The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-11-28
COLUMBIA.
Tuesday Morning. Nov. aS. 1865.
Subjects for Legislation.

III speaking O1 CHe Ie-OpcI1nS the SOutn
Carolina College, and tho education Of the
young men Of the State, which had been
sadly neglected for four or five years, he
said, s'it may be we'll, under existing cir
cumstances, to consider tho propriety of
converting the College into University,
and making it, in part, sclf-sustaining
institution. Give the professors moderate
salaries, and let them depend for further
compensation on the tuition fund. In
university, the student may pursue such
course Of studies as will most contribute
to the particular profession or business
which he expects to follow in after life. In
College, he is required to spend four
years in q regular course Of studies, many
Of which will be of no service to him in
after life, and for which he has no taste or
talent. In consequence Of the impover-
ishcd condition of the country, there arc
very few young men, now, able to defray
their expenses for four years in College.
Having been so long in the army, and
their education neglected, they are not
prepared to enter College. Moreover,
being advanced in manhood, they cannot
afford to so through 4 College course of
studies before commencing the active pur-
suits OF life. The University system of
education will meet all these objections
1t would bring to your institution Of learn
ing three times as many students as you
could collect in College, and in this way
the salaries OF the professors might be
paid out Of the tuition fund.-
In the above quotation, Governor Perry
has briefly, but very forcibly, presented to
the Legislature the reasons for changing
the character Of our first and most cherish
ed institution of learning. The success of
the Virginia University, its flourishing
prospects even now; the Reorganization of
the Mississippi University, with it's highly
encouraging prospects; and, indeed,
wherever the University system has been
adopted, its success warrants our legisla-
tors, in re-organizing the College, to make
the proposed change. It is very true
and, in many cases, it is to be regretted
the people of South Carolina, under the
plea of conservatism, obstinately cling to
old institutions, forms and usages But
the day for this so-called conservatism has
passed. Under the pressure of circum-
stances, our State Government has been
popularizea, and the system of elccting
our chief magistrate, and of casting our
votes for presidential electors, which we
have determinately persisted in, and
would still, perhaps, unwisely have per-
sisted in, has been superseded by the
system which prevails in all our co-States
of the Union.
And so it must be, or at least ought to
be- il our system of education. 1t always
was an error, but now, in the impoverished
condition of our people, it would be worse
than an error, to keep up the old fogy Col
lege system; requiring every boy, who
desires good education, at heavy expense,
to himself and to the State, to go through
College course, most of the branches Of
which is utterly useless to him in the
active duties of after life; while by the
University system, he could pursne those
studies most congenial to him and most
calculated to advance him in his future
avocations, and that without the heavy
annual expense necessary to support the
old College system. Of one thing we are
confident, the people Of the State would be
gratificd at the change.
The other subject for legislation to which
We would call the special attention Of the
Legislature, aad which imperatvely de-
mands their consideration and prompt ac-
ton, Is the reorganization Of the militia
Under the late request of the Provisional
Governor, few volunteer companies have
been organized here and there over the
State; but in many Districts little or
nothing has been done. The vol,uateer svs-
tenn is exhausted, or in other and more
homely phrase, ''playcd out" and ii will
now require all the force of law to put our
citizen soldiery n trim ::;r efficient se1 vice