Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-10-18
Literary Society, Adger College

MEssRs. EDlToRS: Perhaps the people
would like to know w hat the College is doing
to develop the oratoSical and argumontative
powers Of ita s.&d16ts. With this thought l
have ventured to say q word.
The young men Of the collegiate and pre-
paratory departments ore now organized into
literary debating society, which holds it's
regular meeting every Friday afternoon. 1t
now numbers over thirty.fye, and oil the
young men have not connected themselves
with it. 1t is in successful operation, and
the interest manifested from time to time in
the debates and other exercises is very great
and encouraging. Tho young mon have
shown by their zeal and unnnimity that they
arc determined to succeed, and the success of
the society, thus far, like that of tho College
generally, has exceeded the most sanguino
outicipatons. They havo right handsome
library already, and it is hoped that they will
be encouraged by liberal donations from tho
many friends Of the College. They are
gratefully indebted to those who hare already
assisted them. They have received material
assistance and encouragement from the
Faculty, to whom they arc foadly attached
and in whose wisdom they confde. The
mombers enter into the debates with their
"gloves off, and mako tho old walls of tho
College ring with their eloquent aud argu,
mentativo speeches.
On last Friday afternoon they discussed
the following query: rs the United States
Government the best the world ever saw?"
The gentlemen who supported the Affirmative
were Messrs. Knox, Dobbins, Pitchford, Cary
and Beard; and those on tho negative were
Messrs. Erwin. Thompson, Stribling Shelor
and Daniel. Cursory reviews were made Of
few Of the governments Of antiquity, while
tho governments Of Germany and England
were moro minutely referred to. England was
settled upon by the tho negative as compar-
ing most favorably with tho United States.
The principal arguments Of the affirmative
were theses lst. A king cannot be deprived
of his office. If you get q bad one, you have
to keep him. I'd. A man in our government
is heard moro freely in his own defence than
in any other. Sd. In government like ours
q man may rise to the most exalted and hon.
orcd position in the gift of his country. Our
government rewards the truo merits
of its subjects. 4th. Tho United States Go
vernment protects the poor and helpless better
than any other. 9Th. Our government tolo-
rates religious liberty more than any other.
9Th No man has right to govern people
without tho;r consent. 7th. The government
Of England is an oxtrcmo aristocracy. Some
OF the arguments of the negative were these:
lst. Tho United States Government, to be the
bost, must preserve tho rights of her citizens;
che must administer justice to all and sho
must be stable. She must possess these char
actcristics to n greater OK han che docs.
I'd. If ignorance and rogaery are permitted to
rulo over intelligence and honesty, like thoy
have for the last few years, how can this be
tho best government Sd. IF the rights Of tho
people are trampled on like they were in the
last Presidential election tho Wnired States
Government cannot bo tho best. 9TH. Natu-
raj governments arc monarchical, and they
must DO the best 9th. A king hos moro at
stake than any officer in the United States.
ingf 60 .. - --;,- aorond. (.
"Is this the product Of drcam?" agai
q askcd Lucy, holding forth the sandal.
: "You say you had fair view of Il
assassin's facoY"
eyes, SIR"