The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-01-30
The University Bill.
Tle A5b2Ville Delegation Speak
Memminger Defends the University

s
Memminger Defends the University.
Dicksring Between Up-Country and
Low-Country.
The bill to provide for the organization
Of the Sal" University being the special
order for l2.AW i. NJ. WAS taken up and
discussed until adjournment. This bill,
it will be remembered, was reported by
the special commission, composed Of the
board of trustees Of the University OF
South Carolina and the chairman Of the
committees on education OF the Senate
and the House, who were appointed by Il
Joint resolution ut the special session, to
inquire into and devise plans for the or
ganiZatiOn and maintenance of II uni
versitv for white and one for c0lorcd
youths. The bill provides that the South
Carolina University have two branches,
II to he located IL Columbia and styled
the South Carolina College, and The ot;!cr
located ut Orangclurg and styled the Cla-
film University, and that they had ar
ranged IL plan by which this institution
could fill the place of the branch Of The
univcr ity for colOred yolths.
MR.. II. L.. uEMrHILL,
moved to strike out the cnacting clause.
Mr.. llenlpllill deprecated the excitement
OF any ill feeling in the discussion Of the
question. He appreciated as high az any
mar the noble work of the South Carolina
College, and remembered with patriotic,
pride the distinguished men who received
their intellectual training in that inStitu-
ton, and left their James as an heritage
of glory to the whole State. lie then
urged that the necessity which once ex-
listed for the South Carolina College did
not exist since the establishment of 50
many colleges of high grade throughout
the S;tatc!with institutions OF their own,
and it would not be fair. to tax them to
support anu build up rival to cripple
them. The "up-cOlntrv,' with five high
grade institutions, does not need the Uni.
versity; neither does the ''low-country,'
for Charleston College furnishes the OPP
p%ortunitics for tho highest education.
Charleston College has the finest institu-
ton in the State, and had educated more
distinguished men, who added lustrc to
the pages OF our history, than any insti-
tuition that ever existed in the borders OF
this State.
No peculiar tcncts Of the several de-
nominations We're included in the course
of instruction OF the colleges. II so
ON moral training was necessary to the
full development OF true manhood. Al
institution which divorced moral and i'll
'ellcctual training might suit modern
theorists, who hold to the doctrine 80
he'll" but would not satisfy those who
81 l,rl1 IL tI,, l.n.,, S.,, - 50.
The fact that nigh grade colleges spranc
into successful operation undo h very
shadow of the old South Carolina College
is proof positive that it did moi meet tit
will Of the people eve when it liourislict
best. The experiment - run it as Il non
Scctarim college WAS Il failure, lamcntct
by good people even now.
The duty Of the people is to build NJ
the common school system, to start ut thu
foundation and build upward. Again
! we should first provide for the higher ed
ucation of the women. Female education
demands our attention just o The per
prtuiiy of our ~%ovcrnenIlit depends upor
lis virtue and intelligence SpringinE from
Inc social circle. "University; cduct'
ton of late Years hus.provcd to ne Il fail
urc. Such education teaches our young
men army from tie people. The Cnircr
SHY would not half sustain itself, anC
therefore we would bc paying out money
that would not return an equivalent. L
would not pay to have Il post G%radnatc'
University. Graduates should &c able II
take care of themselves, and considcrin:
the poverty of the people, j! is too Soon i
establish such an institution. The pe"pl'
arc too poor. They cannot afford 1t. Mo
ney is to be paid, and why not leave ii Il
their votes before the bill is passed. lie
them have Il voice in the matter. al,
when they are able they will not spare
money or shrink from personal sacrifice
to sustain and uphold the former prestige
Of South Carolina.
MR.. SIMcNToN
showed the House that the bill did no
seek an appropriation this year, but Wa
intended only to complete an organization
by which the State could get control .
the Clallin University by simply making
i, Il part Of the University Of South Caro-
lima. IN conclusion Mr.. Silnonton SUP
mitted an amendment, which deferred
the opening OF the institution until TIT
Legislature saw lit to sanction it.
MIR. WERNER
followed with q strong speech in favor 81
the bin, taking the ground that If 4 be
ginning was never made nothing coult
ever be expected to be realized. III
Thought tlIaG $4,000 would be amply Sulll
cicnt tu appropriate for the use OF the III
siitution for the first year Of It's opening
and that that amount could easily bt
taken at the poll tax fund.
MIR. ROBERT ALDEICH
followed in an able speech in favor OF tin
bill.
MIR. CONTOR,
of Abbcvillc. spoke in opposition to TIT
bill, and said:
l have no prepared speech to deliver
upon this question of opening the Uni
verSitv, and promise not to laffilct thl:
house with amy lengthy remarks. I de
sire TO indicate the general Aprinciplc!
which will guide me i'll the course | III
tend to pursue. The gentleman from
Charleston says he intends TO offer N
amendment, which shows clearly thai
there is no necessity Of pressing this mca'
sure, at the present time. The llth Soc
ton of this bill gives the trustees the
right to open the University whenever
they deem 1t proper, but he proposes Il
amend SO as To leave it to the General
ASSEMBLY,. II IL IL W W ltiI w tilC lLtSiH'
laturc to determine when it is advisable
to open the University, why press it no"
when it is manifest that we are not pre-.
pared for il, and not willing to do 1t?
But l am opposed to it upon general
principles. | assume the broad ground
lLat Il State has no right to tax its citizens
tor professional or higher education,
Though we admit such education to be {:
great benefit, yet it is not Il necessity, and
its advantages do not reach the masses O
the people who pay the taxes. While il
is Il benefit it is a personal benefit, fol
which those who receive it should pay
The education of the people is &
necessity, because il fits The large mass q!
the people for the duties of citi-
ZcnsIlip-such as the responsibilities OF
Jurors. of voters and Of witnesses. Tho
monarchical governments Of Europe tax
their ritiZcns for university education and
for whatever else they please. upon an as.
sulned right-thc right Of kings: but II
cannot be claimed, upon amy reasonable
theory, that Republican governments
have The right to tax the many for the be-
neiit of the few. If it be claimed then
that me receiving Il higher education be-
come more useful citizens to the State, VIC
claim, on the other hand, that these all
vantagcs always have been, and always
will be. supported by private enterprise.
1t is unfair to tax the friends and sup
porters Of these private enterprises to put
into operation all institution which is t.
come directly into competition with them,
and unrhlDs Ircak them down. The cir