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

may paSslPely ENJOY liberty, out thet canot sSe
It's inspiration, and will bring no sacritice to it
altar. 49,, :.
=, / will not on suehan occasion enlarged on tb,
4 necessity and importance of public instruction
j All civilized governments recognize the duty
and labor to- meet its requirements. The sub
{ ject, addresses Itself with peculiar force to I
slaveholding community. The world owes,i il
civilization to slavery. It exists with. .us init.
desirable and enduring from. =" tis; the corne
stone Of our republican ediice,". and its strong
est defence will be. found in the educationto
those entrusted with its preservation. :. :,
It, is, however, impossible that the present
: systen, or any other, can be made 70 work vel
without responsible head, There must. be
=! unity and energy. Allow me to urge upon you
as has often been done, The necessity: of appoint
, ing Superintendent of Public Instruction
:. Select nun suitable for the work. Pay him
literally. Cheap officers usually render. cheap
81 ryice.. Make it his duty to visit every peigh.
borhood in the State, and aseertain where schools
are needed--whers school houses may be.con.
yeniepily. .located-where, owing, 10 spareseness
of population, they cannot-where those.who
are able to educate will unite with the State
in the establishment of Academies. In 2 word,
do as has, been done elsewheEe- have 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 noihing-if in
consequence of insurnountable difficulties In
our condition, no Improvement can be made on
the Present system and thePoor Of, the land are
hopelessly doomed to Ignorance, poverty and
ermc-you will at least feel conscious of having
done your duty, and the public anxiety on the
subject will be: :quieted.
The Lunaiic Asylum is we'll managed, and
successfully performs its mission Of mercy and
humanity. ! feel relieved from the necessity of
making my special recommendation in relation
II, as committees were appointed at your last
session 10 examine its condition and report on
its necessities. After a comparison of It's re-
suits with other institutions, and careful nspec-
tion of it's interior condition. cannot withhold
the expression of my belief that it is an iDsti:
tuition "more sinned against than SHINING"
Not less humane in its object than the care
and treatment of lunatics, is the instruction of
the deaf, dumb and blind. The Stase recognizes
her obligation 10 provide for this unfortunate
class of her citizens, and has always generously
responded to the appeals which have been made
in their behalf. For many yearsa sum was
annually appropriated for the maintenance and
education of her poor mutes in Northern Insti-
tu!ions. Parents generally wero ayerse TO send
ing their children abroad, and few a9aed them.
selves of the opportunity thus afforded. 10
l849, 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
Epraiseworthyin the highest degree. His success,
kconsidering the difficulties he had to encou'ter;
has been remarkable, but his means arc limited
and wholly inadequate to meet the increasing
demands of the institution | recommend 10
you the proprety 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 rs 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
may deem the best, for the support and educa..
ton of the inmates.
In this way the Stale may gradually and eco
nomicalIy build up an establishment Of her own,
equal to the wants Of these objects Of her
sympathy.
As part of the same scheme, also recommend
that the same commissioners be authorized to
provide for the reception and education of idiots,
Until recent years, no effort has been made to
relieve this most miserable and pitiable class Of
human sufferers, because their condition has
always been regarded az utterly beyond the reach
of human bcneyolence. Modern philanthropy,
which has achieved such wonderful trinmphs in
the case of the mute, has at last conquered the
misery of the poor, neglected, loathed IDIOT 1t
has been demonstrated by actual result that tho
idiot has "some latent germ OF intellect, and is
capable, under patient culture, of being. rendered
comparatively useful, comfortable and happy.
Of41he deplorable condition. of these unfortunate
creatures, it would scarcely be an exaggeralion
to say that they are little better cared for than
the beasts which perish" What joy will it not
impart to parents, whose homes are afflicted with
the presence of the idiot, child, to learn that 4
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 mercifuy disPenses its
charity. =:
;. An interchange of opinion with several OF the
Judges and distinguished lawyers, has induced
me. though not member of the legal profession,
to bring to your consideration the propriety OF
making systematic revision of the statutes of
the State. ] RELY with great confidence on the
iudnment of those who have made the law the
study of their lives, and trust shall not be
regarded as travelling beyond The sphere Of my
duty in urging upon you matter that so deeply
concerns every member of The commonwealth
I will not 90 into statement of the many con.
siderations which TO my mind render such work
desirable, and might add necessary, i'll. the
opinion both of the Bench and Bar Of the State
During the short Sessions of the Legislature
and in. the ordinary course Of our Legislative
proceedings. it is vain to expect that any tho
rough amendment of the law upon even few
subjects, can be effected. If the subject shall
appear to your honorable bodies worthy of at
tention, bcy leave to recommend, that com
mssioners Of diligence and ability shall be
charged with the duty of reporting TO the legis
lature for its consideration The general elcmen
tarv provision for n revised code of a 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 entrustet
with the necessary powers, should be required
TO report the nature and reasons of all the
changes they might suggest, they would be aol'
to devise a general scheme to which all the part
, could be conformed; and their remembrance o
the Legislative sanction, which must proceed tn
, validity or their suggestions, would RESTRAIN
sufficiently any disposition on their part 10 eH
travagant innovation.
concur in the recommendation Of my prede
cessor as to the propriety of repeating our usur
| laws. These laws originated in Ignorance an
. prejudice; and, like all government restriction
+ on trade, are inconsistent with the eniightene
j policy Of the age They check honest i1dus.s,
and eyaded, as they constantly are, afford made
ouate protection to those for whom they wer
). enacted Unprncipled men occasionally set u
I. the plea to avoid their obligations, but the ur