The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-11-27

| is not the question De1Ore US. IL tnere
be anything wrong, let the legislature
and the board investigate that matter.
We are not here as court OF inquiry,
but we are here to meet this question
in statesmanlike way.
The question is whether or not the
institutions of higher learning shall
be recognized or not9 Shall we say that
we do not consider that they are not
worthy to be supported, but leave it
to the legislature to do it2 What
would be the effect upon the legisla-
ture2 Won't they feel like drying up
these institutions, and won't the prun-
ing knife be put into them?
| What have you got2 l am not a
graduate of the Citadel or of the South
| Carolina college, or of a denornlna-
tional college. But what have you
cote You have the South Carolina
college, the Citadel, Clemson and Rock
Hill, all at great expense. Can we af-
ford to cast the slightest slur on these
institutions9
Have we any Vanderbilts and Rock
lafellers to build it up9 Is it the idea
to stop what is going on, so that, that
willbuild up the sectarian collegess Is
that the idea9 :,
| In 80, a revolution swept over the
State and resulted in the establishment
of Clemson and Rock Hill. Did you
saw then that it was wrong to put the
Estates money into higher institutionsS
Those who then said it was right, now
want to leave it to the legislature. 1
| saw, that they should be recognized as
a bart of the fundamental law Of the
LAND. Didn't we act we'll by public
schools after the friends of public
schools got their support9 Are you
going to turn your back on the higher
institutions to build up the sectarlan
linstitutions2 All, my friends, the
friends of these institutions wherever
they are, let us all join together and
90 forward on a wider field of educa-
ton and recognize these institutions;
| Mr.. George D. Tillman spoke at
length in favor of SMr. Watson's
amendment. Mr.. McMahan spoke on
the other side.
MIR. BUST.
| Mr.. Buist said he was greatly SUR
prised to know that there were men
on the floor who were apparently
agents of denominational colleges.
He thought they were here to repre-;
sent all the people. Why should
they try to break down that grand
old State institution, which was doing
splendid work. This was also true of
| the Citadel. He hoped they would
rise above all UNCONVENTIONAL consid-
erations.
MR. GAGE.
Mr.. Gage was in favor of the Wat
son amendment. He had a duty to
perform and he would do it without
regard to. what the people would
think. The only question was wheth-
er they should inaugurate into the
IConstitution a provisor to annually
appropriate money to these institu-
tions. This was the issue and to 1t be
said nay. We have in this State 1885,
600 children, who get $1.75 each for a
years schooling. We have dearth
of schools. We have nine or ten
colleges, whose halls are empty
without student. The naked facts
were these two. Is it right, sir, for
us to do this9 I can't see it and I
can't cast my vote for the higher in,
stitutions. My ties are all with this old
South Carolina college. Clemson
college had cost the State 5000, 900 and,
gets from $40, 900 to SIC, 900; while the
lSouth Carolina college gets about ths
same. The Citadel gets about $40, 600.
Winthrop costs $4,000. It was a
| grand work, but done at the cost of
the public schools. Put may" in:
will that make any great difference2
There was no necessity for the word
"shall". :,
Mr.. Bryan spoke earnestly and elo-
quently against the Watson amend
ment. :,
Messrs. Parrot and Haynesworth
spoke in favor of the amendment.
MR.. BATES.
Mr.. Bates rose to speak for the
amendment, but was interrupted with
an effort on the part of Mr.. Hutson
| to have the time for the vote extend
ed to 1870 o'clock with the conven-
ton voted down. It was then $3.50,
and halfa hours more debate was pro-
vided for. = =,
Mr.. Bates, continuing, said the
question before this body is shall we,
b1y the Constitution we are making,
make it mandatory upon the people to
perpetually maintain and support all
of the institutions of higher education
which the State now owns and con-
trols9 What they have done IN the
past, what they are doing now2 Their
present condition should not enter into
| it and would only be pertinent If we
were the legislature and were discuss
ling what appropriations should be
made for each. flor one agree with
Mr.. Watson and endorse everything
he said in his speech last Saturday
and wish that could make as strong
and forcible a speech for his amend
ment as he did. .
Mr.. WATSON closed the debate
on his side, and Mr.. Mitchell closed
in favor of the committees report.
THE WORD "MAY" A WINNER.
The vote on the motion to strike
out "shall' and insert may" was then
called for at minutes of II o'clock.
The roll being demanded, the vote re-
suited as follows:
| Yeas-Alexander, Ashe, Anderson,
Austin, Barry, Behre, Bobo, Bow
en- Bowman, Bradham, Brice, 7. w. !;
Cooper, Cunningham, Derham, Doyle,
Dudley, Ellerbe, Estridge, Field,