The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-12-19

tlat q sult 1aQ Deen OrOuRnC DelOTe Lue Ouit-
ed States Court to set aside the will, and that
The litigation was not based upon frivolous
grounds, but, upon the contrary, upon
grounds which permitted strong hopes for the
success Of the plaintiffs suits. II therefore
seemed to him eminently proper and wise
of the bequest pending the settlement Of the
suit now before the United States Court.
That suit would In all probability have q
hearingtbefore the Chief Justice OF the Unit
Charleston, as the plaintiffs attorneys desired
a speedy trial. It was the practice In the Uuit-
ed states courts to advance cases In which
State was q party, and there was therefore
every assurance that there would soon be the
Judgment Of the highest judicial officer In
the land In regard to this question:, He had
no opinion to express as to the merits OF the
plaintiffs suit, but If, as he had been assured
by her counsel, an ex-Attoruey General OF
OF this State, she did have strong case, he
could not see the wisdom or the propriety OF
passing this bill so:hastily. The small appro.
Tor could accomplish no practical results so
far as the establishment. of the college was
concerned, and 1t therfore seemed 10 the
Judiciary committee only meet and proper,
in view OF all the circumstances, that the bill
should be postponed to the next session. 1t
would be an unseemly spectacle for the State
OF South Carolina to 60 into litigation with
descendant OF her purest and greatest STATES
man, as she might have to 90 were she TO ae.
which the courts might decide the testator
had no right to give away, and for that rea-
son alone, II for no other, he could not vote
for the bill.
Mr.. Benet said that he regretted sincerely
that he could not concur with his learned
friend; he could not see that he had advanced
any new reason for deferring the considera-
tion OF the Act: He was sorry that the judi;
favorably; that committee had acted as
legislative undertakers and had buried many
bills during the session, but 1t had, in this IN.
stance, tried to, put under ground one that
would prove lively corpse The bill was q
necessity, the act Of acceptance perfectly
proper one, and he would advise the State OF
South Carolina as he would advise private
client, to accept the gift and take the conse'
auences. He called upon the House to re-
member that after campaign in which this
question had been burning question, debat-
ell on every stump, at every cross road IN the
State, it was too late to bury 1t, and TO bury
had been brought. The suit was remark
able coincidence Of the opposition to the es-
tablishment OF an agricultural college.
Coud # be meant hsarS to besgIe gaten
asked Mr.. Benet, "of any devisee being advis-
ed not TO accept q bequest 2'' Referring to
Mr.. Brewleys remarks as to The unseemllness
Of the State having interests antagonistic to
the interests Of the descendants Of John @.
Calhoun, Mr. Benet begged to call attention
to the fact that the father OF Miss Lee, the
young lady In question, whose name was us
ed in the suit, had himself assured the ex.
intention to take the property away from the
State of South Carolina, because he had known
years ago Of Mr.. Clemson Intentions regarding
It's disposition.
"For q monument to clemson9" remarked
Mr.. Haskell
"No, sir" answered Mr.. Benet; mot for q
monument to Clemson"
"The counsel for the plaintiff in the suit
that had been referred TO-" said Mr. Benet,
continuing the discussion, "were no doubt
confident but he would say that the other side
although not claiming to be learned and
eloquent, did claim TO be equally as confde Mt.
It was therefore but the opinion Of lawyer Us.
lawyer, and the General Assembly need not
concern itself much about that. Should SIM
ply signify It's acceptance Of the bequest. Why
wait until next session IN the face OF such
popular demand for the establishment OF the
college; in face of the fact that the so-called
farmers movement merely meant the desire
OF the farmers OF the State for an agricultural
college?"
MIR. Haskell-Will the gentleman answer
one question before he takes his seatf What
is the use Of pressing this matter now-hasn't
the State three years in which toaccept?
Mr.. Benet-The passage OF: this bill now
establishes an agricultural college now, and
the representatives, here WILL show that they
have done their duty and gave the people
what they wanted.
Al the close of Mr.. Benet's remarks vote
was taken by ayes and nays, resulting as fol-
lows:
Yeas-Messrs. Abney, Adams, Baxter, Beatty,
B. L., Black. Boatwright, Bolger, Brawley,
Cannon, Causy, Chandler, Childs, Clements,
Clinkscales, Cobb, Dantzler, Edens, Evans, j.
Hz karG aSa SueHs HssPss HsTssSn anvsSa
Mears, Miller, Morrall, .MeCaw, McCrady,
McHugh, McKissiek, McKistry. Nettles.
Sssisn %sshnstPn P6inWslS EsnEn Hays0 Turner
NavssMessrs. Arnold, Austell, Bean, Benet,
Bowen, Broyles, Byrd, Capplemann. Carmi.
chael, Cleveand, Connor, Connors. Counts
RaY Fawel Rgtss arsy sya9s aep R
Jhon R. Hill, 1rby, Jhonston, Jhonstone,
Kelly, King, Lancaster, Miles, Morrison,
Moseley, Moses, Mower, Mcdaniel Peurifoy
Plowden, Sanders, a: c. Sanders, a. K, Shaw
Tindal, Thompson. Trantham, Vandiver,
Wallace, Waller, Watson Wharton, Whitlock,
Whitnire, Wiggsns, WilborD, Wilson, feldell'
Zimmerman-62.
The result of the vote very naturally elated
the friends OF the bill, as they regarded II as
test vote. On this point, however, there is
difference OF opinion, as II is claimed that
some who do not support the bill on Its merits
voted for its immediate consideration, be.
cauee they want to see the question disposed
Of at once, and not left on hand as disturb
Mr.. Hazards motion to strike out the enac.
LlnE clause TeOpeueu Luc ucUdtc duo I'LL. l,ShCt
again took the floor In support OF the bill.
He said that 1t was with peculiar pleasure
that he rose to advocate the passage OF the
bill to accept the Clemson bequest. 1t was
most important measure. This was proved by
the fact that during the last campaign no
other measure before the people OF the State
received as much discussion. The farmers OF
the State had said that they wanted an agri.
cultural college and had sent men here TO
represent them on that question. 1t was 10
him h source OF pleasure TO know that years
before the agitation of this subject 1t had
been his opinion that such q college should be
although the gentleman from Riohland had
alluded to him as the champion farmer OF
Abbeville.
Mr.. Haskell-"No, OF the State"
Mr.. Benefit disclaim the honor. I know,
perhaps, as little about farming as any man
on the floor. My only experience In that di,
rection having been to rnna large farm and
lose money by IT,"
Mr.. Benet, continuing, said that he repre-,
glorious old County of Abbeville; he repre-
sented the men, the women, the boys OF the
country, boys on the farm who were unaole
to 60 to the State University, and who did
want to 60 to an agricultural college, Every
man of discernmGnt must see that the ola
baronial estates of South Carolina were q
thing of the past. and that the day OF smali
farms was 1T hand, and new generation OF
farmers needed more education, surrounaeu
as they were by class OF population settlree
by the providence.of God; people who were
humble and docile now. because they felt ana
acknowledged their in feriority, but who were
developing surprising capacity In an eduGa-
tional direction, and who would not @ remain
did not take advantage of all It's opportunt-
ties. This was the menace of the future:
MIR. Benet then asked indulgence whilst ne
gave a narrative of Mr.. Clemson's personal
History. He showed that he was a man pas
.ionoieiy fond OF agricultural science an ex-
merit. whose opinions were eagerly sought and
paid for handsomely On one occasion ne mace
so 900 for report on some South American
mines. In this way he made his money, and
hv iudIcious investments he had increased 1t,
and it was not fact that he was beneficiary