Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-06-05
gflistellameuns &eadiug.
INTELLIGENCE VS.. ILLITERACY.


CStllOlldl
MY DEAR SIR-While I feel perfectly
assured that you would not Intentionally
do me an injustice, I think that the fol-
lowing extract from your paper places me
in false position, and appeal to your
courtesy to allow me to show wherein you
are mistaken. You say that "this people
are going to be freed from the most damna-
BILE burden which was ever inflicted on any
people which claimed to be free. We do not
blame Hampton for saddling this insuffera-
able burden upon us. We and this people
are ready to excuse him for it. He did, as
we believe, what he thought at the time
was best for us, but Hampton can never
again have the following which he once
had, if he, at this late day, and with the ex-
perience of so many years before us, at
tempts in Washington to rivet these CALLING
chains upon people who have loved him so
well, who have trusted him with such inn
plicit confidence"
Now, I confess that am at loss to know
what "galling chains" have been attempt
ing ''to rivet upon" the people whom have
loved so we'll, and who have treated me
with such ''implicit confidence" and am
the s'insufferable burden" l have saddled
upon that people. suppose thatyou allude
to the constitutional amendment levying a
tax of two mills for educational purposes,
adopted by the people in 1876. If this sup
position is right, how can I be held more
accountable for the adoption of that amend
ment than any other citizen who voted for
it? If my recollection serves me right,
there was an almost unanimous vote given
then in favor of this amendment, and with
out knowing the fact, I think 1t highly
probable that you voted for it yourself. My
agency then in saddling this insufferable
burden upon the people consisted only in
voting with the vast majority of that peo-
pie for the adoption of the amendment of
the Constitution you now denounce in such
harsh terms. That voted for it acknowl-
edge freely. I thought it wise, polite,
proper and humane. I have seen no cause
to make me regretthe vote then gave, and
I should now deplore any action looking to
a repeal of this constitutional amendment.
In the great canvass of 1876, when our
people rescued the State from ruin, [ pledg-
ed myself to do all in my power to place the
means Of education freely within the reach
of every child in the State. L was then but
the exponent of the declared purpose of the
party which had done me the honor to
choose me as their leader. 1 stand now
where did then, for I believe firmly that
we shall never have widespread and endur-
ing prosperity in our State until the dark
cloud of illiteracy which casts it's baneful
shadow over our land is dispelled by the
diffusion of education among all classes of
our people. Such is my firm conviction,
and feeling this, shall, as long as l am
honored with public trust by the people of
South Carolina, advocate warmly every
measure that promises to give the blessings
of knowledge to all parties and all races on
our soil. In this view, 1 think that | am
sustained by the best elements in our State; ;
but if I am mistaken I am willing at any
moment to give place to any one who will
represent more truly the sentiment of our
people. Under no possible circumstances,
could for one moment consent to misrep-
resent people who have indeed "trusted
me with such implicit confidence" a conf
fidence which it has been my highest ambi-
tion to deserve.
One other charge-or rather intimation-
which you make against me is that l am
attempting to ''rivet CALLING chains" upon
our people, but you do not say how [ am
making this attempt l suppose, however,
that you have reference to my support of
the Educational Bill which has just passed
the Senate. If such is the case, you sure
~
is nothing in it that imposes or rivets chains
upon any State or any people. No State
need accept one dollar under its provisions
unless it chooses to do SO, and no State ac-
cepting it's benefits is placed in any wise
under Federal supervision. What danger
then can attend the Bill? 1t may be said
that there is one Objectionable feature in the
Bill-the one requiring a certificate from the
Governor of State as to the distribution of
the funds proposed-and l agree to this
proposition. But if you will look at the
Record you will see that voted against its
adoption, and in voting on the final passage
of the Bill, I concurred in what Senator
Ransom had said in giving his vote.
/ make not the slightest reflection on
those who opposed this measure they doubt
less acted conscientiously, but confess that
cannot see the force of the constitutional OBJ
iections they urged againstit. Atall events,
when large majority of State Rights Dem
ocrats, among whom were such distinguished
constitutional lawyers as Garland, Lamar,
Pugh, Ransom, Brown, George, Jones,
Voorhees,, and others, advocated the Bill, a
layman like myself might well feel safe
in following their lead, and in giving the
beuefit of any doubt he might entertain in
favor of measure which he thought full
of the most benefcent promise to his con-
SClCuSUlS.
PEELED me to support this measure, there
was another more potent still. In 1882 the
General Assembly Of South Carolina, pass
ed think unanimousIy-the following
resolution, which was presented to Congress
and is now standing on it's journals:
Whereas, it is the desire of the people Of
the State of South Carolina to promote the
education Of all people who inhabit her
territory, which desire is evidenced by the
fact that those who now administer the at
fairs of the State have amended the consti-
tuition so that an annual tax of 2 mills up
on the taxable property and poll tax of 81
per head is levied for the support of the
public schools, which are open to all classes,
the public schools of the State may be rem
dered productive of still greater good to
these classes who cannot be educated with
out aid; therefore,
Be it ResOlUetl, by the Senate of the State
of South Carolina, (The House OF Represen-
tatives concurring,) That our Senators and
Representatives in the United States be,
and they are hereby urged to use all their
endeavors to obtain Federal aid for the
promotion of the public schools of this and
our sister States, according to the ratio of
illiteracy existing in the States.
Further ResOlued That the Clerks of the
Senate and House of Representatives do
furnish copies of this Resolution to our Sen
ators and Representatives in Congress for
presentation to said body.
(Signed) T: SToBo FARRoW,
Clerk Of the Senate.
JOHN II. SLOAN,
Clerk of the House of Representatives.
1 hold my place in the Senate of the
United States through the action Of the
T J,epislatIlre of South Carolina, and the men,