The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1880-03-18
Gov. VOLTS Early fkistorv
WOLFF, RIGGS, FREMONT AND LEWIS, RI
CEIvED THEIR FIRST INSTRUCTION IN
FREE SCHOOL NO. 2, IN THE CITY
OF CHARLESTON, 8. c.

The House having had under con-
sideration the proposed amendment
to the State Constitution to restrict
the ages of educable children to only
embrace those between the ages of
seven and eighteen, Mr.. Wolff said:
Mr.. SPEAKER-With this restric>
ton the children in the rural districts
will be quite limited in their oppor-
tunities for gaining the benefits of an
education. Our children-no, "the
children of the State" are compelled
to work upon the farm during the
season for cultivating the crop. After
going two months they again are
compelled to return to the harvest.
Then, only two or three months longer
concludes the scholastic year. Mr..
Speaker, I know I feel the want of
a liberal education. My charge upon
my parents did not exceed one dollar
and twenty cents. When a father
less boy, I was put in at Free School
No. 2, in the city of Charleston,
South Carolina, where beauty and
chivalry will ever reside; Charleston,
with her historic pages and heroic
traditions; Charleston, with her char,
tiles and her Inequalities; Charles
ton, with her extended battery, and
in her port valves the flags of Fort
johnson. Castle Pinckney and Fort
Sumpter.
When in that city about three years
ago had the good fortune to enjoy
the friendship and hospitality of John
Sydney Riggs an old schoolmate and
now one of the richest men in the
city. As we sat in the spacious sa-
looms of his elegant mansion we talk
ed over our boyish adventures reme-
niscences and stirred up the sweet
memories of the past. His father
was journeyman saddler under my
father, and 1 sejoice in "Sydney's'
prosperity. There are several Other
gentlemen who are known to fame
who received their first instruction al
the same free school. I alluded tt
John G. Fremont the great explorer
and once the unsuccessful candidat,
for the Presidency. And there is thu
distinguished gentleman from Clai-
borne (Mr. Lewis) on my left. HI
too went to the same school. Or
one occasion the school house wal
rifted by lightning and out of thu
one hundred scholars not one wa
killed. [ and John Smallwood, WHIT
was afterwards captain of a ship; wer'
the last to leave as we were engaged
in removing the debris of weather
boarding and ceiling that covered
some of the girls who were shriekine
ror help-one of these suplicants wal
the sister of Mr.. Lewis, whose histor,
is marked with thrilling interest. HI
commenced life as a sculptor in tn
TOMBSTONE business. After leavin.
, Charleston he settled in Massachu
sets and was an honored member o
the n ssachusetts Legislature TO
twelve rs. After gravitating dow
in Mis- ippi he went into the prac
tice OF y and has served his peopl
and I Democratic party with tn
hight edit for several sessions il
the .ssippi Legislature, and i
~y fl and will allow the familiarity
might add that if Mr.. Fremont bat
been elected President he might hav'
received the appointment as Minste
to the Court at Versailles. Applause
and laughter and your humble ser
want might have gotten a live ool
agency in the State of Flo ri day
Great applause and laughter: =
J0ckS0e Comet.