The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-12-10
lCout;nued from First .Page.]


o1r citizens would look only for their security to
the history and character of the companies. In
This way think better results weuld be reached
than under the present law.
The General Assembly by an act approved
March IS, 1872, provided for tax of one-half
mill on the dollar of property of those counties IN
which the writ of habeas corpus was suspended oy
ahe proclamation of the President OF the United
States in 1871 the proceeds to constitute pension
fund for the support of INDECENT widows and or
.phans of those persons who had been killed IN
those counties because of their political opir'ons
This tax has been levied for the past two years IN
Fairfield County, but there are no persons III 'i'
county Who are entitled to the benefit of the tund
Z recommend, therefore, that the law be amended
so as to relieve that county from this tax. -.
7 think it is proper that should state on TINS
occasion that in the exercise of the power confer
red on the Governor by the constitution ITO grant
renrieyes and pardons after conviction" shall
endeayor to keep in view the end for which our
criminal laws are framed-the repression of crime
and the protection of society. Thesoccaslons Will
be rare and attended by peculiar circumstances, on
which I shall feel justified in setting ASIDE the
judgement of ours courts and the verdlcts OF our
juries. go
The great subject of education will demand your
most serious attention. wish / could impress
noon the General Assembly and upon all our .Peo-
ME Che fundamental and incalculable importance
Of this subject in its relations to every other inter-
est Of the State The peculiar evils and dangers
TO which the people of this State are exposed Will
find their certain and permanent cure only IN the
thoronph diffusion of education. We have met
here to-day to begin the great work of reform III
our public affairs; we find errors and abuses, and
we seek to apply remedy by the enactment OF new
laws or the change of old laws; but let us know
and remember that the complete accomplishment
of four hopes for good government Will never come
until the common school shall reach ana mouio
the minds of all those who exercise the political
novers of the State In vain shall we build, If we
neglect this foundation. Stronger than our strong
eststatute more benefcien than our wisest states
manship. more enduring than any form OF govern
ment OF method of administration is the silent In
, Huence of the school. Their lies our hope Show
me the open door of the school house crowded
with our children and youth, and can look be-
yond the dscouragements of this hour and d dlscern
that future South Carolina wherein intelligence
and virtue shall everywhere uphold and guard her
prosperity and honor. I advise, therefore In ad-
vance, against any reduction of public e1pendl-
t1re by reducing the appropriations for educational
purposes. The aggregate amount expended 1or
these purposes is not too great but there Is much
occasion for efforts to make our school system more
efficient. A perusal Of the reports OF the state
superintendent of education will show that much
has already been done. A few statistics will In
> dicate the progress already made. The number
of free common schools within the State In 1871
yvas 76a. The number in 1878 was 2,O17. The
number of pupils in attendancein 1870 was 30,44o
{, The number in 1873 was 8S,753. The number of
teachers employed in1S69 was 734. The number
employed in 1873 was 2310 believe there has
been steady progress since 1871, not only IN tne
numberof our schools, but in their efficiency and
standard ofinstruction. There are however, great
hinderances in reaching satisfactory results First
Of all, there is wanting such general interest on
the part of all our peopleas is essential to eth
cientcommon school system. Nothing can supply
this want except thewil ofthe people themselves.
Perhaps the chief hinderance has been the want
of capacity and devotion to their work on the part
of thsC County School Commissioners. The powers
of these commissioners in the management of
schools, the appointment of teachers, and the e1-
penditure Of school funds in their respective coun-
ties, are almost, absolute. The relations Of the
State superintendent to the county school commls-
sioners are almost wholly advisory. recommend
that careful examination be made into this feature
of the school system, to ascertain whether any
change can be made which will remedy the want
of efficiency on the part of county school commls-
sioners. In general, i recommend that careful at
tention be given to the school system in all its fea
lures It is not enough to continue to make ap-
preparations for school purposes. The whole num-
ber of persons in this State between the ages of
six and sixteen, is 230,102, and Of this
number only S3 753 now attend our rschools-scarce-
" more than one-third of the whole number.
This fact suggests the need of greater eferts to ex-
tend our school system so that it may embrace a
far greater number of our school population.
have but one specific recommendation to make
. upon this subject. Our educational system at
present consists of our common schools at one ex-
treme and our State University 1.-THE other. There
is no proper intermediate link to connect these
ltremes. To reach the University the pupil must
leave the common schools and seek his prepara-
tion for the University elsewhere. think the
system should be so modified as to supply this de-
feet, and this, think, can be done without neces
isariy increasing the cost of thesystem. The plan
Iwould propose, is to select one or two of the
most efficient of our present common schools In
each county, and elevate them to the grade of the
ordinary high schools, and open them upon proper
conditions to the more advanced pupils in the
common schools 70 accomplish this end, would
suggest that part perhaps oae-fourth or one-hfth,
of the present appropriation for public schools in
each county, be assigned to the purpose now
stated. would further suggest that for the pres
ent the control of this class of schools be commit
ted to board of high school commissioners to be
selected in such manner as to secure the best men
in the State to aid in this effort to improve and
perfect our school system. l am convinced that
plan substantially such as I have suggested would
elevate the standard of our common schools and
supply pupils with proper attainments for our
University.
Senator'S and Representatives: I have now
made known to you my views upon those matters
which seem to me to be ofmost urgent Importance
to our welfare as State at the present time.
Owing TO the want of the information to be obtain
ed from the reports the various officers in charge
Of the several departments of the government and
the public institutions, am obliged to omit the
consideration of sometopics which will necessarily
command part of your attention At an early
day it will be my duty to present to you some adj
ditional recommendations touching several impor-
tant interests of the State.
The views presented the best contribution which
it Is In to maze towards the removal of present
evils aud the restoration of good government offer them
with Difference to the General Assembly To the
pshment of the general results which have indicated
50 far as lies in my power am unalteraby pledged In
have personal plans or wishes which shall deem i'm