Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-12-03

s.s
herewith transmit communication from
the Hon. w. F. Colcock, enclosing copy of O
letter from the Secretary Of the Treasury to
the Lighthouse Board, and also copy Of the
opinion Of the Attorney General of the United
States, in relation to the provisions of an act
of the Legislature of South Carolina granting
sites for Light. Houses. o. reference to these
communications, 1t will be seen that the Gen.
eral Government declines to proceed, on the
ground " that the consent given by South Caro-.
lima to the purchase is coupled with the cond-
ton that South Carolina retains the jurisdiction.
Further legislation is asked. think when the
ESouthern States surrendered to the General
Government the power to regulate commerce,
they committed great blunder. but that is no
longer debateable question. If the necessities
of commerce require the erection of the pro.
posed Lighthouse, can see no good reason
for declining to make the cession upon the same
terms as other States have done. Whenever the
people of South Carolina determine to dissolve
their connection with the General Government
the possession of few Light Houses will in
terpose but feeble barriers to the execution of
such purpose.
Accompanying this message will be found
report of Mr.. Oscar Nj. Leiber, appointed, under
Joint resolution of the Last Legislature, :" Geo.
logical. Neurological, and Agricultural Surveyor
of the State" The Joint Committees Of Agri.
culture and Internal improvements Of the last
General Assembly unanimously selected Mr..
Leiber for the situation, and did not hesitate
to confirm the appointment ! have not had
time to examine his report, and therefore can
| axnrooo m on;nion nf fs rnprita
| lay before you letter addressed to me by
DR.. Parker, Superintendent of the Lunatic Asy-
lum, in relation to the condition and wants OF
the institution. His opportunities entitle his
opinions to great weight He is decidedly op-
posed to the policy of removing the institution
| from its present location. Additional accommo-
dation 10 indispensable to enable the Institution
to fulfil the humane end Of its establishment.
am sure that no appeal is necessary, to secure
for it the full measure of your bounty.
| also lay before youa report of the Military
Commission, raised in compliance with resolu-
ton of the last Legislature. The resolution
required me TO appoint ten commissioners to
consider the militia and patrol law of the State,
and to recommend such alteration of the same
as they might deem advisable. Nine Of the
commissioners appointed discharged the duty
assigned them-the tenth was unavoidably ab-
sent. They have unanimously agreed on a re-
port, urging tho Importance of preserving the
4 system as it now stands; and beg leave re-
spectfuly to add my concurrence in the views
which brought them to their conclusion.
The last Legislature authorized the Board of
Commissioners for the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind,
OF which / am chairman ex-officio, TO- purchase
| fol-. tho State The establishment of ME. ~ 2.
| Walker, at Cedar Springs, and TO make due arr
ranyemaEts therein for the unfortunate inmales.
am happy 70 inform you TINT the purchase has
been completed ON terms which are satisfactory
to the whole Board, and that such further ar
rangements as are required by this change will
be duly submitted for your consideration in q
| report from the Board, more in detail.
The Trustees of the South Carolina College,
at their annual meeting in December last, elect
| ed Professor C.. F. McCay, President of the in.
| s,itution. Hi, ability and aitainments are con-
| sidcred by those who know him to be of Inc
highe.t order; and when the prejudices which
he encountered at the very threshold of his ad-
minislration have been dispclled Gf they have
not already becn) there will be but one opinion
as 10 his fitness for the position to which he
was called by very decided majority Of the
| Board, and that, loo, without the slightest so.
Icilaton on hi, purt. Mr.. Rivers, of Charles
ton, whose life has been successfully devoted to
classical pursuits, has been elected Professor of
Greek Literature, in place Of Dr.. Henry, deceas-
| ed and Dr.. LeConte, of Georgia, gentleman
eff we'll established scientific attaiumcnts has
been elected Professor Of Natural and Mechani
cal Philosophy. Both these appointments, /
believe, are admitted on all hands to have been
iudicious ard rtiost fortunate for the institution
In the death of DR.. Henry, the College
mourns The departure of an old, able, and faith
| ful professor. He was ripe schoar-a man
| full Of lcarning-who, without ostentation. de-
lighted in throwing open the abundant store
house Of his knowledge, and inviting the stu
dent to partake freely of its riches. 1t will be
long before it will have the good fortune 10
rejoice in his equal.
The conduct of the students is reported to
me to be quiet and orderly The Faculty are
assiduous in their several departments, and the
future of the institution is as encouraging as
at any previous period of its existence Though
Twas not educated at the College, Lhave seen
and realized its benefits to the State, secia ly
morally and politically. Il is rare, indeed, that
its graduates have failed in after life, by exam.
pie and conduct to vindicate the policy which
nourshes and sustains it. In my judgment, it
mas uOHC InOTe lOf TIE SL'Iic IHoil ai Het otnS'
institutions put together It is greatly TO be
regretted that there is disposition 10 cripple
its usefulness, if not TO destroyit. The charge
that it is the rich mans college, is the cry of the
demagogue. Its catalogue shows that maJor-
ty of its graduates are the sons of fathers who
were not able to educate themselves, and no
young man has ever had its doors closed upon
him because Of his poverty.
1t is urged, through entire misconception,
that it is time to nakeit a. self-susaining insi-
tuition, and the example of various colleges is
held up for our imitation Take away from them
their various endowments, and there is not,
strictly speaking, sef-sustaining college in the
Union. While it. the duty of the State, as
far as lies in her power, to instruct The destitute.
it is no less imperatiyely her duty 10 provide for
those who are able 10 pay for it, the very high.
est standard of education. As taxpayer,
protest against the withholding from the South
Carolina College whatever proportion Of my
annual taxes goes to its support, if ] am at the
same time to be taxed for the support of free
schools. Ignorance among the masses is incom.
patihle with the true idea Of republican govern
ment, but without superior intelligence to con-
Etrol and direct it, the education which contents
itself with the mere ability to read and write
will prove curse rather than blessing.
The Military Academies continue unobtru.
siyely, but not the less satisfactorily, TO pursue
their even tenor of usefulness and success. No
equal amount of the public expenditure yields Il
better return. The discipline here is severe, the
mental training trying in the extreme, but The