The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-12-05

and vital interests Of q large and impo
tant portion of the people of the State
The decision upon this much agitate
subject, arrived at by the last LegisL
lure, after its mature and elaborate dl
cussion for weeks, has been disturbe
and unsettled by the Introduction of .
new factor, viz: the liberal beques
made to the State for the establishment
of such an Institution by distlr
guished adopted citizen, the Hon. I. g
Clemson, at his demise during the sprin
of the present year, coupled with Gel
tain conditions, which. under the term
of the will, must attach to its acceptanc
by the State. Naturally, therefore, tn
whole matter has again been brough
before the people and fully and exhaust
lively discussed in both the State an
county campaigns Immediately preced
ing the general elections. There cal
then be no doubt whatever that you, To
chosen representatives of the people
are in accurate possession of their view
and wishes, and being of all vocations Il
life, and more largely OF the agriculture
class than any other, are prepared at al
points to determine wisely this muel
vexed question.
While fully sensible that the whole
responsibility of this determination rest
with you, 1 would most respectfully cal
to your attention few considerations II
regard to this subject as necessarily af
fecting any conclusion to be reached
There can be no doubt, if it is the vel
ascertained desire of the agriculture
class of the State that such college
should be established, that there shoulc
be measures at once taken to thaS end a!
a just recognition of their Importance Il
numbers, intelligence and the value OF
their productions. The farmers consti
tute the very bone and sinew Of the Land,
and upon the result of their labors resi-
all other industries, which must, there
fore, be always best snbserTed and most
efectusly promoted when the occupa
ton of farming is most successfully ano
intelligently conducted.
Admitting the necessity Of thorough
education and technical instruction tc
the followers of this primal as of any
other pursuit in life, which surely nc
one in this age of pr ogress can question,
the duty of providing the means fol
such education and instruction becomes
imperative, if not already existing.
Considerations of economy become sec,
ondary where results are to be so amply
compensating for the money expended.
If, therefore, in the judgment OF your
honorable body, IN addition to the splen'
did opportunities offered by our mag.
nifcent and superbly equipped Univer:
sity for the requirement of agricultural
knowledge in all its departments, from
the most rudimental to the most scien-
tiic in character, there be need of fur.
ther facilities in this direction, it would
be both just and wise to accede to the
demand for q separate Agricultural Col
lege, and proceed by such steps as pru.
dence would dictate to establish such an
institution IS would accomplish the
purpose sought, and be credit to the
State.
But this, am clearly of the opinion,
should be done without injury to, or the
least disturbance of, the organization OF
single institution now existing. There
could be no wisdom in, and therefore no
excuse for, pulling down one institution
already established upon the broadest
and most enlightened basis, and accom-.
plishing a Eondrous work towards the
intellectual advancement of our young
men, to erect smother comparatively ex-
perimentsl in it's system and far mar
rover in its field Of instruction and use
fulness. Nor should the building of a
separate Agricultural College depend
upon the acceptance of the Clemson OF
any other bequest, for the State of South
Carolina is not as poor as some would
represent her to be, and by careful
outstanding of her resources and the
honorable maintenance of her credit size
will, in the next few years, be amply
able to build and support such college
without dollars increase of taxation.
The refunding of her debt at the re-
duced rate of interest, she has the right
to expect by the wise management OF
her finances will result in the annual
saving of a sum-Sl2O, 900 at least-that
will be more than sufficient to build,
equip and support in the most effective
manner a frst-class Institution. IN this
connection l would suggest the iurthel
utilization of our Experiment Stations
for the purposes of agricultural educa
ton, by gradually converting them iItc
preparatory schools, where the manua
labor of the pupils could be successfully
employed in the cultivation OF the farms
and. the conduct of experimentation
while securing ior themselves, by theil
own efforts and without cost to the State
the inestimable advantage OF technica
education. They would thus become
superb feeders of our higher institutions
and the most worthy, industrious ant
proficient among the pupils might bt
awarded scholarships in our State Uni
versity as an incentive to ambition anc
exerslon.
cannot, in fairness and frankness
pass from this subject without q brie
expression of my views on the matter O.
the ':Clomson bsquest, already alluded
to, which, I presume, will be brough
before you in some shape for your con
sideration. Its acceptance or rejection
u. on the conditions with which it is en-
numbered is matter solely for your de
termination and in which 10 executive
officer has either voice or vote. But m,
sense of duty compels me to say tina
while I would rejoice to see the State il
possession of so handsome a propert,,
and so large donation, especially hal
lowed as it is by the clustering memorle
of her grandest and greatest son, I an
decidedly of the opinion that it woul'
com port neither with her true interes
nor sovereign dignitv as an ludenenGen