Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-05-03

and no call for assistance, has been received
by myself until within the last few days, when
the chairman of the faculty handed me his
report, which l herewith transmit. While
fully recognize the importance Of keeping up
this institution, l am forced to the conclusion
that the benefits it bestows, under the present
system, are not commensurate with the ex'
pense it entails. To bring it up to proper
standard, it must undergo complete reor'
ganization, and earnestly ask your attention
to this subject, as Of vital consequence. ..aesea
Such action can be taken at present as may
be necessary to meet the immediate wants OF
the University, and subsequent legislation
can, after mature deliberation, place The in
stitution on the high ground it once occu-
pied. r..-, Il
FREE SCHOOLS. >. ..-..
Akin to this subject is that of free schools.
I earnestly ask that you will use every effort
to establish such system as will place the
means of education within the reach of all
classes in the State. The present system, as
it has been administered, is mere mockery,
under which the children have been imper.
fectly taught, the teachers have been swindled
out of their pay, and the money of the people
has been squandered. There have been hon.
orable exceptions to this rule, but they are
rare. have now before me teachers pay
certificate" to which the board Of school trus-
tees, consisting of three members, have each
affixed his "cross mark" as his signature. As
this paper is a striking illustration of the new
system of public education inaugurated in the
State, and is besides, literary curiosity we'll
worth preserving, it is transmitted for inspec-
ton. While such disgraceful condition Of
things is allowed to exist, we shall hope in
vain to see the work of education prosper.
The time may be too limited at this session
to enable you to perfect system which will
meet the requirements of our whole people;
but such legislation can be had as will secure
to the teachers fair compensation for services
already rendered, and will Garry On public
instruction until the the next regular session.
We are bound alike by every consideration
of true craftsmanship and ofgood faith to keep
up id the State such a system of free schools
as will place within the reach Of every child,
the poorest as well as the richest, black as
we'll as white, the means Of acquiring an hon.
est and honorable education, and to this end
| shall most cordially second any enorts on
the part of the Legislature.
g.... ......,.y., gCoNCLUsIoN. ,--s.
shall look with confident hope to your aid,
in carrying out the reforms and fulfilling
the pledges to which We are solemnlyl COM
mitted. A great work, the greatest to which
patriotic people can be called, is before us,
and heavy responsibility rests upon US. We
have to create anew State, which can Of
right demand and take the e,proud and honor.
able position she once held in the great sister
hood of this great Republic. We have to
restore her credit, to bring back her good
name, to develop her boundless resources; to
heal her wounds, to secure equal and exact
Justice to all her children, to establish and
maintain the supremacy of Law, TO- difase the
blessings of education, and to- strive to bind
all classes of both races in the bonds Of
peace, fraternity and piety. ! trust that
we shall all devote ourselves to the attain
ment of those high aims, and pray that God
may, in His wisdom and His mercy, speedily
crown our efforts With success. .i,l =oH isii.
Il .,a WADE HAMPTON, Governor. ~