The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-05-07

methods and brought TO its aid the principles
Of science, but it should DO remembered that
South Carolina was among the first States of
the Union to form an Agricultural Society and
the farmers Of the State to-day owed it them
selves and they should, for the honor Of the
State, keep time to the march Of the farmers
of the world in their grand advance.
This convention will have accomplished
great work If it aroused the farmers of the
State to n conception of their own true needs
and advise in reference to the measures for
their improvement.
He had not sympathiZed with the fears ex-
pressed in some quarters that evil would re-
suit from this convention, for he knew that the
men who had so gallantly sustained the honor
| of the State on bloody fields anil in times Of
| even greater trials could well be entrusted with
her welfare now. The deep interest which he
felt in the purposes and aims expressed aud
| the kindness of his reception had almost temp
| ted him to forget his promise not TO make them
| a speech, but he would content himself with ex-
pressing the hope that the meeting would re-
suit in great good to all the interests of the
| whole people of South Carolina The Gov
| ernor spoke with evident feeling, and his ear
| nest remarks walked an echo in the convention
| which made itself heard in rounds of applause
| during its progress and Mt its close.
| When the Governor took his seat Mr.. Till
man rose in his place and said he was glad Of
obtained currency concerning him, aud whose
| echo had been even heard on the floor of tho
| convention. He had been credited with charg-
ing "misrule and robbery on the officers of tn o
State government. 1t was claimed that tho Of
| fensiye terms were to be found in letter of
his to the Ne,cs and Courier, but the reference
and the application had been misunderstood
as would be clearly seen by n reference to thu
letter. The terms were intended to apply not
to the officers, but to ring Of politicians which
was believed by nearly everybody to exist.
AS to the robbery" he maintained that IL
was fully sustained by the action of the last
| Legislature in parpetuating the lien lava
system of as damnablc "robbery' is was ever
| fastened upon people.
| The Committee on Resolutions having report
ed favoraby on the series of Resolutions sub
mitted by Mr.. Tillman on Thursday, they
were taken up for consideration, and are as
| follows:
Whereas, Congress, by the Act of July 9,
1862, appropriated certain land scrip to the
| several States on condition that the proceeds
| of the sale of the same should become fund,
| the interest on which should be used to sustain
an agricultural and mechanical college for the
| education of the indus. rial classes in each
State accepting said donation aud whereas,
South Carolina accepted this fund and entered
| into contract with the United States to carry
| out in good faith the conditions of said trust
but has failed to do so and whereas, the Ian
gushing agricultural interests of the State are
| in sore need of on institution which shall furnish
q more practical and scientific training at less
| cost to those who desire to follow farming than
can now be obtained. while at the same time
| mapping out the system which must be adopted
| to save our lands and redeem our agriculture
| and whereas, n practical knowledge Of the me-
| chanic arts among cur own people must be ad
before we can hope for that diversity Of pur-
suits and introduction of manufacturing so nee
fo fho na,,txy o,s;o r.
giving market for other farm products besides
| cotton. Therefore, be it resolved:
/. That we respectfully urge the Legislature
to establish as soon rs possible real agricultural
and mechanical college, separate and distinct
from the South Carolina College, and modelled
after those of Michigan and Mississippi, which
have stood the test OF time and are acknowl-
edged to be the best of their kind in the United
States.
2 That the control and management of said
agricultural and mechanical college should be
| given to the Board of Agriculture. which shall
locate the same at the most eligible site they
can secure, after advertising for bids from the
several Counties.
o. That experimental stations should be es
tablished at and in connection with said agri.
cultural and mechanical college, the samo to
be under the charge Of its faculty.
4. That we memorialize Congress and beg il
/
now pending which appropriates $4,000 an
nually to each State for this purpose, and that
we ask our Senators and Congressman to
use all legitimate means to secure its passage.
s. That we protest against this money, if il
shall be appropriated, being received by the
present Trustees of the South Carolina College
| Their actions in the past show them to be dis
believers in industrial education. Moreover,
| If we arc TO have an agricultural college at oil
| every dollar spent in the agricultural annex ai
| Columbia is so much wasted, and while we are
! willing to concede to these gentlemen honesty
| of purpose and pure intent we acknowledge
| that lawyers and professional men are not the
proper ones to control an agricultural college
| and experimental station any more than We
| claim that farmers ought to be chosen "a Judge.
| in our Courts. We do not admit that the legal
fraternity possesses monopoly Of the brains
and education in this State, and we want each
shoemaker to slick to his own last.
g: That in order, that our agricultural ad.
ministration may be divorced as far as possible
from politics and politicians, in order that the
men best qualified to perform these important
duties be selected by those most competent tc
Judge, in order that we may secure board oil
| agriculture at once efficient, jealous and repre-
| sentative, who know our needs and will try to
| supply thsm, we urge that instead of being
chosen by the Legislature they be elected by Q
| farmers convention composed of delegates
from each County agricultural society, which
shall meet annually in November Of each year
at Columbia for the purpose. This convention
ought to also take into consideration oil matters
Of legislation affecting our agricu ltural inter
| ests and make such recommendations rl to the
| Legislature about the same as they may deem
proper. This hoard Of agriculture should con.
sist of ten, five elected annually; they should
have the power to elect their own executive Of
fcer or Secretary, whose duties would CORE
| spond with those of our present commissioner,
| and their duties would be the same as tho law
imposes on our present Board, while, in addi-
| ton, they would have control of the agricul-
tural college and experimental stations, and
should, by means Of farmers inst stitutes, &C.,
hlill anl knnfn nnli