The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-01-28
A State FemaIe College.
From the Brookhaven Ledger.l

From the Brookhaven Ledger.
The Copiahan publishes the address read
before the Conference by Miss ulia Raiford
praying that body to transfer the property
of Whitworth College to the State, so that
it could be endowed as a State Female Col
lege. 1t also publishes letter from Mrs.
Judge Peyton in reference to the matter
from (which we make the following extract !:
'FThe matter was referred to the Committee
on Education of which Col. Nugent of Jack
son, was chairman. He informed US that
the Conference could not grant the request
even were they disposed to do so, as by the
terms of NJ. J. Nhitworth's will, when the
property passed from under the control Of
the Methodist Church, it must revert to his
heirs. We scarcely hoped to accomplish
transfer of the property, but thought no
harm could result in agitating the subject
of a State Female College"
Believing that the Legislature should and
will establish a State Female School for
white ladies, we publish extracts from the
address containing arguments that will
make an impression upon all who read
them.
The State being an organization sup
ported by uniform and compulsory system
OF taxation, with money accumulated in its
treasury and With the moral support of the
chu rch. can successfully found institutions
of learning. This is demonstrated in
our own State by its hourishing
university at Oxford for white males and in
Alcorn University and the normal school at
Holly Springs, for the colored race. We
griege to say that toward the education of
her white daughters no State aid has as yet,
been extended. Indeed from the scant eff
forts that have been made by our legisla-
tors in this behalf. the popular idea would
seem to be that for woman Ignorance is
bliss" Never was there a wider mistake
10, fhiS TrnOranpo pOn1amDs n
drudgery, and oftentimes to shame, to dis
honor, and eternal death We feel that the
EiDle has come when public sentiment on
the subject of female education must be
changed.
Feeling the necessity of more general
education of sex, a petition, which will be
presented to our next Legislature has been
framed by our association, asking for es
tablishment of State Female College.
This petition has been widely circulated and
numerousiy signed, by many of the wiser
statesmen, and more prominent men of our
State. Among its endorsers we find such
men rs l.. Q. c. Lamar and Ohio h. Single /
ton, Gen. J. A. Smith, our State Superin-
xendent OF Education, and many prominent 4
educators, judges, lawyers and ministers of
our State.
Our State was among the first to espouse
the cause of woman and free her from the
shackles and restraints of the common law,
and now it would be fitting and appropri-
ate act for our beloved commonwealth to
Join with the pious and scholarly advocates
of Wesleyan Christianity TO rescue woman
from the bonds of ignorance and Deepen
dence They you'd thus pat her upon a
higher plane of existence, and rear to them
selves jointly monument more enduring
than one of brass or of marble
Our petition asks for legislative appro- ,
priation for the establishment of State ,
Female College. Our Legislators can no !
longer deny the necessity, wisdom. or JUS j
tiee, of such an act. A large proportion of |
the property of this State is owned by the s
white females. This property is taxed to
pay the debt incurred in supporting uni i
Tersities and schools for Others, while there :
is not a single high school in the State
which is available to those of her white
daughters whose means are limited
That an appropriation for this purpose ,
will be made at no distant day, we feel as Z
sured, and in order that its benefits may :
better reach those whose means are most !,
limited, q State Female College ought TO be / !
located at some accessible point in the j
healthfuI pine region of South Mississippi. +