Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-11-27

eral 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 express no opinion
of its merits.
Hay before you letter addressed to me by DR..
Parker, Superintendent of the Lunatic Asylum,
in relation to the condition and wants of the in
stituton. His opportunities entitc his opinions
to great weight. He is decidedly opposed to the
policy of removing the institution from its present
location. Additional accommodation is indispen-
sable to enable the institution to fulfil the
humance end Of its establishment. l am sure
that no appeal is necessary to secure Tor II the
full measure of your bounty.
also lay before you report of the Military
Commission, raised in compliance with resou-
ton of the last Legislature. The resolution re-
quired me to appoint ten commissioners to consld-
er the militia and patrol law of the State, ana 70
recommend such alteration of the same as they
might deem advisable. Nine of the commission
ers appointed discharged the duty assigned them
the tenth was unavoidably absent. They have
unanimously agreed on report, urging the I'M
portance of preserving the system as it now stands
and beg leave respectfully to add my concur
renee in the views which brought them to their
conclusion.
The last Legislature authorized the Board OF
Commissioners for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind, for
which I am chairman ex-ofice, to purchase Tor
the State the establishment of Mr.. n. P. Walker,
nj Cedar Springs, and to make due arrangements
therein for the unfortunate inmates. am happy
to inform you that the purchase has been compile
ted on terms which are satisfactory to the Whole
Board. and that such further arrangements as are
required by this change will be duly submitted LOT
your consideration in q report from the Board
more in detail.
The Trustees of the South Carolina College, ut
their annual meeting in December last, eiectea
Professor C. F. McCay President OF the lnstitu,
ton. His ability and attainments are consiuereo
by those who know him to be of the highest or
der; and when the prejudices which he enconn-
tered at the very threshold of his administrator
have been dispelled, Gf they have not already
been there will be but one opinion as to ms nj
ness for the position to which he was called py
very decided majority of the Board, and that too'
without the slightest solicitation on his part MT
Rivers of Charleston, whose life has success
fullv devoted to classical pursuits, has been elec-
ted Professor of Greek Literature, in place OF Dr.
Henry. deceased; and DR.. LeConte, Of Georgia, q
gentleman of well established scientific attain
ments. has been elected Professor of Natural and
Mechanical Philosophy. Both these appointments
7 believe. are admitted on all hands to have been
;pdicious and most fortunate for the institution.
In the death of DR.. Henry the College mourns
the departure of an old, able and faithful profes-
sor. He was ripe Scholar man full OF learn
iug-who, without ostentation, delighted IN throw
inc open the abundant storehouse OF his KnoWl-
edge. and inviting the student to partake freely OF
its riches twill be long before 1t Will nave the
good fortune to rejoice in his equal
The conduct of the students is reported to me
To be quiet and orderly. The Faculty are assld-
nous in their several departments, and the future
of the institution is as encouraging as at any pre-
rious period of its existence Though was not
educated at the College, have seen and realizeu
its benefits to the State, socially, morally, ana
notically. It is rare, indeed, that its graduates
have failed in after life, by example and conduct
TO yindicate the policy which nourishes ana sus-
tains it, In my judgment, it has done more Ior
the State than all her other institutions put To-
pether 1t is greatly to be regretted that 1nere IS
q disposition to cripple its usefulness, II no' 70
DESTROY it. The charge that it is the rich man
college, is the cry of a demagogue. Its catalogue
shows thata majority of its graduates arc the sons
of fathers who we're not able to educate them
selves. and no young man has ever had its doors
closed upon him because of his poverty.
It is urged, through entire misconceptlon, that
il is time to make it self-sustainiug institution,
and the example Of various colleges is held up for
our imitation. Take away from them their va
rious endowments, and there is not, strictly
speaking, a self-sustaining college in the Union.
While it is the duty Of the State, as far as lies IN
her power to instruct the destitute, tbs no less
imperatively her duty to provide for those who
are able to pay for it, the very highest standard
of education. As q 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
of oh lmO0p
the masses is incompatible with the true idea OF
republican government, but without superior in
teilipence to control and direct it, the education
which contents itself with the mere ability to read
and write, will prove curse rather than Dles'
sing.
The Military Academies continue unobtrusivey
but not the less satisfactorily, to persue their even
tenor of usefulness and success. No equal amount
of the public expenditure yields better return
The discipline here is severe the mental training
irving in the extreme, but the cadet who survives
the test, finds himself armed for the labor Of life
before him. earnestly commend the College and
these Academies to your fostering care. Both are
developing the intellect and adding to the strength
of the State, and both merit your countenance and
support.
On the subject of Free Schools, have but lit
tie to add to what had the honor to submit tc
your predecessors. l then expressed the opinion
that 'sit was unfortunate that the end, which was
evidently contemplated by the act of loll, hat
been abandoned and that what was intended tt
introduce gradually general system of common
schools has been perverted to the exclusive edu
cation of paupers; that, in my Judgment, We
should return to the policy of 1911, and seek tc
inaugurate system, which, in its ultimate deyel
opement, should bring the means of education
within the reach of every family in the State. -
Since the last session, the Commissioners Of Free
Schools in the city of Charleston, with similar
views as to the best mode of improving education
have opened common school in that city, anc
without abridgng the opportunities OF the poor
they offer to the tax payers participation IN th(
benefit from which heretofore they have been ex
cluded. About. seven hundred children are now
receiving education at this school, and even thl:
large number, am Informed, would be increased
if the school accommodations would permit. The
complete success which would attend this we'll
timed and iudicious effort is checked only by the
difficulty of obtaining proper teachers This diff
fculty is also fully brought to the notice OF youl
predecessors, and would respectfully renew my
recommendation that you would earnestly seek tC
provide an appropriate remedy.
In connection w;'h the general subject of edu
cation, it has occl ed to me that some encourage
ment should be held out, to induce the citizen te
supply his family with the means of instructive
reading, family books, or libraries, suggest tha
such encouragement might arise from exemptin:
family books and libraries, in actual use by thu
owner, from legal process under contracts to b
hereafter entered into; and that they should alsc
be exempt from sale by executors and administra
tors, and that instead they should be delivered
over to those to whom they are bcqueathed, ant
in tho absence of testamentary disposition, tha