The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-11-21


son. who, while tending his herds onithe bleak
hills OF Scotland, learned to road all the Sc
crets OF astronomy, ana to find In the course
ofthe planets that none bnJ an Opnipoteht
hand could gnide them in their orbits, and
Miller, who, working at bis lowy trado, taught
himself to trace in the wonders of Geology,
the finger OF the almighty in the creation Of
the earth, did they not give evidence that the
compatible *ith the humbleet occupations g?
Examples such as these eho,ild be held up to
our young men to teach them that
Honor .ai NOR and famo from no condition rise;
Let them act we'll their parts; but to enable
them tq do this, it is incumbent on those
charged With THIS sacred duty to give them
nreans:- They must be NOT oniy ntted for the
great battle before them but fully armed
Place in their hands the mighty weapons
forged by 81 skill by industry, by Integrity
them hopefully and prsyerfufy upon the arena
of>iife. AS one Of the most efficient means to
furnish, weapons, =! would suggest tho estab-
iE every Southern State. We Of the sou.n
h&ee been and arc woefulIy behind the age in
THE particular; for, as far as I am aware, our
colleges. with two exceptions, offer no facili-
tural or mechanical education. One OF these
exceptions is found in most admirable col
lege, under the supernt ondence of Mr. Bow
man, most fifty located on the former farm of
hentucky's great statesman, Henry Clay No
nobler monument could bo erected on Ashland
to tho genius and patriotism Of the illustrious
man who once owned it. The other honorable
exception is to be found in Washington Col.
.lege, Va, where the hero who has go often led
mighty army to victory, having sheathed
the sword never tarnished by cruelty or dis
honor, now dedicates his time, his intellect,
and the influence of his spotless virtue to the
noble task OF leading our cons along the paths
Of learning, Of honor and of piety. The ex-
ample set here is worthy of imitation. and if
agricultural colleges cannot be founded in all
OF the Southern States, it would be we'll to en-
graft on the curriculum OF all our existing in
stitutions of learning department similar to
.hat just organized at Washington College.
sideration of the ablest intellects OF the
South. and no talents, however great, could
be better employed among us than in giving
impetus and direction to tho proper develop
ment OF the resources of our country and
practical education to our people.
These make country's strength, the nerve,
the bone;
The love Of country dwels with these alone:
Or North, or South, their healthful vigor gives
The crimson stream by which a nation lvcs;
Trained to the rifles usc, they fear no foe,
And war confront, though heavy strike the
blow.
Twice over ocean, England's warriors came,
Proud III their strength, and vaunting of their
fame;
Twice back defeat has scourged the broken
Their honor dimmed, and shamed their idle
boasts;
Though trained to arms the bravcst of the
brave,
They won and kept no conquest but grave"
have ventured to throw out these crude sug-
gestlons, for they are nothing more, for your
consideration; the field is too vast, the theme
TOO comprehensive, for mo to do more. There
arc, however, ono or two topics to which beg
to call your special attention, as deserving all
the care and thought you can bestow on them,
and as tending to that grand result We all have
m vi ha - ~
essentially an agricultural people, and We must
look to this great interest as the basis upon
which to build up the permanent welfare of our
country To do THE, we must use all the means
which experience, guided by science, has
placed at our disposal. How shall this best be
done? The two points which present them
selves most prominently in this connection,
are; hrst, the labor by which we cultivate our
lands; and second, the manner of cultivation.
The negro is undoubtedly better fitted from his
long training, his physical configuration and
his adaptabilty to all the diversitcs OF our
any other. Especially is this true when the
labor is to be performed in the more malarial
portions OF our country: Our object, then,
should be to develop to the utmost his capa-
cite, and we shall have to exercise great for
bearance, constant prudence and steady kind
ness. We must make him feel that his
interests are indssolubly bound up with ours
that high prices for our products insure high
wages Tor him; thnt VIC have no nnimosity TO-
wards him; bnt, on the contrary, that we che
rish the kind feelings engendered by early
associations and old memories. Let us be
scrupulously just in our dealings with him:
let us assist him in hi. aspirations for know
ledge and aid him in its acquisition Try to
elevate him in the scale of true manhood, or
civilization and Christianity, 80 that he NAV
be botter fitted for the grave duties and high
responsibilities forced upon him by his new
position. In word, convince him that we are
his best. ii not his only. friends, and when we
shall have done this, we shall not only have
Placed our labor Oh sound footing, but we
shall have gained in the laborer q strong and
zrnlons ally. On this subject, speak not from
theory but experiencc---sn experience which
has taught me that the kindest relations can
exist between tho planter and his former
slaves, resulting in mutual advantage to both
parties. My old slaves are cnltiYating the land
on which they have lived for Years, and there
has been constant aud marked Improvement
in their industry i'll each wear since their cnran-
cipation, though they have not yet attained
tho same efficiency as lahorers they formerly
possessed. ! have promised to put up for
them school-house and church, and to pay a
portion OF tho salaries OF their teachers Such
system, if generally adopted, would tend
greatly to fix the laborcrs to the soil, and
would, by adding to their content and enjoy
ment, result in vast ultimate benefit to the
landlord. That kind treatment, just dealing