Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1889-11-21
The Clemson College Bill.

the Clemson College Bill, or will he
return it to the Legislature with his
veto? This is the question which is
agitating the minds of many, both
friends and foes, of the institution,
as the time draws near for his Ex-
ccllcncy either to approve or veto
the bill, which passed both Houses
of the Legislature last year, accept
ing the Clemson bcqucst. AS to
what will be the Executive action in
the matter, we suppose, no man
knows rs yet, but as to what it should
be, we think, there can be no qucs-
ton. The acceptance by the State
of the Clemson bcqucst and the cs-
tablishmcnt f an Agricultural Col
lcgc on the Fort Hill property for
the education Of The farmers sons in
the science of agriculture and me
chanics, was made IN issue in the
primary elections last year and the
popular vote was cmphatically in
favor of acceptance. \ bill framed
in accordance with the provisions Of
the will of Mr.. Clemson was carried
through the Legislature by a large
majority in the House, and a small
majority in the Senate, just two days
before adjournment. The Governor
declined to approve or veto the bill
within that time, claiming the right
to hold it under aiviScmrnt The
whole of the five days allowed for
executive action, thus carrying it
over to the ensuing session and COM
plctcly straddIing the question from
that day until this. He will have
three days after the Legislature
convcncS next Tuesday in which to
signify his approval or rejection. In
the meantime, the will by which the
bcqucSt to the State was made, has
been sustained hy Chief Justice Full
Ter, Of the Supreme Court Of the
InltcI States, sitting rs Circuit
Judge in Charleston last July, with
Judges Bond and Smnntnn. who
concurrcl in the decision, and that
too, on the showing made by the
contestants, without asking evidence
or argument from the executor and
his counsel. Such is a brief history
OF tn" Clemson hrqurSt to date.
The appeal to the United States
Supreme Court will doubtless be
heard in January next, rs We under
stand the case has been advanced ON
the calrnirr, and there can be but
one opin,n as to what the decision
of the highest tribunal in the land
will be. The contestants have ap-
pcalcd from the decision Of Justice
Fuller, sitting rs Il Circuit Judge, to
him as Chief Justice OF the Supreme
Court Of the United States, and it is
not probable that there has been any
change in his opinion, which will hr
fully concurrcd in by the Associate
Justices.
Where, then, is any legal ground
on which the Governor can refuse to
sign the bill? TO bottom his veto
on any legal ,c,hnicality would
prove him to hr even Il greater enemy
OF the farmers and industrial rduca-
ton than ia> heretofore been be-
licvch.
Besides, Mr.. Clemson, feeling a
great sympathy for the farmers of
South Carolina, and the many diff
cultics with which they have had to
contend, determined to devote the
bulk OF his property to establish IN
Agricultural College on the Fort Hill
place; the Courts say he had the
right thus to devise it; the pco-
pie have declared their desire To- ac-
rcpt the brIucSl on the terms >tiru-
lated, and to found the Cullcur.-
who, then, will say the br1nrSl shall
not be acrcptcl--,hc College shall
not be established
Surely Governor Richardson has
sufficient consideration, both for his
own welfare and that of the State
at large, ~ we'll aS intelligence and
patriotism, /" put the Signct Of his
approval to the bill, and let the
farmers have their College without
further hurtiul delay. Let him atone
for all past lcrcIicli"nS Of duty, by
signing at once the Clemson College
bill, and return it with his approval
on the first day Of the legislative
session, \. y. 1889. Let this be-
done and there will be rejoicing
throughout the land that the lion
and the lamb have lain down to-
gcthcr. Sign the bill, Governor. and
relieve the campaign Of 1890 Of one
Of the iirrrc>t political conflicts
possible for y"u to thrust upon the
IL.