The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-02-15
Major Hs: r. Escrry's Criticism
y p O N :,.i.->
MIR. Tahcr's Address

WHH Il. AGpcrS AOUrcB9
1t ia with extreme reluctance that
we again recur to this Address. No
thing but deep sense Of duty TO our
self could induce lis to do So.
The attempt has been made, in va
rious sections Of the State, to produce
the impression that we falsely reported
the purport and substance OF Mr.. Ia
ber's speech, and. moreover, that we
did so maliciously, and for political
purposes! 1t is to meet and expose
these calumnious charges that we now
address the public.
So far from having any malice a.
gainst Mr.. Taber, we did entertain the
kindess feelings for him, and respect
cd and admired him as young gen
tleman Of talents and promise. All our
intercourse had been respectful aud
civil. We can say it was, on our
part, kind and cordial. Mr.. Jaber
did us the honor to consult US as to the
propriety of his delivering his Address
n. the College COMMENCEMENT. We
suggested to him what appeared to
us the proper course for him to pur
sue. He thanked US for our srgecs.
tions, and, we believe, adopted them.
The next Day he advised with us again,
on the same subject.
We went to hear him, net to cen
sure him, but to praise him. His
graduating speech had filed our mind
with delight, and we had spoken Of it
in terms Of unqualified admiration.
But We cannot express the astonish
Inent and modification which we felt
at the conclusion of Mr. Taber's re-
cent Address. We we're shocked to
hear such sentiments az the following
(Which are extracted from his aclInowl-
edged, printed Addrcss) uttered by
highly gifted young man, whose
talents and gcntlcmanly bearing we
had praised and admired: "B1lt this
reading and ,oritiny system is not only
NOT productive Of public Virtue, but
tends directly to a mental dcmoralizu.
ton, no less Jata! to republicanisnu,
than t,cent;ous7asss and pice!?" ~
need not enter into an elobornte orou.
nent to sho7o that the bare Knowledge
threading and wrihng constitute, II,
no true sense, an education" "In Nezy
England, 7ohsre me are told this says.
tenn has been en,inenAy successful
'0here reading and mri:sng arc taught
to a!t--cr'n'e, pice, ond inGdelity are
progressing IN Il jsarfNi ratio? "UMile
the South reviLea, because she hesit1iry
TO adopt and establish Mis nIenqre, IN,
sufficient and unsatisfactory system Of
public education. enjoys comparative
and une1ampled immunity from air.
by far the larger portion Of those a0Ao
attend the Common School. come from
the lap ofpoverty and TOLL" !: +
The tastes, the oceupations-M oppor.
tunities-ofMese, cannot be intellectual.
With the first light Of morning they
go forth 10 their honest labor, and at
sarly cue sink exhausted to their
eouches! What time is spared them
.51r 6ookse" "By the operation OF
iInmutable laws, which neither the
violence of revolution nor the efforts OF
reform can effect. society everyaohere
IS split into the extreme divisions Of
aseolh and leisure, poverty and depend.
ence." "1he life of this
latter is Of necessity menial, and in
communities sohere they do not tall un.
'aer,a superior race, they constitute that
turbulent, corrupt, pauper host auhich
looms in such fearful darkness over Eu.
sopsan society," Is such a clas. fit for
se!fgover1.nsentsP "When she The
4State) does educate, let her educate ef
.Jfeisntly," &c. &c.
We were mortified to hear such
sentiments and teachings pronounced
In the very temple Of learning itself
inahe Presence of the learned Faculty
OF aStnte College, the Trustees Of that
Institution, before tho Senators and
Representatives Of democratic and
republican people, and in the hearing
at an assembled multitude Of that pco.
pie themselves! This, nll this, too, rs
Dr. Lleher says, ''in the middle of the
nlnetecnth oentury!!" We thought
then, and we still think, tha, such sen.
tinents, uttered at such time, in such
place. before such ~, audience meri.
.ed the rehukc Of free and indepen.
dent press. But instead Of obtaining