The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-12-02


this hour and discern that future South Carolina
wherein intelligence spd yistYo shsl up.
therefore, aivance against anyreduction Of public
reducing the appropriations educa.
tona rurpoies> Tho aggregate aulount expended for
hcse purposes IL not TOO great but there 10 much 90
casion for Efforts to mske school sy stem more of
cient Apcrusal of the reports .f the State supcrin
been done. few stnllstcs will indicate the progress
lalready made. Tho number Of free cnn,mon schools
within tho Stat. In 1870 WAS 100. Tho number in
StH was ?nli Tho number Of pupils m attendance
I'm $50 was 3hii The number in lo7:; was S;IS,
The number or teachers employed In 1sG? was I3i
,n,, In" number m eur "ysa in 1915 93l" believe
there hs htrn steady roEsss since $50, not only
In tho number uf schools, but iu their efficiency
and standard Hf in. trncloD.
There arr, however, great hin,trancc> In rclchn,.
satisfactory results First at ALL there i. wantin.
such general interest the part of all our
las is essential to an efficient common school system
Nothing can supply this want except the will of the
people themselves Perhaps the chief hnt,runcu hus
been tho want Of capacity anu devotion their work
On The part Of tbs county school The
powers Of these commissioners In the O.
schools the appointment Of teachers and the cYpcnd.
ure nf school funds in their respective counties nrr
almost absolute. Tho relations Of Sttr supcrin-
tcndent to the county tchool comm ssonvrs nrc imos,
wholly advisory ! recommend that careful exa,nini-
"n be made Into this feature nf I'll. school sy s,, t..
lnscertatn whether uny change c made hich vii
trcmety tho want uf efficiency the part oi count
school commissioners. In general: recommend that
carrfli attention ho given to the school system in nj.
it's atures 1t Is mt enough to continue make an.
ropriations 'or school purIoses The whole number
Inf PERSONS In this Stntr between the OC six and
sixteen is l02. and of this number only s31; now
,nltrnt our enthusiastically than one third of
the Who'll" number THIS fact suggests the need of
greater tifurts t6 extend our schon that il
may embrace far greater lumber OF school lnpii.
lation
! have but one specific Recommendation To make
uI"n this subject. Our educational system at present
cosists of ,mmon schools Ut ono extreme and
oiir State University ut the other There proper
n IN pf ltnE fhna..
reach the university tho pupil must leave I'll.
mon school and seek his preparation for the university
elsewhere think The system should be modified
las to supply this defect and this. think can he done
without necessarily increasing the Of tho system
The plan would propose Is to select l1" Of
tue most efficient Of our present schools
leach county and elevate them to the grade Of ordi-
nary high schools, and open them, upon proper cond
ti"ns, to the more advanced pupils In the common
scho"ls To accomplish this end I would suggest
that part perhaps one-fourth onc-frih, OF the
present appropria ion for public sch"olS in each
would further suggest that for tho present the con
troll Of this class Of schools DO committed to board
manner as to secure tho best men In tho State to
aid In this effort to improve snd perfect school
system. l nm convinced that n plan .ub.tan, nlly
slch ns have suggested would elevate the standard
LOT our common sch"ols and supply pupils with proper
IattAnmcnts for our university.
Senators and representatives, 1 havo now made
known tO you my views upon those matters which
seem to mo to be Of most urgent importance to our
Iwcl'aTo as State at the present time Owing the
ports Of the varins officers in charge of the several
partment, Of tho government and the public nstitu
lions, al obliged to omit the consideration of some
topics which will necessarily command part of your
attention. At an carly duy it will be my duty TO
present to you sonio additional recommendations
touching several important interests OF the State
The views presented arc the best contribution
which It Is in my power to make towards the re-
movul Of present evils and tho restoration OF good
government. offer them with dcfercnco to the gen
rral nssutnby TO the accomplishment Of tho general
RESULTS which have indicated, ~ far as lies in
best adapted to accomplish those results I have nu
personal plans or wishes which shall deem imnor-
tant III comparison with the result, to be ucco,n-
Ihtshnd.
The work which lios before us Is serious beyond
that which fHs to the lot Of generations Of ncn
1t is nothing less tan the recstabslment of socIety
In thls State upon the foundation of absolute equality
Of civil and political rights. Tho evils attending our
iirsl stcps In this work have drawn upon us the
policy upon which State restored to her prac
tical rotations with tho unin have already visited III
with the verdict Of absolute condemnation. Those
who Trained and. enforced that policy filled with MI
anxiety for tho result. in which fear often prcloi
mates over hope: The result, under Divine Proy-
For myself here tho san,o confidence In the
iina result which have hitherto felt. Tho owls
which surround US arc snch might we'll have been
predicted BY shEncous mind before they appeared.
They drlorabr, but they will DO transitory The
great permanent influences which rule In civilized
into better life. Our foundations arc strong and
sure. Already we have the day when no part y
"r man In State was bold enough TO seek the nv"r
of tho people except nron the nnst explicit pledges
remove our present abuses. Ii who are here TO
day shall fall In our duty, others honest and
capable VIII be called to places. Through us or
through others freedom md justice will bear bway in
South Carolina. enter npon my duties rs governor
With n just sense, as hope. oi my OF such
shall ncc' the friendly aid only Of NY political as
is"cates. but Of all men who lovo State Wrmust
move forward and upward to better things In p0r.
forming my nrt Of this work the highest favor hhk
next to the Divine favor which now invoke is thu,
no man will urge me to do net Inconsistent with the
principles and pledges upon which the people hay q
entrusted us " ith unr Present powers
-1nr,>r r, ~