The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-04-17
Senator Butler.

the Educational Bill.
A few years ago / entertained the
opinion, that it would be good thing for
the South to have this federal aid to edu.
cation in the States and introduced a
Bi!; mot like the Blair Bill, however,)
and went to work TO prepare a speech In
support of it. had not previously
examined carefully tho constitutional
power OF Congress to pass such legisla.
ton, and determined to satisfy myself by
a thorough study of the question. This
investigation convinced my mind that
Congress has no such power, and there.
upon abandoned the Bill and did not call
It up. This Blair Bill under discussion
IL much more obnoxious to the Constitu-
ton as read it than mine, and of course
! oppose it.
But if the Constitutional power were
clearly expressed and had no doubt on
that score, should vote against it as a
matter of policy.
Yielding to and sympathizing with an
almost universal anxiety among our best
people in regard to public education after
We recovered possession of the State
Government in 1876, favored national
aid TO education, but ~ have remarked,
had not considered maturely it's Con.
stitutional bearings nor the general effect
and probable consequence Of such q pol.
icy. was simple minded enough to
believe that tho Republican lesaars zero
sincere in their pIoft sscd desire to sec
the negro educated. l am convinced
now that in this regard was also mis-.
taken. They are quite willing to vote
the money in aid of common schools if
they can control its disbursement from
Washington, and thereby again get con.
troll Of the negro vote as they had through
the Freedmnn's Bureau and Union
| League. This at least is my opinion and
every days discussion confirms it.
| l know it is urged by some OF our
Southern Senators that this is not the
purpose and they are perfectly sincere
in this opnion, Lut have seen too much
of their crafty designs upon the South to
trust them in n vital matter like this.
If South Carolina should receive one
million of this money and expend il for
the schools with the most perfect and
scrupuious impartialty between the two
the Republican managers to send emisa.
ries among the negroes and flood Con-
! gress with stateiaents from them that we
had ignored them practically and given
the whites the full benefit Of the money.
Investigation b5 Cungsess would follow.
| The negroes would prove their statementa
by evidence made to order and ultimate.
ly federal school inspectors would be ap.
pointed and finally entire control Of the
schools would pass into federal hands.
What would be the result2 Every
common school in the State would be re.
quired to csa school books from which
our children would be taught that you
and | and every man who felt he was
doing his duty to the South during the
war vile traitors, and that those on the
other side actuatcd by no higher sense Of
duty, were pure and unselfsh patriots.
| This may come in time in spite Of us,
but do not intend to help it along if
knew it. A proper and healthful nation.
al feeling may be created in the South
and will be without condemning the
dead and living. You say the "papers
! are giving me- hot shot" Well let them
fire away. They have o right to their
opinions, anti l;s3s 10 mine. have
few shots in my locker that 1 am will.
ing to exchange, if they will come at me
fairly and one at time. Let the papers
that are firing their "hot shot," at me
give the people an opportunity to decide
/ by stating my position fairly and honestly
side by side with theirs, and I shall be
| willing to abide the issue and shali not
complain.
So far in my public life I have taken
my positions on public questions accord
| ing TO the dictates OF my own judgment
and conscience, and have not waited to
enquire whether they were popular or
unpopular, whether the newspapers would
vOuchsafe their approval. In the main,
when differing they have treated me
fairly in their criticisms. So have
nothing to complain Of No doubt I
have made mistakes. expect to make
them in the future, but shall not be
driven from what believe to be right
! by adverse criticism or uninformed op.
! position.
| Upon mature reflection am convinced
was in error when favored this ma.
tional aid to State common echool educa.
tion. A man who does not change his
course, reverse it If need be, when he
believes 1t is leading him over precipice
and drawing with him, is either q fool or
what is worse. kpave. Acting upon
this prircipl, l have changed my mind
about this whole business.
out ourselves, each State for itself.
Every time the General Government in.
| terferea it makes matters worse, and re.
tards, postpones and embarrasses prop.
er solution, and I am opposed to it,
whether in the form cf aid to common
school education, Civil Rights Bills,
| political prosecutions and prosecutions.
The illiteracy Of the emancipated slaves
lie as fixed and incurable as the decree Of
his freedom. All the money in the Uni
| ted States Treasury cannot remove II.
The generation that has grown up since
| freedom must take their chances with
| other freemen in the race for education.
They must 60 TO work and contribute to
their own education like other people, or
like other people who do not work, and
help themselves, drift into that army of
drones who first try TO live on their wits
J by idleness, and finally lara in the pea
itentiary or exile.
Excuse me for troubling you with this
long letter. Your own we'll conuidered
and timely observations as expressed in
your letter have drawn me into more
extended letter than had calculated
upon.
The discussion on the Blair Bill has
been able and interesting and I will try
! and send you some Of the speeches of
| other Senators.
NJ. q. BUTLER.
HON. F. A. CONNER, Cokesbury, s. @.
= Kindness, like grain, increases by
sowing.
..:.a..- o,o, loo1aI a.,