The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-07-22


education and if any citizen has grown
up in ignorance, it has not been from any
default on the part of the authorities Of
tho State, but from the neglect of the
parent or child.
1t must not be supposed that school
system, fashioned upon the basis which
prevails in New England, or of the moro
densely settled regions of the older Wes-
tern States, will answer the purpose
sought in South Carolina. To, save an
unnecessary expenditure Of public money,
therefore, it is recommended that sys-
tenn be thoroughly digested and matured
upon all the information which can be
obtained from the experience of the other
States of the Union, modified by existing
circumstances here, and be then submitted
to tho General Assembly, before appro-'
priations of money be made for the pub
lie schools.
The Constitution provides that "there
shall be kept open at least six months in
each year one or more schools in each
school district" Gentlemen Of intelli.
gence, who were members of the Con-
vention believe that the fair construction
of this section will authorize, when the
system is matured, the establishment OF
separate schools for the white and colored
children of the State. Another section,
however, declares that call the public
schools, colleges and universities. of this
State, supported in whole or in part by
tho public funds, shall be free and open to
all the children and youths of the State,
without regard to race or color"
If it shall be attempted to establish
schools where both races are to be taught,
no provision being made for their separa-
ton, the whole system will result in q
disastrous failure. The prejudices ofrace,
whether just or unjust, exist in full force
not more in South Carolina than in New
England and the West. In the Last
named localities separate schools are pro-
vided for white and colored children, and
in community where these prejudices
prevail in 80 strong degree, how unrea-
sonable it is to attempt the organization
of mixed schools? 1t cannot but result
in constant feuds and collisions between
the children, in which the parents, re-
spectively, will necessarily take up the
quarrel, and entire communities thus be
involved in continual tumult-the conse-
quence of the misjudged efforts OF unWise
persons. -:
1t is the moro remarkable, that such 8
clause should have been inserted in the.
Constitution, when no necessity existed
for making such reckless experiment.
1t was demanded by neither the oolored
nor the white race, and if submitted to
their decision, the idea Of mixed schools
would have been Overwhelmingly repu-
dated by both. If it is attempted to en-
force the law in those sections of the
country where the colored population
preponderate, the white children will be
driven from the schools; and in those
sections where the white population pre-
ponderate, tho colored children will like
wise find it impossible to remain in the
same room. In the new relation between
the two races there already exist causes
enough for pickering and controversy,
and the prudence of grown people is taxed
to it's tension to prevent disagreeable an-
tagonisms. How much less will such pru-
dence characterize the relation between
children of the two races under the samo
roof No greater cruelty could be indict-
ed by legislation upon the parents of
two races, than that which is contempla-
ted by this Objectionable feature OF the
Constitution. Indeed, the mingling OF
the two races in the Same school room;'lp
the face of known and uncompromlsing
preudices on the subject, seems to have
been a wanton and offensive effort to en-
force, by law, social equality which will
never be recognized or submitted to by
tho Caucasian race. /, therefore: earnest
" recommend that, in adopting an edu-
cational system, care be taken to provide
for the white and coloured youths sepa:
rate places Of instruction. AT the same
time, in the name of peace and of tho
happ pincss of the people, protest against
this amalgamation.
I have presented all the information in
nv possession, with reference to the con-
diton and prospects Of the State. The
accompanying documents will furnish you
facts in detail, upon which You may pre-,
dicate much of your action during the
present session OF the Legislature.
The many changes that have been made
by the new Constitution, in the organic
law of the State, renders very largo
amount of new legislation necessary to
carry the same into operation and If the
work is we'll done, your deliberations are
likely to be protractcd to an eXtraord'nas
ry length. The responsibilities devolved
upon you arc of an unusually grave 'na-
ture. But few of those who have here
tofore been engaged in legislating for the
State, arc embraced in your. number; and
there will necessarily be want of familr
aritv with the various duties which you
mavb be called uponto perform. The lack
of such experience may, to 4 certain ex-
tent, be compensated by careful exami-
nation of the questions submitted your
consideration but the solemn determina-