Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-12-05

may passively enjoy liberty, but they cannot fe'
its inspiration, and will bring no sacrifice to il
:. altar. ,...:-...
;, i will not on suehan occasion enlarged on tn
necessity apd importance of public instruction
!: All civilized governments recognize the duty
J. and labor TO- meet its requirements. The, sub
& ject addresses itself with peculiar, force to
slageholding community. The world owes i
civiliza ion to slavery. It exists with US init
desirable and enduring from. IT. is, the .corne
stone of ourrepublican edifiee,' and its strong
est defence will be-. found in the education,o
those entrusted with lis preservation. - !,
i It's, however, impossible that the ,rprssen
system, or any other, can be made 70 work vel
without responsible head, There must. b,
unity and energy. Allow me to urge upon you
as has often been done, The necessity of appoint
ing 9 Superintendent of Public Instruction
: Select nun suitable for the work. Pay bin
Eberally. Cheap officers usually render, cheap
g. ryire. Make it :his duty TO visit every neigh
borhood in the State, and ascertain where school,
are Deeded-whers school houses may be.con
yenieptly. .located-where, owing. 10 spareseness
of population. they cannot-where tthosecwho
are able to educate will unite with the State
10 the establishment of Academies. In word
do as has-b done elsewhese-haye a survey
of the field Of ignorance, aud with the .map be.
fore you, decide on your system. Make at least
this effort, and if it results in nothing--if in
consequence of insurmountable difficulties In
our condition, no Improvement: can be mpde on
the present system, and the.poor of the land are
| hopelessly> doomed to Ignorance, poverty and
erime-yOu will at.lenst feel conscious Of having
done your duty, and the public anxiety on the
subject will be. .quieted.
The Lunatic Asylum is we'll managed, and
successfully performs its mission of. mercy and
humanity. feel relieved from the necessity of
making any special Recommendation 10 relation
to it, as committees were appointed at your lust
session 10 examine its condition and report on
its necessities. After a comparison. Of its re-
suits with other institutions and careful inspec-
tion of its interior condition, i cannot withhold
the expression Of my belief that it is an insti;
tuition "more sinned against than SHINING.
Not less humane in its object than the care
and treatment of unatics, is the instruction of
the deaf, dumb and Blind. The State recognizes
her obligation To- provide for this unfortunate
class of her citizens, and has always generously
responded 10 the appeals which have been made
in their BEHALF For many, years'a sum was
annually appropriated for the maintenance and
education of her poor mutes in Northern Insti-
tu!ions. Parents generally wero averse TO send,
ing their children abroad, and few availed Them
selves of the opportunity thus afforded. ln
lS49, Mr.. N. p. Walker was induced by various
considerations to establish school for their
education at Cedar Springs, within our own
State. The. motive that prompted the effort was
praiseworthyintbeh highest degree. His success,
.consideringt he difficulties he ind to encouter,
has been remarkable, but his means are limited
and wholly inadequate to meet the increasing
demands of the institution. recommend 10
you the propriety of authorizing the commits
sioners of the deaf, dumb and blind, to purchase
the establishment, and 10 place. upon it such
additional conveniences and buildings as will
make it efficient for The number of inmates who
are likely to occupy the same, and to lease it to
Mr.. Walker, or some other suitable teacher, or
to make some other arrangement which they
mny deem the best, for the support and educa:
ton of the inmates.
In this way the Stale may gradually and eco
nomically build up an establishment Of her own,
equal TO the wants of these objects Of her
sympathy "a.
As part of the same scheme, / also recommend
that the same commissioners be authorized to
provide for the reception and education Of idiots.
relieve this most miserable and pitiabc class Of
human sufferers. because their condition has
always been regarded as utterly beyond the reach
of human bcneyolence. Modern philanthropy,
which has achieved such wonderful triumPhs in
the case of the mute, has at last conquered the
misery of the poor, neglected, loathed idiot:I'lt
has been demonstrated by actual result that-the
idiot has "some latent, germ of intellect, and is
NTH Hairo
comparatively useful, comfortable and happy.
Ofsthe deplorable condition, of these unfortunate
creatures, 1t would scarcely be an exaggeralion
to say that they are little better cared for than
the beasts which. perish" Whit joy will it not
impart to parents, whose homes are afflicted with
the presence of the idiot, child, Ito learn that
place has been provided to which he. might be
removed, and as light is gradually let in upon
his dark soul, what blessings will they notinvoke
on the State that thus mercifully dispcnses its
charity. -
:. An interchange of opinion with several OF the.
Judges and distinguished lawyers, has induced
me, though not q member Of the legal profession,
to bring to your consideration the Proprely OF
making systematic revision Of the statutes of
the State ] RELY with great confidence on the
Judgment of those who have made the law the
study of their lives, and trust / shall not bc-
regarded a. travelling beyond lhe sphere of my
duty in urging upon you matter that so deeply
concerns every member of the commonwealth.
will not 90 into statement of the many con-
siderations which TO my mind render such work
desirable, and might add necessary. iu the
opinion both of the Bench and Bar Of theS
During the short Sessions of the Legislature,
and in. the ordinary course of our Legislative
-. "a of n.
rough amendment of the law upon eyeu few
subjects. can be effected. IF the subject shall
appear to your honorable bodies worthy of at
tention. beg leave to recommend, that COM
missioners Of diligence. and ability shall be
charged with the duty of reporting TO the legis-
lature for it's consideration the general eemen-
tary provision for revised code of q statute
law, and some or all of the parts of such code.
A mere compilation of statute law as it exists
would necessarily be insufficient and unworthy
of great effort; but If commissioners entrusted
with the necessary powers should be required
to report the nature and reasons Of all the
changes they might suggest, they would be able
to devise a general scheme to which all the parts
could be conformed; and their remembrance OF
the Legislative sanction, which must proceed the
validity or their suggestions, would restrain
sufficiently any disposition on their part to e1-
travagant innovation.
concur in the Recommendation Of my prede-
cessor as to the propriety of repeating our nsury
laws. These laws originated in Ignorance and
prejudice; and, like all government restrictions
on trade, are inconsistent with the enlightened
policy of the age. They check honest industry
and eyaded, as They constantly are, afford made
quate protection to those for whom they were
=, II onoto aetn n
the plea to avoid their obligations, but the un-
| c,, - III ,,,yorv roreIv have the forti.