Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-01-31
I. Correspondence ofthe Keopee Courier |
FROM COLUMBIA.
CoIuMBiA, january 28, 1878.

Il 40 THE hEoWEE O0URIER: IL perhaps may
be interesting to your readers TO know some
thing of the personnel Of the Senators aud
Representatives Of our Assembly sinoe the
wonderful change of last winter and spring.
'LuvH s5llssing our first session was
composed entirely of non-professoual men,
mostly farmero, with the exception of five or
elk young lawyers. Though the body was
one OF no experience. yet we have hoard it
remarked by mon who have been connected
with the South Carolina Legislatures for over
| thirty ycars, that there nevor has assembled
in South Carolina more thoroughly educated
set Of farmers. They are men of cultivation,
sober, serious and earnest. Among thom we
havc some of the most influential members OF
| both houses. Senators Bowen and Crittendon,
Livingston aud Counts represent the farmers,
in the Senate, all of whom ore gentlemen that
do honor to their.avocations. Senators Bowen
! ahd Crittenden are chairmen of i'm portant com.
mittces. In the House several Of the most i'm.
portant committees are headed by young active
| and energetic farmers. Mr.. Simpson, ofAndor-
son. is Chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee of the House. Col. Watts. of
Laurens, ono Of the greatest farmers of the
State, is Chairman Of the Committee on Agri.
cnlture, while many others Of no less note
than these gentlemen occupy similar impor-
tant positions. Though the Assembly was
composed of substantial, earnest men during
our first sessions, yet it lacked experience.
Our people had been denied Nccess to legislae
tive halls for over eight years. and, conse-
quently, had no experience in such matters
The ahaenca too of 49, 1nI
tation and ability, long recognized, was very
marked. The Speaker, Gen. Wallace, was
the only lawyer Of ripe experience in the
whole Assembly. The young.lawyers of the
Assembly, though of fine education and
talent failed to exert that influence which
men of moro settled years generally have;
aud hence the appearance of want of lcgisla-
tive skill in our Grst sessions. We think,
however, that this body answered the purpos
aes of last winters legislation bettor than a
more experienced set of mon. Thoy were
tho mon to obey orders and execute thom,
and during the session of last winter this was
all that was needed The fruits of this can
now be seen in the change which has been
wrought by tho work of the last sessions.
The expulsion of so many Radical members
on account of crime and corruption, and
the election Of new Democratic members to
I'LL their seats has brought to our Assembly
many of the ablest professional men of the
State. In the Senate may now be seon such
men as Ex-Governor Manning. Col. Wiley.
Judge Campbell and many others of oqunl
learning and ability to give shape aud
stability to that body. In tho House may
now be seen tho faces of Memminger, Simon
ton, Rutledge, Dbble. Pope. Buist men who
long ago have made for themselves and their
State great reputation. With such men as
these added to the Assembly we have body
able and capable Of doing great and good
wo:k. During the past week the effects of
their presence has been more powerfully felt
and aeen than ever before
The week has been mostly consumed in
reorganization of our frea school systcm
The bill for that purpose is very voluminous,
one of over sixty sections. 1t provides, in
the first place, for board of examiners,
consisting Of tho State Superintendent Of
Education and four persons to be appointed
by the Governor, by and with advice and
consent Of the Senate. 1t also gives this
board Of examiners power to enforce its own
decisions. without further appeal, also power
to appoint County Boards Of Examiners and
a general supervisory control over the County
School Commissioners, 60. 1t is q grent i'm
provement over the present clumsy .ystem
and if properly enforced will be very efficient
in making our school system worthy of the
greatest patronage. The bill passed second
reading and will become law.
The bill to roorganize the State University has
been the great sensation Of tho week The bill
proposes reorganization of tho State Uniyor.
city to consist of two colleges, to be known as
the South Carolina College, to be located at
Columbia, and the Cladn College, to beloca.ed
at Orangeburg Court. House, the former for
whites, the latter for blacks. The property
which is now controlled by Claflin University
is turned over to the State. The bill has met
very bitter opposition and created great
excitement. The creator portion of three
days was consumed in the debate on the bill
Those who spoke in opposition to the measure
were Messrs. Hood, Connor, II. Il. Homphill
and Simpson, aud those who favored it wcro
Messrs. j. J. lIemphil, Orr, Aldrich, Werner,
Simonton, Memminger. The debate was
considered the fnost yet heard in tho halls of
our Reform Legislature. The speech of Mr..
Memminger, Of Charleston, was by far the
ablest that has yet beon made in the Logisla-
tnre. The hall was densely packed, and the
old gentleman held the closest attention of
oil the members for moro than IN hour and
half. We wish thatevery man in the State
could have heard it. Mr.. Hood, Of DUO West