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

letter from the Secretary Of the Treasury tt
the Lighthouse Board, and also copy of thu
opinion Of the Attorney General of the United
States, in relation to the provisions of IN aci
of the Legislature of South Carolina granting
sites for Light Houses. On reference to thest
communications, 1t will be seen that the Gen
eral Government declines to proceed, on tht
ground that the consent given by South Caro-
lima to the purchase is coupled with the condi-
ton that South Carolina retains the jurisdiction.
Further legislation is asked. think when the
|4Southern States surrendered TO tho Genera
Government the power to regulate commerce
they committed great blunder. but that is nc
longer debateable question. If the necessite:
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 rs other States have done. Whenever the
people of South Carolina determine to dissolve
their connection with the General Government
the possession of few Lighthouses will in.
terpose but feeble barriers to the execution ol
such purpose.
Accompanying this message will be found q
report of Mr. Oscar NJ Leiber, appointed, under
joint resolution of the last Legislature, Geo
logical Neurological, and Agricultural Surveyor
culture and Internal improvements of the last
Leiber for the situation, and did not hesitate
to confirm the appointment. / have not hao
time to examine bis report, and therefore car
express no opinion Of its merits.
lay before you letter addressed to me by
Dr. Parker, Superintendent of the Lunatic Asy.
lum, in relation to the condition and wants oi
the institution. His opportunities entitle his
opinions to great weight. He is decidedly op.
posed to the policy of removing the institution
from ito 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 you 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 Slate
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 re-
port, urging tho importance of preserving the
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 purch ase
for tho State .he establishment Of Alr. y. ?,
Walker, at Cedar Springs, and TO make due ar
rangemeEts therein for the unfortunate inmates.
am happy TO inform You that the purchase has
been completed on terms which are satisfactory
tU The whole Board. and that such further ar.
rangemcnis as are required by this change will
be duly submitted for your consideration in n
report from the Board. more in detail.
The Trustees of the South Carolina College,
at their annual meeting in December last, elect
I'd Professor C. F. McCay. President of the in
slilution. Hi, ability and altainments are con-
sidrred by those who know him to be Of lie
highe., order; and when the preudices which
he encountered at the very threshold of Ills adj
miuislrai;on lave been dsprlled Git they have
not already bern) there will be but one opinion
is TO his fitness for the position to which he
wa, called BY very decided majority Of the
Board, and that, 100, without The slightest SO.
Iicilation on Iii, rurt. Nlr. Rivers, Of Charles
ton. whose life has been successfully devoled It
classical pursuits, has been elected Professor of
Greek Literature, in place Of Dr.. Henry, deceas-
ed and DR.. LeConte, of Georgia, a gentleman
eff well established scientific attaiumcnts, has
been elected Professor of Natural and Merhan
cal Philosophy. Both these appointments, |
believe, are admitted on all hands to have Lren
judicious ard most fortunate for the institution.
In the death of DR.. Henry, the College
mourns The departure of an old, able, and faith
full professor. He was ripe scholar-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
! was not educated at the College, Lhave seen
and realized tI benefits TO the State, s0cl;.lly,
morally and politically. Ii is rare, indeed, that
its graduates have failed in after life, by exam.
pie and conduct, to vindicate the policy which
nourishes and sustains it. In my judgment, it
has done more for the State than all her other
institutions put together. It is greatly 10 be
regretted that there is disposition 10 cripple
its usefulness, if not TO destroy it. The charge
that it is the rich mans college, is the cry Of the
demagogue. Its catalogue shows that majori-
ty of its graduates are the sons of fathers who
were not abe to educate themselves, and no
young man has ever had its doors closed upon
him because Of his poverty.
It is urged, through entire msroncep,ion,
that it is time to make it self-suslaining inst
tu,on and the example of various colleges is
held up for our imitation Take away from them
their various enlowments, and there is not,
strictly speaking, i self-suslaining college in the
Union. While it is the duty of The State, as
far as lies in her power, to instruct the destitute.
it is no less imperatively her duty TO provide for
those who are sble 10 pay for il, the very high
est standard Of education. As q taxpayer, |
proles' 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, bu, without superior intelligence 10 con-
troll aud direct it, the education which contents
itself with the mere ability TO read and write.
will prove q curse rather than a blessing.
Ihe Military Academies continue unohtrn-
sively, 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. Tie discipline here is severe, The
mental training trying 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 nre developing the
intellect and adding 10 the strength Of the State,
and both merit your conntenance and support