The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-20
CH ARL E S T o n.
MONDAY MORNING. SEPT. 20, 1869.
The South Caroline University.

sorial chairs, rendered vacant BY she resig-
nation Of Professors John LeConte, Joseph
LsConte, and Edward P. Alexander. In the
places of these gentlemen were elected DR..
Albert Gallatin Mackey to the chair Of natu-
raj and u,aohanioal philosophy, DR.. Joseph
Jones to the chair of chemistry, pharmacy,
60 and Mr.. T. E. Hart to the chair Of
mathematics.
The predecessor of he University, the
old South Carolina Coilese, for sixty years
enjoyed an enviable reputation for its high
standard of character and scholarship
among American institutions of learning.
Thousands Of graduates have gone forth
through the length and breadth Of the con-
tinent filling positions Of honor and trust,
with satisfaction to themselves and the
community, and rejecting credit to their
much revered Alma Mater. The trustees
Of the college were always from among the
first men of the State, the Governor,
Judges, Chenoellors and others elected to
the position by the Legislature. The inter
ests of the institution were in good keep
ing, and the college, in consequence, en-
jeyed the confidence and the affection Of
the entire State. "a f''-
{ In those ancient days, when q pew pro.
fessor was to be chosen, regard was had
first, to the scholarship of the applicant;
next, to his ability to teach; thirdly, to his
character, private and public; and lastly, to
his acceptability-the fourth being in fact
embraced under the third postulate. The
office of professor Of the college was con-
sidered so important, and the influence
upon the young men Of the State for good
or for evil 80 great, that the curators, feel
ing all the responsibilities Of their delicate
trust, exercised the u most caution and dill
fgence in their choice. A mistake in this
particular, it was fell, would be fatal.
Aais nous apons change tout celia. We live
in different times FIRST, under the admin
istration of Governors Perry and Orr, Q
very good college WAS changed into q very
poor university. Next, under the new
order of .thiuss-tbe Republican State Ad-
ministratien-all the old trustees were
turned out Of Office, and their places filled
by . few Radicals and negroes high in
81 ff zsaR sea "a eHaF
being qualified to lsgislate upon its. oEesni-
zation and conduct. Soon after this deplo-
rable change of regime, Professor Haskell
resigned, and not long since @. D. Melton,
ESQ, was elected in his stead to the profes-
sorship, Of. law, q selection certainly to
which no. one could take exception Still,
the character Of the trustees was known,
aud their future policy unknown and dis
trusted. Our people had no confidence in
the institution, and either, sent their sons
to other colleges in the State, or to institu-
tions of learning in George, Virginia, and
other States. The number Of studEnts in
Columbia was tut small, and bids tsir to
become still smaller this winter.
We cannot help hsvingea Radical Cover
nor and q Radical Msyor,'ia black Legjsla-
ture, end colOred Secretary Of State; q
superannuated ignoramus for q Judge, and
q codi6er of laws who is innocent of Black
stone. These and many more affections
have been hesped upon US, and for the
time being We are powerless to avert
them. Heavy and unjust taxes are assessed
and levied, and the revenues Of the State
are squandered for the benefit Of hungry
and unprincipled adven,urers who, like
the eaterpillars, devour the hard earnings
Of the honest toll of others. All this, We
say, we have to endure, ct least for q sea-
son; but as yet no one can compel as to send
our sons to be taught mann ers by Bozemon,
or morals by SCOTT. 80
There are, it is true, few good men
still left at the University, and We are sorry
FOR it; for we are 10th to ssy anything that
might wound their feelings. But with DR..
Msekey in the chair Of mechanics, and the
Honorable Christopher Columbus Bowen, it
maybe, next year, delivering course Of
lectures on Moisl Philosophy and Sacred
Literature, we do not think it probable that
the University will enjoy much of the con-
fdence Of the white people Of South Car
olina.
DR.. Msckey may be very competent to
teach mechanics, though we have never
heard him mentioned as disciple Of Archi
medes, Newton or Pascal. He certainly
enjoys no reputation as man Of science.
Who discovered his capacity? Was it
Scott, or Moses, or Bozemon? But even if
he had the requisite scholarship, he certain
ly does not enjoy the confidence of the peo-
ple-we mean Of the people who aave sons
to send to college. And what will be
thought Of trustees by whose management
the college must, beyond the possibility of
doubt, be ruined? We speak without any
personal hostility to DR. Maokey, and sim
ply out Of regard for the public veal.
DR.. Joseph Jones, who has just been
elected to the chair Of chemistry, has for
years been Q o,nneoted with the Medical Col
Ieees Of Savannah and Augusta. During
The war he had special commission from
If, 1-zI..... or,~aon 6anaro1 IN con /