty.
Mr.. AlcGowcn, from the same Committee,
made further reports on a bill to exempt Ger.
tain persons from ordinary militia duty, and
recommended its passage; also on certain bills
and memorials to exempt Ministers Of the Cos
pei from patrol duty.
The report deprecated the idea thai all Min
listers of the Gospel should be exempt from
patrol duty, and recommended all regular Ii
censctl Ministers, not owning more than fifteen
saves, he exempted.
Mr.. Mitchell, from the Committee on the
Judiciary, reported on bill to revise the Grim:
inal code Of the State, but did not recommend
the passage of so much of the bill as referred
70 the establishment Of a pcnitentiary; also, q
bill to separate the election District of Claren-
declare Clarendon to be separate and distinct
Judicial District The bill provides for the
erection of a Court House, Jail, &C., ard the
election of all usual District officers.
The special order was called for, (the bid in
troduccd by Mr.. Tucker, for the Improvement
&C., of the Common School System) and taken
up by the House, in Committee OF the hole,
Mr.. McGowen in the chair.
Mr. Middleton advocated ably the adoption
of the amendments offered by him, when the
bill was last discussed.
Mr. Middleton also stated his objections to
several sections contained in the original bill, rs
it now stood.
Mr.. Mddleton's argument contained much
sound argument, and practical knowledge of
the history OF the Free School system of this
State, which was very interesting.
Mr. Mcknight replied, and with an unusual
degree Of carnestncss, advocated the bill, and
in conclusion, begged the Committee to pass
this or some other bill by which the masses of
our State might be educated.
Mr.. Wilson, from York, followed Mr.. Nc
Knight, and in some eloquent remarks, advo-
Gated the passage of the bill. lie showed the
extreme necessity of the passage Of the BILL
and submitted estimates of the many adults
and children now in the State, who could nei
thcr write or read, estimates, too, which was,
or should be calling to every South Carolinan.
Mr.. Sullivan obtained the floor, and in his
usual pleasing style and ability, objected to the
bill under consideration.
Mr.. Sullivan is Chairman Of the Committee
on Education, and has for years past, been
deeply interested in the education of the mass
cs of South Carolina.
Mr.. Thompson also objected to the bill, and
advocated the present system. The present
system had been called failure; it was no
failure, and two-hirds of those who now heard
his voice, received the first rudimcnts of their
education in the very schools pronounced to
be failure. The present system was decided
ly the best one that could be adopted The
education given in these ''frcc schools" was
common one, but it was of that kind which
mad, THE S,ulu mu; it. now Is. Mr. 1homp-
son was listened to with much marked atteu,
tion
Mr.. Tucker replied. and met with much can
dor and spirit all the arguments urged against
the bill, (thc reply Of Mr.. Tucker will be pub
lished.)
Mr.. Tucker in conclusion, moved that the
committee 90 now rise repo[t Tue .,, D'i. 20 L
li"usc; ana reco"'l'en" ''''' t te '',' "s5 n',"
The iolioW'ng a'ich""'e",' Vne "''''"o'''.".' 1S
were read ana were r"'e' 10 oe ou' ~ o''t'' ~.
Mr.. M'dd'etoms amendment rs "e'' "S ."e
amendment o, 'ir' ucNe' WI rsI 'c... "'.u' w.,
Ieu u"nn ""n ' I 'l'u'u "r,nd W. ' tLo nusn ,bot
Eo"n,'tee ~, lose """ ''l''''" '"' '''''' ''''''
''e rha %' n"rI uo "u' ISI ccro,os f tbo covorror
o,oa. -" v.;ii % ,nIo ''ao, nn WodnosJn, nort ~
c''ct VIII ''Ne p'a,e u" "'unss"'s '; ".N. & al
+. "'' "'u o"'''.''oes "e'o "Pl''''''c'' ~ "'
inc ,r necessary arrangements II. ,,
Inc iiousc ADJOURNED "t very Mv tt!e n'u,'
tlousE OF n, hEIEhS"A ~ iA'i,tS ,. 'u'''s,'','