The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-12-03

the rights OF tho States. Ills last public
act WAS signing the Ordinance of 1852
passed 10y the State Convention, Of which
he was member. Past the age of four
score years, having long survived his great
co.lahorcrs, and worthy colleagues, Lowndes
and Calhoun, lie, too, is gone. Like them,
he has left us, in his upright example in all
public stations, i'll the loftincss, the pu-
rty, the simplicity Of his character, in
the truth, and power, and grandeur
Of his cloqucncc, q legacy of priceless,
wealth.
TIE SOUTH CAROLINA COLLEGE.
This Institution, so deservcdly cherished
by the people of the State for its usefulness
rs well us its renown, has undergone, since
your adjournment, a severe trial, owing to
the indiscretion Of youth and some mista-
ken notions Of honor, which have obtained
among the students, together with tho want
of aptitude and power to administer the
laws of the College, which unhappily char
acterizcl the President, man distinguished
for science, and otherwise ot practical use
fulness, who, as Professor of Mathematics
was eminently competent, able aud valua-
ble. Called together at an extraordinary
meeting in The month Of June, the Board
of Trustees deemed it essential to the due
performance Of their trust to rc-organizc
the Government Of the College. Accord
ingly, the members of the Faculty were in
vitcd to resign President McCay had
previously rendered his resignation. and the
exercises OF the College were suspended till
the 1st Of October thus making the annual
vacation eighteen days longer than usual,
and dispcnding, necessarily, with the June
examination. Assembling again in the
month Of September, at no little personal
Inconvenience, the Board Of Trustees have
deemed it wise to restore the greater num-
Der of the Professors to the duties Of u
Faculty, ASST gning to each individual the
charge Of the various branches Of learning
in such order, as, it is supposed, will ell
sure, hereafter, their greater usefulness and
efficiency. by temporary arrangement,
which was ordered by the Board OF Trus-
tees, the duties Of the Mathematical De-
partmcnt have been assigned to the Profess
sors of Natural Science, and of Chemistry
1t is to bc hoped that this important chair
will he definitely filled bcfvre the close Of
the year. However universally il Ge adj
mitte'l, that the Classics should constitute
the leading feature in the leading Literary
Fttion of the State, yet in commu-
nifty of planters and farmers, where agri-
culture prevails, even in connection with
the learned professions, the Importance OF
Geometry, Trigonomctry, Surveying, Men.
suration and Mechanics, cannot be over
looked i'll completing the education Of
youth, nor should we fail of inviting the
students to a due understanding OF AS
troEomy, Natural and Experimental Philoso-
ply, Natural History and General Science.
Again, Chemistry, Geology, MineraIogy
and Meteorology, with lectures and expert
ments on the application Of Chemistry,
Geology and Electricity to agriculture, con-
sttute an essential branch for which Pro-
fessor is provided. Until June the Pres-
dent of the College was, also, Professor Of
Mathematics. Since September, the Pro.
fessors LcConte have attended to the duties
of this chair in conjunction with their
own.
AS regards dccipine, it would lie deroga-
iory to the just influence of parents, suppos-
ing them to have done their duty to their
children at home, and humilia:ing to our
common nature, to maintain that intelligent
and nearly grown young gentlemen, need
strict surveillance at College; to be kept in
order by the force Of authority, whilst they
are proiting by the ample means TO pursue
the higher mathematics, and to accomplish
themselves in classical literature, which tho
State has SO wisely and literally furnished
for their benefit No! let the Senior mem
bers of College act with discretion, modera-
ton and decorum, and let the younger be
controlled 10y their precept aud example,
1t does not often happen that men who are
devoted to study, either scientific or literary,
(and it is with such men, chiefly, that the
Professional chairs must be filled, ) are found
to possess among their other gifts admins
tartive talents. Young men OF eighteen or
nineteen years of age should know some
what how to govern themselves. Until the
students Of the College shall become alive
to sense Of personal responsibility to the
State and to themselves, the very best ad-
minissration Of the College laws, asa gov.
ernment, is destined often to fail. On en-.
tering College each student signs the Roll
the caption ofwhich is pledge to conform
to the regulations, and to avoid unlawful
combinations. On the late occasion the
young gentlemen seem to have persuaded
themselves that, in. regulating the authors
| ty Of the President, thew were actinr ind;.