Orangeburg news and times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877, 1877-05-12
N UMBER 10

that ins titution, and nc call for assis-
tance, have been received by.myself
until within the last few DAYS when
the chairman Of the faculty handed
me his report, which I herewith
transmit. While ! fully recognize Tic
Importance OF keeping UP this institu-
ton, am forced to the conclusion
that the benefits it bestows, under The
present system, are not commensur-
ate with he expense It entails. To
bring it ur to q proper standard, it
must undergo Il complete rcorganiza-
ton, and l earnestly ask your attcn-
tion to this subject as Of vital .consc-
gucnce. a.Et
Such action can be taken at present
rs many DC necessary to meet the i'm
mediate wants Of the University, and
subsequent legislation can, after ma
ture dcliberation, place the institution
on the high ground it once occupied.
Akin to this subject is that of free
schools. | earnestly ask that you Will
use every effort to establish such 4
system as will place the means Of
education within the reach of;all
classes in The State. Tic present
system as it has been administered is
mere mockcry, under which the
children have been impcrf.ctly taught,
the teachers have been swindled out
of their pay, and The money Of the
people has been squanlcre.' There
have been honorable exceptions to
this rule but they arc rare. I have
now before me- teachers pay certiii
cate to which the board of school
trustees, consisting Of three members
have each affixed his "cross mark: rs
his signature. AS this paper is
striking illustration Of the ncw'sys
tenn of public education inauguratcd
in the State, and is, heti,l cs q literary
curiosity vel worth preserving, it is
transmitted for inspection. While
such disgraceiul condition Of things
is. to be allowed to7exist, we Shall
IAhole an win to- SEQ tlie wor Of. elu.
catlcn prosper. Tlie time my ne TOO
limited Mt the session To enable you to
perfect asystcm which will meet the
requirements Of our whole people;
but such legislation can be had MS will
secure TO the teachers fair compensa
ton for services already rendered,
and vii carry on public instrgction
until next regular session. We arc
bound alike by every consideration
of true statcmanship and offs good faith
to keep up in tho State such system
of free schools as viii place within the
reach Of every child, the poorest rs
vel as the richest, black as we'll rs
white the means Of acquiring an hon
est and honorable education, and to
this end shall most cordially second
any effort on the part of the Lcgisla
turc.
In conclusion, I shall look with
confident hope to your aid, in car
ring out the reforms and fulfilling the
| pledges TO which We are solcmu,y
committed. a great work, the great
est to which apatriotic people can be
called, is before us, and q hcavyre
sponsibility rests upon us. We have
to create :ncw State which can of
right demand and take the proud and
honorable position she once held in
the great sistcrhood Of this great Re
public. We have 10 restore her credit,
to bring sacl her good name, to do
velop her boundlcss resources, to heal
her wounds, to secure equal and exact
justice to Ill her children, to establish
and maintain the supremacy Of law,
to ditiusc The blessings Of education,
and to strive to bind all classes of
both races in the bonds Of peace, fra
tcrnity and picty. l trust that we
shall devote ourselves to the attain
ment of those high aims, and pray
that God may, in His wisdom and His
mercy, sp, cdily crown our efforts with
success.
WADE HAMPTON,
Governor.
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