The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-20
G H A r L E S TON.
MONDAY MORNING. SEPT. 40, 1869.
The South Carolina University.

l
meeting on Friday last, filled three profess
sorial chairs, rendered vacant by the resig-
nation Of Professors John LsConte, Joseph
LeConte, and Edward P. Alexander In the
places of these gentlemen were elected DR..
Albert Gallatin Mackey to the chair of natu.
raj and mechanical philosophy, DR.. Joseph
Jones to the chair of chemistry, pharmacy,
So, and Mr.. T. E. Hart to the chair of
mathematics.
The predecessor of the University, the
old South Carolina College, for sixty years
enjoyed On enviable reputation for it's 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-
finent filling positions of honor and trust,
with satisfaction to themselves and the
community, and refeoting 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, Chancellors 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-
Joyed the confidence and the affection of
the entire State.
In those ancient days, when a new 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- fourth being in fact
embraced under tho third postulste. The
Office Of professor Of the college was CON-
sidered 80 important, and the influence
upon the young men of the State for good
or for evil so great, that the ourators, feel
ing all the responsibilities of their delicate
trust, exercised the utmost caution and dill
genoe in their choice. A mistake in this
particular, it was felt, would be fatal.
] Aais nous duons 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 very
poor university. Next, under the new
order Of things-tbe Republican State Ad-
ministration-all the old trustees were
turned out of Office, and their places filed
by few Radicals and negroes high in
Office, some OF whom had scarcely ever be-
fore heard Of college, to say nothing of
being qualified to legislate upon its oreani-
zation and conduct. Soon after this deplo-
rabie change of regime, Professor Haskell
resigned, and not long since G. D. Melton
Esq, was elected in his stead TO the profes.
sorship Of law, selection certainly to
which no one could take exception. Still,
the character Of tho trustees was known,
and 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-r
tions'o. learning in Georgia, Virginia, and
other States. The number if studEnts In
Columbia was hut small, and bids fair to
become still smaller this winter
We cannot help having Radical Cover
nor and Radical Mayor, black L. egisla-
ture, and oolored Secretary of State; a
superannuated ignoramus for Judge, and
q oodifer Of laws who Is innocent Of Blaok-
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 adventurers who, like
the caterpillars, devour the hard earnings
OF the honest toll Of others All this, we
say, We have to endure, at least for sea-
son; but as yet no one oan compel us to send
our sons to be taught mann ers by Bozemon,
or morals by Scott. 'l
There are, it is true, few good mon
still left at the University, and We are sorry
for 1t; for We are 10th to say anything that
might wound their feelings. But with DR..
Maokey In the chair OF mechanics, and the
Honorable Christopher Columbus Bowen, Il
may be, next year. delivering, q course Of
lectures on Moral Philosophy aad Sacred
Literature, We do not think IL probable that
the University will enjoy much Of the con-
fdenoe Of tho white people Of South Car.
olins.
DR.. Mackey may be very competent to
teach mechanics, though We have never
!
medes, Newton or Pascal. He certainly
enjoys no reputation as msn Of science.
Who discovered his oapaeity7 Was IL
SCOTT, or Moses, or Boxemonf But even II
he had the requisite scholarship, he certain
ly does not erjoy the confidence Of the poo
ple-we mean Of the people who have 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 2 We speak without any
personal hostility to DR. Msokey, and sim
ply out Of regard for the public veal.
DR.. Joseph Jones, who has just been
elected to tho chair Of chemistry, has for
years been connected with tho Medical Col
leses Of 6Avannah and Augusta. During