The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-07-03
Dead Issues.
Press and Banner

$t~c -
Sometimes we are almost inclined to rcgre
that the last nail Is driven into the coffin {
radicalism. In 1876, when VIC had that pow
criul enemy TO fight, we entered into the con
test and wa&ed the war with an enthusiasm
Il unanimity of purpose, and II patriotic III
SclfishneSs that are almost unparalleled IL
history.
Now that it has been quietly laid away il
its grave and the last notes Of its funera
dirge hav died away upon the ear, ",
should address ourselves seriously to TIN
work of reform, restore the ancient land
marks, ~rc-erect the lofty standards of the past
and strive again to make South Carolina thu
model State Of the Union and Abhcvillc tn,
model District of the State, as they were in tn,
past. To do this will require years of patien
labUriouS, united effort. Instead oI work
ing with an eye single to the accomplishment
of this purpose, "" arc allowing ourselves L
be split up into f%uctionS. and To DC drawn of
INTO the discussion OF dead iSSucS. I'rumi
ncnt amongst these dead issues are the Bond
ell Debt question and the University ques
ton. These questions are settled, and happy
will 1t be for us if the are agltatcd no more.
First, as to the Bonded Debt question.
At the last session of the Legislature, aftel
much elimination and rc-crilninaiion by the
opposing parties, and after many hours OF
speech making at q cost of three hundred dol.
lars an hour, Il scheme was devised, Il Cnurt
OF claims Was constituted, the three Judges
were elected, and the whole matter was refer
red to them for adjudication, with full power
and authority TO act IN the premises. We
cannot tel! what disposition they will max
Of it, but the State has made them her agents
and will be bound by whatever they do.
Surely the most bla;anto OF dcmagogues would
not attempt to take ii out of their hands now
and common sense and common dcccncy
alike require that we should let it rest,
Next, as to the University question.
A Joint Resolution was passed at the extra
session Of the Legislature, 1877, as we are in
formed almost without opposition, appoint
ing a commission to inquire into and devise
- -,, 60, lao $500 n,. - t"nt t.s, of fhn ~ yvAfS
a Board Of Trustees was elected composed
OF Some of the best men in the State, and Il
well-considcred bill was passed at the last
session rc-eStablishing the University, and is
now q part of the law of the land. Governor
Hampton is understood to be in favor of re-
opening the University as soon us possible,
and would certainly veto an act seeking to
repeal the Get of the last legislature. The
signal failure of those who tried TO pass an
act over his veto at the last session, shows
how hard it would be to secure the two-thirds
vote necessary for that purpose.
Moreover, ample provision Is made in the
constitution of the State for the m;intcnancc
OF the University. BY reference TO Article y,
Section ). Of the Constitution, ratified and
approved January 26. 1878. 1t will be seen that
there are two taxes provided for. first, IAN an
nual tax of not less than two mills on the
dollar" which "Shall be held in the County
Treasures of the respective counties, and
paid out exclusively for the support of the
public schools as provided by law and Sc
cond "an annual tax of one dollar on each
poll, the proceeds OF which tax shall be APP
piled solely TO educational purposes The
same section further provides that 1.-THE
school tuI. shall be distributed among the sew
eral school districts of the counties" &c.
While the constitution commands that the
school tu1. the twO-mill tax, shall be held IN
each county and paid out exclusively for the
support OF public schools, 1t clearly contenl-
plates that the poll tax, tic tax for education
al purposes, may be used, subject to the re-
strictions mentioned in the section, for the
support of any educational enterprise or ill.,
stitution of learning, and especially Of the
University.
Furthermore, Article Y. Section 0. OF the
constitution provides that the General AS
sembly shall provide for the maintenance of
the State University, &S :, and every member
tax s an oath to support, protect and defend,
) = = the constitution OF South Carolina > =.
No member can full to vote for maintaining
office, and we confess to being unwilling to
vote for a man who announces before hand
his intention OF doing that. There cannot be
any issue on the University question, be-
cause. If the bill were not already passed 1t
would have to be passed at the next session.
Tho only way to get rid Of the University Is
to amend the Constitution, and VIC are not
prepared to believe that the scctarian COL
fegcs have enough friends TO do it in that par
t.culur.
If we devote our time and attention to
building up our waste places; TO elcFating
our State to something of the high standards
OF old; to deviSing plans and means fordcvcl-
oping her material resources, to REFRESHING
social and political communism, ana TO re-
abuses that have crcpt into our body
polilic,-wc shall have enough to do. We
nave plenty of living issues, and have no
need 10 descend into the charncl houses and
amid the bones of the forgotten dcad:n
FAIR PLAY.