The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-04-08

tenn of free schools would obtain
control of the General Assembly
and refuse such liberal appropria.
tions as the public veal demanded,
I again endeavored to have it in
serted in the Constitution. and of.
fered a second Joint Resolution to
amend the Constitution in this par
ticular. [See Senate Journal 1874
70, page ALL This resolution re.
quired tax levy of not less than
two mills on the dollar annually for
the support Of free schools, and that
the money so raised should be re-
tanned in the several Counties. The
law, before this amendment, re-
quired the fund to be sent to the
Office of the State Treasurer for dis
tribution, thus affording an oppor-
tunity for misapplication and per-
version. Indeed, many Of the Coun.
ties-Anderson among the num-
ber-thus lost their proportion for
more than a year. A poll tax Of
one dollar, to be applied to eluca-
tional purposes, was also included in
the amendment offered. This mea-
sure passed both branches Of the
General Assembly by the necessary
two-thirds vote of all the members
elect, and was approved by Gov.
Chamberlain, March 25, 1875. It
was submitted to the voters Of the
State for ratification in the memora-
BILE campaign of 1876, and received
almost the unanimous vote of both
parties. Before it could become a
part of the Constitution, however, it
had to pass the General Assembly
again by a two-thirds vote. At the
regular session of 1851, Decem-
Der 9Th, I submitted a resolution to
ratify this amendment. 1t passed
the Senate, but was sent to the
Mackey House, where it was not
acted upon for the want Of sufi-
cient number of votes to pass it.
The amendment was finally ratified
according to law and approved by
Gov. Hampton, January 26, 1878.
Since that time a tax of two mills
has been collected, retained and ex-
pended in the Counties.
The Constitution of the State,
Article x, provides as follows:
"SEcTIoN 9. Tho General Assembly shall
vcrsity."
This provision of the Constitution
/ favored, having sworn to do so.
To carry out this requirement, and
to prevent dissatisfaction and diff.
Guilty arising on account Of race or
color, l introduced a Joint Resolu.
ton see Senate Journal, extra
session, 1877, page 40, "To provide
for the reorganization of the Uni.
versity of South Carolina aud the
State Normal School,"
The Joint Resolution was in time
duly ratified and approved by Gov.
ernor Hampton, June 1st, 1877. II
authorized the Governor to assume
control Of buildings and property o.
the University aud Normal School
to place some competent person il
charge, to rent the buildings anc
keep them insured and in good re
pair, and to appoint a Commission
to devise the most economical plar
for the organization and mainten
ance of one university for the white
and one for the colored youths O.
the State, said universities to b.
separate, but to enjoy precisely the
same privileges with respect to theil
standards of learning and amount Of
revenue appropriated by the State
for their maintenance-the Commits
sion to report to the next Genera
Assembly. They reported q Bill
which passed the House. When il
reached the Senate [ voted against
it, because 1t did not make ON appro
priotion and open the tauo institutions
at once as required. Some of my
friends have misconstrued that vote
and have given me credit for being
in accord with the prejudice existing
in this County among many, if not a
majority, Of the people against re.
opening the University. 1 wish to
disabuse their minds and define my
position clearly. I favored the re-
opening of the University for the
following reasons, viz:
1st. Because as a member of the
General Assembly I had taken an
oath to support and maintain the
Constitution of the State as u whole
and in all its parts, and I could
no more conscientiously disregard
and neglect to enforce any one or
more Of its plain requirements and
provisions than 1 could openly vic.
late another.
I'd. Because the State of South
Carolina, in maintaining her proper
position among her sister States, owes
it to herself, and to the youths now
growing up, to reorganize the an
cient seat Of learning, securing a
high standard of education, and thus
giving her citizens no excuse for
sending their sons and money tO fos.