The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-12-06
THE LANCASTER LEDGER.

=. N p'N,SSuon. Unuer 1e auspices
oi It's present able and distinguished head
~ nus 9eeh Steadiiy increasing in populari-
ty and usefulness. The lab,ri3us efforts. .
both OF his predecessor and himself 70 ele-
vate the standard of character and scholar
ship, have been attended by signal success;
and the reputation of the Institution in this
regard has been both exalted and extend
ca. In common with all who have the best
interest OF the State Mt heart, | earnestly
nope tlat ne may long continue to discharge
the functions of his high office. Talents
ahu quaIlhcatlons such rs his, belong to no
party or sect They are the property of the
state which they have benefited and adorn-
ed oy their exercises; and she looks forward
win confidence, TO his continued supervise
on OF an Institution, which WIS intended 10
DC, and is, the nursery of her character ,ueni-
us, and scholarship
Dnr,ng the past year, the College has been
benefited by two noble endowments, and
III after years, many youth, ardent in his
search after knowledge and in the pursuit
OF lame, will pour from his heart blessings
upon The names of A'lston and Hutchinson
naif century has expired since the es-
adjustment of the College, and after the
various fortunes and vicisSitudes of life, the
Alumni are about to assemble to renew their
r;verence for their Aims Mater, and for a
bi't period, TO frcshen the memories Of carly
years, For day ut least, all Of her, chill
drcn are TO assemble Under the maternal
rooi, ana whilst she embraces and blesSrs
her lVlng sons, she will also weave wrca,hs
OF 'mmortefteS for those who died in their
carly prime. The scene will be one full Of
interest, and hope Of usefulness; and re-
commend you to take such steps as will give
Increased effect and dignity to the occasion.
Each year convinccs us Of the wisdom
which .ictated the establishment of the Arse
nal and Citadel Academies. They have af.
forded practical education 10 the youth
who have been placed there, the effects of
which are more scnsbly felt, each day
throughout the State. Their knowledge Of
tactics acquired during the academic term,
is plain y pcrceptible to Improvement in the
drill OF II large portion of the Militia; and
their attanments in engineering and survey
ing, Is f'.st supplying, and will soon supply
altogether the demand for that kind ofRnowl-
edge IN the State. have no hesitation in
expressing the opinion that more benefit has
arisen from the few Thousand dollars eXpen-
ded annually upon these schools for ten
| years past, thln has accrued to the State
from the application OF the free school APP
Propriations for thirty years previous.
| cannot omit to bring to your notice the
efficient, labOrious and disenterestcd servi-
ces OF the Chairman of the Board of Visi-
tors. Nothing can be more prompt, UNI
form and systematic than his administration
OF affairs. and rs long us he continues ia
| his present position, feel surc that increas-
ed success viii. attend his efforts. | com.
mend these Academies to your especial cnrc
and iiberalty.
The State makes provision annually fol
the education at the South Caroiin> College
of one youth from tho Charleston Orphan
House, to be selected by the commissioners
The choice is usually made 10 n reward fol
merit, and the privilege has resulted in max
ing many useful and distinguished citizens
Through me the Commissioners now ash
that suitable arrangements be made for one
Mt the Ci,idel nr Arsnci Academy, not onl,
on account of the benefit which will aris,
from it to the individual, bat as IN addition
students In tnse,~fgarf CfoaseI h.. "eFtceftdr
~ add NV accommodation TO their appli
cation.
Herewith present for your consideration
mem orlal from the Trustees of the Rope
Hospital asking aid from the State to assis
In Increasing their means To such nm extcn
rs TO enable them 10 open their building
|
II was originally intended. The means n,
their disposal are too limited n. present te
carry this object into effect, and during th,
prevalence of the epidemic of the past sea
son they were forced to depend upon pr;yat,
hberality TO render il available for a tempor
airy period as II hospital Tor the sick Citi
zens from all parts of the State contributed
u tins object, but of course these resource,
were Withdrawn after the violence ofthe dis
ease had subsided. With the establishment,
OF the hospital, having rs adjuncts the be-
heVoient associations of the city, the horr, r,
ot these fatal epidemics cau be mat rail p,
mitigatefs refcrc the papers FIR your con
sldcraton and the exercise Of your judo
ment.
There appears to bo some objection or
the part OF our people 10 the operation OF
the Militia System of this State, and, doubt.
less' efforts will be made during the session
essentially to alter or abolish il To say
that 1t is without detect, would b. to claim
Tor It merit which no institution possesses
Bat with my official experience, and from
the observation of those who have taken
an interest in it for the last thirty wears.
an disposed 20 think il Indispensable for
the preservation of tho martial spirit of our
people. No one Is wise enough To for.se,
the necessity which may arise for the eyer.
cise OF those qualifications of the citizen
which the military organization is intended
u cultivate. Issues are pending bearing
great consequences along with them, and
every one who examines the course Of events
must feei1that at any moment NAV arise
questions which will demand an exhibition
VI those qualities which have hitherto niyen
an enVlabie precedence TO the citizen soidiery
OF THIS Commonwealth. recommend that
all matters connected with the Militia Svs-
tenn be referred to a board of competent OH
GERS, hose duty shall be, with ample time
Tor deliberate investigation, carefully to re.
wise 1t and submit the result of their labor.
TO you at your next session. Accompanying
this document is the report Of the efficient
Adjutant and Inspector General upon this
subjeyt
The question ofreform in the Free School
sis'em has largely engaged the attention of
the people during the past year. IL has eve.
ryN here been discussed, and the eonyictlou
IS generally established that radical changes
are necessary, IN our present piaa of public
instruction.
in my last annual messag8 expressed
sne opinion that IL would be premature to
aCODI Mt tnuL ma nj.