The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-09
An Agricultural College.
Georgetown Enquirer }

Mr.. Tillman's article on the Importance
of establishing purely agricultural
college, and also the letter received
from Gen. Lee on the same subject. 1t
seems to me that the facts present
ed are deserving Of the earnest and
prompt attention Of our representa-
tiveS.
My purpose in writing you is to call
attention, through your columns. to the
fact that there exists to-day, as sacred
trust Of the State, property which might
be. most advantageously utilized us the
"foundation stone" Of such an institu-
ton. refer to the De In Howe bequest.
The mnnificent gift Of this distinguished
savant and largc-hcarted man is to-day
in existence, thanks t. the wise provis-
ions Of the testator. The Act Of 1889
(Statutes, Vol. V. p. $685. recites the
terms Of the will: "For the purpose of
establishing and supporting on the
Lethe plantation in Abbcvillc County. n
seminary for the education and support
Of orphans or the children Of poor peo-
ple.''
By the terms Of the will the Agricul-
tnral Society Of the State was named
trustee, and by the above mentioned
Act the Society was invested with
power to sell nll Of the estate but the
Lethc tract, and to invest the proceeds
for the carrying out Of the above pur-
poses.
BY the Act Of 1906 (Vol. ", p. 1929
the resignation Of the Agricultural
Society as trustee was accepted by the
the General Assembly Of the State, and
the property was vested in trustees
elected by the General Assembly. This
action on the part Of the State virtually
made the State the the trustee of the
will and the testament Of DR.. De la
Howe.
The purpose Of the bequest was to
provide instruction in scientific and prnc-
ticnl farming and also in practical house
wifcry and domestic economy and labor
for the INDECENT and helpless-a noble
charity.
I cannot now follow the fortunes Of
this deed Of love, nor is it necessary for
present purposes. Suffice it to say the
school was maintained for many years,
educating twelve boys and twelve girls
the peculiar feature of practical farming
and housewifery was gradually elimi-
nnted by the thoughts and fashions Of
the times, and the wisdom Of the pro-
jector was overborn by the prevalence
of negro slavery.
Since 1880 or 81 the school has been
discontinued, for what cause is unknown
to me, but there still remains the Lethe
land, 1.5OO acres in extent, Of ex.
cellent quality and Of gool locality in
the fork Of Long Cane and Little River.
One Of the complaints in former years
was it's inacessibility. This is now hap
PLY removed by the construction Of
the Augusta and Knoxville and the Sa-
vannah Valley railroads-the latter run
ming within, think, two miles Of the
lands. Buildings for school purposes
and the farm are already there and in
good repair. The entire plant invites
the State to found there the Agricultural
College, which should disseminate far
and wide the most useful Of all worldly
knowledge, how to ''subdue" and rem
der tributary 1.-THE EARTH" Thus the
State would be carrying out in the
highest degree the noble-heartcd pur-
poses Of this eminent physician and
philantropist and perpetuating his
name and generosity to remote genera
TORS.
In the educational scheme Of the State
there is no high, no low, no rich, no
poor. All are equal before the law. and
all alike entitled to the full benefit of
the best instruction she can give. Yet
the distinct purpose of the benevolent
founder. in his provision for the orphan
and the poor, might be kept in view in
providing some special assistance for
those Of each county who would other
wise, perhaps, be debarred from reaping
oil the advantages Of free education in
the arts Of agriculture.
Unless the State, through her proper
officers, concerns herself more vigilant-
ly in the mater Of the DE la Howe
trust, will she not be open to the charge
Of dcreliction in tho discharge of her