New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-07-09
From south Carolina.

EBOuu SOutu ~ O1bob.
COLUMBIA, S. G., June 80, 1874.
To The Editor ofhe NeO National Era:
shall give the readers of your valuable
paper, some information touching the Uni
yersity of South Carolina, its composition
and work
This time honored institution has history
of which we are in part proud. Although il
is peculiar, we share the pride of her great
names. We, in certain sense, glory in the
fact that in these walls have lived earnest
young men, who trimmed their midnight
lamps, whose souls were fired with the Hottest
enthusiasm for knowledge. and whose geniu.
and learning have shed a bright, intellectual
lustre upon our commonwealth"
Looking from the point of view of intellect
We must bow before that eloquence, perhaps,
''never surpassed i'm that mystic power by
which soul is infused into soul, and the null
ttude led captive;" and we must feel an ad.
miratlon for the profound scholarship, and
those varied endowments which have en-.
HANGED the value of American literature.
1t may be peculiar, and probably ought
not to say it; but the inspiration of this
place is ennobling. We are constantly sur
rounded by an influence that points upward
whether we sit in the classroom, enter the
library, speak in the society. traverse the
grounds, or ascend to the roof of some an
tique building to cut our names beneath that
OF Grimke or Legare, with can enthusiasm
that is perfectly natural and beautiful"
This University was founded in 1906. Its
first President was a Rhode Island mantle
venerable DIR. MaXcy, at one time President
OF Brown. On our grounds a monument now
stands as an enduring testimony of his labors,
and OF the high esteem in which he was held.
BY dnt of hard labor this institution took
the lead of all Southern colleges. 1t held
that position until the spirit of Satan led
States-rights to its death, and the spirit OF
God gave to the oppressed both liberty and
freedom.
From '65 to '73 the University was poorly
attended, although the Republican party
when it came into power left South Carolina's
pride wholly to South Cardinals Caucasian
sons. The whites, however, hugging to their
bosems the delusive phantom of hope, re-
Trained from sending their children to the
University, although they knew during all
those years that they had nothing to fear
from the swarthy sons of Africa.
The average attendance from 60 to '73
may be safely put at sixty; but fully one
half of those were students only in name.
For instance, prior to '73, this system pre-
vailed. A young man could enter the Uni
versity, and pursue just whatever three
branches fancy or Judgment led him to
choose. After remaining in the institution
for two years, he would be dubbed an ga.
B." This system, which was introduced in
'G5, did not work well. Students, as rule,
neglected, or rather avoided the more diff
cult studies, like the ancient classics and the
higher mathematics. They would rush into
those schools in which grammar, French,
rhetoric and such things were taught, The
University training, consequently, did not
have the desired efiect-it was not calculated
to develop profound scholarship, to properly
cultivate the minds of the youth who came
to seek the advantages of the institution /;
hence, when the University was re0rganized
on a true Democratic basis, in '73, the au-
thorities abolished the old Go system, and
substituted in its stead a regular college
course, covering four years.
Right here allow me to say that our stand
ard is high. In Latin we pass, like other
colleges, over the ground which lies between
Cesar and Cicero on one side, and Terence
and Tacitus on the other. In Greek we pass
from Xenophon and Homer to Sophocles and
Plato. In mathematics we attempt to fight
our way from Euclid TO analytic geometry.
We spend the usual amount Of time in study
ing physics, chemistry and the modern Ian
euages. In the departments of Bellies Lettres,
metaphysics, international law, sociology and
political economy, we hold sweet communion
with several Of the grand old masters.
But, had begun to tell you why we can
safely estimate the average attendance of
white Carolinian students from '65 to '73,
ment of the advantages of the University,
at less than sixty. Under the old system,
to which reference has already been made,
student would enter the University, put
down his name for three Of the lightest stud
les he could hit upon, throw himself into
society, good and bad, and have "a free and
easy time" Out Of the sixty, however,
there were some noble exceptions there
were some who drank deep from the Pierian
spring, who sought knowledge either as a
means or an end, either as utility or good.
But of the average Carollnian student, from
90 to '73, l can say very little either from
the standpoint of what student ought to be
morally, or from what he ought to be intel
lectually.
In October, '73, the present Secretary OF
State, IN whom it is hard to detect the negro,
applied for admission into the medical de-
partment Of the University. His application
was favorably passed upon by a close vote.
Then followed what we can grant "the
mercy Of our silence" what we can afford
TO cover with the mantle of our charity. l
shall not, therefore, speak of how professors
led by blind and foolish prejudice, with
drew from work in which they had been
engaged for years. shall not speak of stu
dents, upon receiving information, touching
the admission Of Mr.. Hayne, rushing to the
library and drawing the pen through their
names. I could not write of those things