The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-05-05

South carolina Stlteu tilul Ill lUle ANU elauolato
report OIL thar subject had been prepared by the
distinguished chairman OF the committee, Dr.
Eli Geddiugs, bEt that owing to its length, and
the physical infrmtty Of that gentleman, he
would move TO dispense with the reading, anu
that 1t be published In the proceedings OF the
convention.
The motion was agreed TO.
The Committee on Scientific Education, by their
chairman, Hon. Russell Middleton, made the fol-
lowing report, which was read and ordered tenn
porarily to lie upon the table:
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE on SCIENTIFIC EDGcA-
TIoN.
Production, we all know. is the chief element
OF national prosperity; FOOD and ralment m nre
essential to human comfort, and, OF course, the
more directly and certainly these are supplied,
the more room and the more encouragement Tor
higher attachments. AS general rule, men
must be placed above the pressure OF daily need
before they can have either the leisure or the
desire for mental cultivation.
We are not now to learn that mind rules the
world. The history OF this country until the late
revolution has left us no doubt as to this position
II was to the leisure for mental culture, which
the prelominance Of agriculture under peculiar
circumstances afforded to her first men, that our
State owes her acknowledged supremacy III tne
Federal councils. II was the Fertility Oh her SOU
her to live and prosper under system OF partlai
and oppressive legislation, TO which lhc "oria
knows no parallel.
We have been bereft of our peculiar advan-
t,ye and are now thrown upon the resources
Which we share In common with oil mankind.
Nothing is left but our soil, our climate anu our
selves; but these are left, and they constitute
fund OF material which renders us fully compe.
tent to regain our lost position, and command
the attention and respect Of the world.
Indeed are we not sure that, III the long run,
our mislortuues may not prove an advantage to
US: for while ''cottOn was king and our great
staples we're furnished to US with facility and
certainty which dehed competition, there may
nave been, perhaps, too little Of mental effort in
the departments OF agriculture, and sense oil
security which tended TO foster our natural IN
doence and the still more natural pride Of our
hearts, We had lnsensibly become both dependent
and exclusive. This was not wholesome state
OF things, and the energies which are now de-
manded and the cooperation and mutual con-
sdcration which have become so absolutely neces-
sary 10 oar success, may eventually place us
upon hrmer foundation and elevate US TO
higher platform than we have yet enjoyed.
While the returns OF our labors have been so
abundant as to call for little or no Improvement
in our system OF agriculture. the stimulus OF
necessity has driven others to eXertons, both OF
mind and body, which have reacted upon them
selves both in character and fortune; and 1t
would be a matter Of surprise and perhaps NOR.
| tidcaton, to some OF US TO ind the hrsbandmen
Of other lands surprising u.s. not only In hyslcal
| energy, but in scientific knowledge and mental
| accomplishment. Tile farmers OF other regions
are practical chemists anu intelligent naturaltsts
| and they have thus learned to wiring from rocks
and barren sands more abundant results than
can be obtained from the negligent and super
| fcial cultivation OF more favored spots
1t Is important that the standard or agriculture
shonld be elevated among Us, and that IL snoalc