The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-02-18
COl,L4lUM3B;|;LA. 4 (; S. G.
Tuesday adrnlae. February ls, 1878.
. Rqsy af tho oLsgislaiIrolando Of the Trus.
, /. tees Elect TO the UniversIty.

y eocb xAA1Ct ~ lh0 On1VcI811ys
Under our present regime, when every.
thing gets 30 tangled that ordinary
mortals cannot see their way out. Judge
Mackey is generally provideutially near
by like another deus er machina, to
solve the riddle, or unravel the plot.
He it was who, in improvised chambers,
iafsov;sed decision which left Trial
Jnstice Kirk high and dry sucking tie
thumb of, his empty authority, which,
by the way. was itself duly revoked at
the earliest moment the next day. Some
days ago question was raised, or pre-
tended. to be raised, as TO the right Of
mepbers, Of lthaE General Assembly to
hold tie position Of Trustees Of: the
South Carolina University. Upon that
an opinion wss given by Judge Mickey.
We are dull enough not to see the point
or reason Of this opinion. But that is
immaterial. 1t was raised only for
purpose, which is, We auppose, accom-.
plished by this time. Presuming, then,
that theelection OF Messrs. Lee, Bowley,
Swails aud Jervey will stand, and that
three more Trustees will be chosen to-
day, it will not be amiss for us; and We
hope it may be of some avail, to remind
the Legislature that they have accepted
from the United States Government,
and appropriated to the endowment ind
support of an agricultural and mechani-
cal college in connection with ClaAin
University, the proceeds of the sale OF
land scrip, to which South Carolina was
entitled. under the provisions OF the Aot
of Congress, passed July 2. 1862. That
was done and aoaniesced in on all hands,
we are informed, with the distinct under
standing that the State University should
be SO managed as not to lead to praoti-
cal. exclusion from its benefits of the
young men of the State, whose fathers
had founded it with such wisdom and
nurtured it with such care. The Pro-
fessora and Trustees were to be men &C.
pable Of inspiring confidence in the peo-
pie of the State. and the affairs of the
University and its course of instruction
such as they could approve OF and sup
port. Was there not such understand
ing?
We remind, the Legislature, to-day,
that the work of building up ia more
difficult, but much more honorable and
praiseworthy, than that OF destroying.
The Act to establish college at Oolum-
bio was passed 18th December. 1901, in
order to extend the benefits of education
throughout ythe length and breadth of
the State. and, through it's humanizing
influences to promote harmony between
the upper and lower country. "Where-
as" says the Acts "the proper education
OF youth contributes greatly to the pros
perity of,society, and ought always to be
an object of legislative attention; and
whereas the establishment of college
in central part of the State, where all
its youth may be educated, wi!! highly
promote the instruction, the good order
and the harmony Of the whole oommu.
nifty" &C., &c. Now, this goodly institu-
tion, which has stood three. quarters OF q
century, pouring forth streams to glad,
den and fertilize the land, and which ia
associated with. .pll that is honorable,
noble and refined in our history, it
is in the power of the Legislature to
maintain and recover to its pristine USE
fulness, or completely to crush aud
strangle. They have but to pursue q
certain course. and the evil work is done.
Pour in the poison of prejudice, igno-
rance and unmannerly conceit, and it will
soon take effect, and the college which
once stood high for it's scholarship, and
among the highest for its tone and senti-
ment of honor, will become home for
owls aud bats, desolation and solitude.
But We hope for better things. We
would be pleased to have the Legislature
and the Trustees feel proper pride in
this institution. It is State University,
and entitled TO the good will end efreot.
i've support Of all the sons OF the State.
To long career of usefulness and
homer, it adds the venerableness of age
and tho poocfitv of M ;ufo yUon.-