The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-09-26

year upon meal Of from $4,000 to s4o,-
600, from the State treasury, it is no sacri
legc to say let IL die! And if this be hos.
tilty to it, then are We hostile.
But we believe it could live, and would
live successfully, if not upon its own re-
sources, at least upon Il much more ccono-
In'cal system Of State aid. 1t seems to us
that an institution, Of fifty years standing,
supplied with all the necessary build ings.
libraries, apparatus, DC, having its full
measure of fame already acquired, and hay
my two or three hundred students, all alum
dainty able to pay the very highest rates of
tuition, III attendance, ought to he scifs,rs-
tanning. Why should it not be. If il is
worth sustaining 10y the State, why should
1t not be worth sustaining bv those who pat
ron'zc 1t and are the recipients of the adj
vanthgcs which it c"ntrrs? Is the cduca-
tion derived 10y the individual graduate
or by the aggregate gradua,cs-of the
South Carolina College, worth the money
which it costs II it il, then the one who
receives the benefit is the proper one to pay
tor 1t. II !; = not. tlrcn the State is act
IL" IN b:"l faith To its citizens in pavln-
ont 'i'" public money fur that which is no,
All equivalent.
We know the idea is that, although com.
paratlvciv few of the people derive thu, d.
rect advantages of the College. We, oU
CLASSES experience inii.cc, benefits and
hence the policy Of forcing all to contribute
to IFS support is warranted. This is good
doctrine, bnt it will apply further. II, III
consideration of the benefits to cnmmu-
niv from Il graduate Of the Soulh Car,,lina
College being in lis midst as an active and
useful citizen, all classes Of that community
;nay l'c justly compelled to ai.l in paying
Tor his education, we eau see no reason
why any other coll'g., in The State should
not receive the same credit and support for
Its active and useful graduate. Hu. the
State should not undertake the work Of
sustaining all the Colleges within her bor
drrs. Such policy once hrgan, aud we
should soon have nothing but Colleges.
Academies and schools would he terms Oh
soctr, and stricken from the vocabulary.
But still if o ne College is to be rewarded
and sustained hy all classes, through the
pubic treasury, in consideration of ,l"
direct advantages to 4 few and the iuirrc,
to the many Which it conf:rs, we ho!l it
to he no more than Just to reward every
other in the State, for the same services, IRE.
c'sely IN proportion to the amount OF
services rendered.
When the South Carolina College was
established there was no other in the State
an! 1t was wise and patriotic work of the
Legislature. 1t WAS cmineniv Just tha,
every citizen Of the State should contribute
to its support. And now, as it was the first.
and is still, i'll a certain sense, the peoples
institution, for the good it has douc, and
for fear it might 60 down If left at once to-
lis own resources, we would by no means
counsel an immediate and total Withdrawal,
OF State aid; but let the expenses of III.
College be reduced to the lowest possible
point compatible with its entire success, and
then let the State make provision for what
ever deficiency there may be- after the Col
l"ge's own resources are exhausted. W..
cannot believe that, if the expenses were so
regulated, anl its own income from tui,;on
properly applied, there would be a ncrrsSiv
Tor more than half the amount which is
now annually taken from the State treasury
But y, we repeat, an average appropriation
OF $4,000 or $4,000 year is really the
least that will do. let the College go; in
these days OF multiplied facilities of e,lu.
cation, costing the State nothing, yet acces
s,ble to every class of her ctizeus it is "pav
ing lille too much for the whistle"
We have no desire, just now particularly,
t" discuss the question. But rs others all
around us are speaking ont their scn,i
ments, wc may he excused for having thus
hastily indicated our own opinions. We
do not want the College overtlrown; and
rather than it should he, would see even Il
little more than justice done to it by the
State; bnt the present extravagant appro-