Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-11-15
AGRICULTURAL.
LOCAL AFFAIRS.

OIL upon the waters.
- We desire to pour one drop of oil upon the
troubled waters, before they become reused by
the tempest of party strife. The Convention is
called for the people to decide the d~estinies Of
this Union. We all feel that the cup of our
wrongs and grievances is exhausted and that
the dregs remaining are bitterer than NORWOOD
and gall. We are Ii unit as to the measure Of re.
dress-namely, a Southern Confederacy. Let
US be united, then, as to the men who shall rep
resent us in the State Convention. Let US rise
as a people above petty differences, and vote
this time for men rather than for measures. We
cannot oil have our preferences; and he who will
not yield cheerfully to the collected wisdom
and patriotism of the community in which he
lives, is worse than q Squatter-Sovereign.-
Let us bring out our Cincinnatuses; let US un'
seal all the living fountains of "pro.bono-publi-
co" patriotism in our own bosoms and thus
present to the world the sumblime spectacle of
a people laying aside all minor differences in
the hour of peril, and crowding shoulder to
shoulder, and breast to breast, to the altar of their
common country. Who would have it said of
York in the future, that she brought the apple
of discord to this feast of the gods?
The ballot-bo1 is called the place to fight the
battle of liberty. Let it not be made the soil,
now, in which we sow the dragons teeth.
Minute Men.
company Of "Minute men" has been organ.
lied at McConnellsville, in this District. The
following gentlemen are the officers elect W..
E. Mcconnell, Captain c. K. Williams, first
Lieutenant; John T. Mcknight, second Lieuten-
ant: Robert NJ. Burris, third Lieutenant. The
company resolved to uniform themselves in
homespun ; and to arm, drill and prepare for &C.
tive service. Let the homespun idea prevail
everywhere.
A Day ut tho Garrison.
We passed last Thursday most agreeably with
the officers and Cadets of the Kings Mountain
Military School. Their annual examination was
in progress. We were pleased with the manner
in which the self. reliance and real merit of each
pupil was brought OUT. We will illustrate this
by the examination on Mr.. SIMMs' History Of
South Carolina. The leading topics discussed
in the History, were written on slips of paper,
and placed in a hat, from which the members of
the class to be examined, two or three at a time,
drew at random the topic which fell to their lot.
Then each one was given a few minutes to col
lect his thoughts on that subject, after which he
arose to his feet and discussed it, not in the
usual form of question and answer, but without
interruption or assistance from his teacher.-
This is the mode of testing the real advance
ment made in all the various branches of study.
We were assured by Maj. JENKINS, who blends
with the many good qualities of the gentleman
and soldier, the merits also of a successful edu-
Gator, that he constantly impresses it upon the
mind of his pupils, that-to use his own Ian
euage-"they must stand or fall upon their own
merit"
We heard Prof. JAM1soN's French class; and
Prof. SEABRooK's Latin class on the Bucolics.
Georges and Eneid of Virgil. Both did we'll !;
and in both the san rigid demand was made
upon the degree Of substantial improvement at
tanned by the pupil. Even the mis-, placement of
q French accent, or a slight mistake in the use of
q French word, would call from Mr.. JAMESON a
~"nezt'-thus showing that his standard is the
highest attainable proficiency. His 'examina-
ton was conducted in q kind Of dialogue, in
which he would speak in French and require the
meaning of his words in English, or vics usrsa,
in English, and require a French translation.
This method is quite severe. MIR. SEABRooK so
conducted his examination as to draw out the