The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-03-21
THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLYN.

In previous article on this subject we gave e1-
preston to doubt in regard to the soundness OF
the policy Of adding a Medical College to the old
South Carolina College in Columbia, now known as
the University Of South Carolina. We suggested
the propriety Of adopting the old Medical College
in this city for this purpose Its being at dis
tance from the school of arts and Of Law, so far
from being an objection, is rather an advantage,
independent Of the superior facilities city and
seaport like ours affords for the prosecution Of
medical studies.
The University of New York, although located in
the same city with the Medical College, and called
by it's name to all intents and purposes Is totally
distinct institution. The University Medical Col
lege has always occupied a distinct building at
distance from Washington Square, where the Fac
ulty CT Arts hold forth and the two never comein
contact, as far as we know, except on commence
ment days, when, as matter Of form, the Chan
cellor of the University delivers address to the
medical graduates. The same thing obtains in
the University of Pennsylvania. In the University
Of Virginia, a quasi Medical Department has been
carried on fer q number OF years, but owing
to the interior situation OF Charlottesville
and it's village character, the school never
attained to the responsibility Of first class
medical college; never had more than
small number Of students, and was overshadowed
by the college at Richmond a move was recently
made before the Legislature of Virginia to unite
the medical schools at Charlottesville and Rich
mond, and transfer the property of the latter to
the care of the Trustees Of the University. The
Committee on Schools and Colleges in the Lower
House held meeting to consider the subject a few
days ago and refused to interfere with the exist
ing arrangement by vote of 4 to3. We incline to
think that the result would have been otherwise, it
some Of the Committee had not felt doubtful about
the right of the Legislature so far to change Mr.
JEFFERsoS's original plan which certainly included
the teaching of the medical sciences at his Uni
versity. a,
Oxford and Cambridge two of the oldest and
most celebrated universities in the world, have
none of these professional schools attached to
them and the best writer's on the subject Of
education, Sir WILLIAM HAMILTON among them,
have pronounced against the policy Of combining
the two. In fact, it runs directly counter to the
highest anil most philosophical view Of education.
Medicine in London, and, in fact, nearly oil over
Europe, is now taught in hospitals, and not in
country schools.
We hope the Trustees of our University Will re-
consider this matter, and rescind their action.
This is no time for new experiments. In the
present conyused state of public affairs, we should
let well enough alone We have no interest what
elor to subserve in our advocacy Of this measure,
save the good OF the State, and the cause OF edu-
cation. We would rather see one good school,
well offcered, and of high standard of scholar
ship, than dozen institutions such as have hith-
erto disgraced largo part Of the United States.