The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-02-08
THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
GEN. GARY'S SPEECH IN OPPOSITION TO
THE PENDING BILL. =.


The following we're the remarks of Gen
Gary in the Senate eu Monday last on the
bill to provide for the organization Of the
State University:
w. President and GeatItmca Of the Sen
ate:
am opposed to the passage Of tho bill
new before the Senate. object To that
portion OF the resolution that says that
said universities OF colleges shall forever
enjoy precisely the same privileges aud ad.
vautasoS With regard 10 their stuaddrds or
iourH,ky aud tSt dmcwm or' moRcy TO be
appropriated by the State for their main.
tcuancc." lrcsard this resolution as vio,
lAtion ot the uniform principle Of leSiaa,
tion adopted by all law makers, that is,kt to
try aud meet the demands aud wants otShe
citizens without regard To race, color or pre-
v,ouS condition Of SSrvitude. To give to
the colleges and universities intended for
the c0lNrsi people the same advantages MS
regards their standards OF learning. would
be 10 anticipate their wants, or it would
lower the wants and requirements of the
white race. am in favor of the priucipls
Of supply Snd demand regulating the appro-
~
le.,es- 1t is an admitted fact that nearly
all of the taxes paid in this State are paid
by the white race, and il would be an un-
jus, discrimination in favor Of the colored
race to give them an equal amount of money
for their universities AID colleges as YOU
give to those of the white race. The ff-
tecnth amendment of the United States
Constitution only applies to any denial or
ahridsmeu, Of the right of citizens to rotc
on account Of race, color or previou. condi-
lion Of Servitude." 1t does not apply to
restrictions or differences in educational ad-
vautaces.
object to the section of the bill that
makes the South Carolina College aud
Clatiin Colleges one University. am in
favor Of Keeping the two colleges separate
and distipc, as the resolution advises and
directs. 1t is, in my judgement, for the
best interest Of both races to keep them
apart. God has maze us two races Of people,
and any effort to unite US upon the same
educational plane, must prove Il disaster to
both The black line Of separation and
difference that has been drawn by the hand
OF Providence cannot be changed BY tho
puny fingers Of man. AS we'll might you
attempt to unite oil and water. There has
never, as yet, appeared Siamese twins com-
posed of negro aud white man. and
when it does it will be regarded as mon
stroSity in nature so this attempt to con-
meet the South Carolina College by legisla-
tive ligamcnts with Clahin University must
shock the sensibiliticS of the Caucasian rae,
everywhere.
further object to the bill on the ground
that there would be no legal barrier prevent
ing the negro students OF Clafliu University
entering the South Carolina College. Ar
ticle y, Section 10 Of the Constitution of
this State, reads as follows: "All the pub
lie schools, colleges and universities of this
State, supported in whole or in part by the
public funds, shall he free and open to all
the children and youths of the State, with
out regard to race or color" If you will
inspect the bill you will see that there has
been made no distinction as to race or color
0: to who may be admitted into these col
!cgcs. In Section 2Oth of the bill it says:
There shall be admitted into each college
Of the University one student from each
county OF the State, who shall be entitled
10 tuition free Of charges" but it does not
specify that the one that enters Caflin Uni
ver>itv must be black and the one that Is
ad...itted to the South Carolina College
must be white ; both may be black or both
white, or they may compromise upon Il mu-
latto. There is no protection from this in
the bill, nor can there be any untilthe 10th
Section Of the 10Th Article Of the Con>ti-
tuition Of the State is amended The ne
cc>>lt!es Of the State demand the early con-
vocation Of a Constitutional Convention to
change and modify the organic law Of this
land TO meet tho wants and necessities of
the white and black people Of this State
| am in favor Of 4 broad, just, progressive
and liberal system Of education. but | am
III favor Of making haste slowly in this
matter.
am opposed to the l4th and 18th sec
tlons Of the bill, authorizing the board of
trustees to establish such schools as they
may see fit, and prescribing such course of
studies as :hcy may select. | desire to re-
serve this right to the General Assembly.
and there is no subject more worthy Of the
most minute legislative action than that Of
education. 1t undcrlcs our future welfare
and greatness.
The object Of all educationis to discip-
line the mind. This has been universal
ly conceded as the grand objective point
in every system Of education. The next
point is how to preserve this great dcsi-
dcratum and at the same time teach the stu.
IL J., lr.,, \, :.