The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-01-31
Speech Of Hon. R. W.. Simpson on the
J. Bill to Reopen the South Carolina
I University.

Speech of Hon. r. W.. Simpson on the
Bill to Reopen the South Carolina
s University.
On last Friday morning the bill to
reorganize and reopen the South Caro-
lima: University was taken up as unfin'
ished business, and Mr.. Memminger, Of
Charleston, obtained the floor, and spoke
for an hour and half in favor of the
bill. His speech was mainly devoted to
the Importance Of university education,
but. towards the close of his speech he
indulged in some very sighting remarks
upon the County of Anderson. When
he had finished Mr.. Simpson obtained the
floor, and the following is synopsis of
his speech:
Mr.. SPEAKER: I desire before enter
ing into the merits of the proposition
under discussion to repel the 'uncalled-for
and unfounded imputations cast by the
gentleman from Charleston MIR. Mem
minger) upon the good people of Ander-
son, whom I have the honor in part to
represent upon the floor of this House.
1 have often heard it said that the peo-
pie of the up-country were regarded by
the people of Charleston-some of the
people Of Charleston, should have said
AS hoosiers and ignoramuses, but l
could never believe that such was the
case-I did not want to believe it-but
that is no longer possible now, for the
gentleman from Charleston has removed
every doubt by proclaiming upon the
floor of this House that, in his distin-
guished opinion, such is the case; but
Notwithstanding, and the gentleman's
opinion to the contrary nevertheless, l
here assert, without fear of contradiction,
that the people OF Anderson County are
the peers of any people in the State. and
by the gentleman's own arguments | can
prove that they are better informed than
the constituents of the distinguished gen
tleman from Charleston. One of the
principal arguments in favor of free pub
lie education is that the people may be
the better able to exercise the rights of
citizenship, &c., carrying with it The in
ference that ignorance is incompatible
with an enlightened patriotism, from
which we conclude that patriotism,
prompted by liberal understanding of
the great political issues of the. day must
be accompanied with information, which
is education. Now, where would the
gentleman from Charleston be to-day if
bis, ideas of political policy had prevailed
last August one year ago? What would
be the condition of the State to-day had
it not been for the sweeping and over
whelming uprising of the patriotic peo-
Pile of Anderson County during the last
campaign ?-an uprising and an exhibi-
ton of patriotism, and a devotion to
country and principles which deserves
the commendation even Of the distin-
guished gentleman from Charleston, in
stead Of the taunts and jeers which he
has seen At to cast upon us. Let him
sneer at, let him despise us, if he will, but
he can never ignore the fact that the
patriotism of the people of Anderson
County Was a generous. patriotism,
and was largely instrumental in re-
deeming the County which he.represents,
which redemption he was unable to &C.
complish within himself. Further, Mr..
Speaker, if public education is necessary
to teach the people how to vote, the out
lay, as far as Anderson is concerned, is
unnecessary, for it is already well estab-
lished that even now they possess that
art.
In answer to the imputation, that to
fail to reopen the University will be in
violation of aour oaths to support the
constitution, the constitution positively
enioining it unon the Legislature, l have
this to say: 1t is out Of place for the
gentleman from Charleston to cast such
an imputation. upon any one when, by
the very.next section he has been pleased
to read for our information, he is seeking
to eyade an express injunction of the
same constitution. The State, in my
opinion, is not in condition to comply
with the provisions of the constitution, and
/ that has always been held valid excuse
for noncompliance; but direct refusal
to comply by an artful evasion is very
different. That is the gentleman'a posi-.
tion. Now, what becomes of his impu-
tation? &
The gentleman in advocating univer.
sity education tells how university
graduate discovered the value of rocks
or nodules found in certain portions ol
the State. Now, I would ask, if the
South Carolina College was of such in.
estimable value to our people, why did
its graduates stumble over these very
rocks for fifty or more years and never
discover what they were? The reason,
gentlemen, was because this college did
not confer the information necessary.
The gentleman's arguments are addressed
to universities of different character
from the South Carolina University, and
the South. Carolina University never was,
nor never will be, such as he describes
hence, his arguments are not applicable
to the bill before the House. The gen.
tleman says he is not opposed to the col
leges already in operation throughout the
State, but that he wants these gymnasi-
ums, as he calls them, to become tributa-
ry to bhis central university. How can
he expect such a result when before the
war the curriculum of this university was
below the curriculum of several of these
very gymnasiums? This fact was well
understood even then, and, our people
were not to be deceived; hence, there
sprang up colleges all over the State,
where young men could not only receive
an education, but where they could also
be protected from the baneful influences
which sometimes emanated from the
Presidents chair itself.
But let US pass on and take practical
view of the proposition, and see how it
will effect the interests of the people gen.
orally. For eleven long, weary years the
taxpayers of South Carolina were held
subject to the rule and control of politi:
cal party, whose sole object was to grind
them into powder, and forever keep them
so poor that they could never free them
selves from their rule. Vainly did they
STRUGGLE to free themselves from this ter.