The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-11-27
SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS FOR
THEIR PROPER SUPPORT.

COLUMBIA, Nov 19.-Special: The
Convention today finished up the ar
ticIe on education. The debate was
promptly resumed yesterday morn
ing. The pending question was on
the motion of Col. Watson of Edge.
field. to substitute may" for "shalP'
in the section providing for the main
tenance of the University and Glenn
son College-the idea being to leave
the support of these institutions to the
will of the Legislature.
Mr.. Prince opened the debate In IA
vor of the amendment. After brief
statement of the points in controversy.
he said: II would write in the Consti-
tuition after 1 provided this endow-
ment, that there should be no free tu-
ition that was not provided by bene.
ficiary funds. For the man who will
refuse to pay back the $40 year after
he has gone out, has not the stuff OF a
man in him. You ought to take them
and give them such training that t':ey
would. If you can't, I am willing to
write in the Constitution that any
man who won't pay back that loan
fund in five years after he has gradu-
ated, shall be disfranchised in South
Carolina. If I could get the conven-
ton to accept my views and grant
this 5000, 900, I am satisfied that in 10
wears the people would call you bless
ed. In 10 wears that will be $500, 900
endowment fund. IF they don't love
their college well enough to put their
hands in their pockets to build her up.
then, for Gods sake, quit talking
about your love for your alma mater.
We have given Woford $63, 900 since
the war. How much have you given?
That was not collected by the preach
ers as with sherlff's warrant. This
is voluntary contribution"
MIR. HUTsoN.
Mr.. Hutson was the next speaker,
saying: We have no fight here with
denominational colleges. MY judg-
ment is that sectarian institutions are
unwise. If I had a dozen sons, and
thew could get their education free, l
would not send them to denomina-
tional school. .
DR.. Thornwell, who has been quoted
here very consplcuously, was opposed
to sectarian colleges. We are not op-
posed to sectarian colleges, however; ;
they are all ornament to the State, but l
believe their friends make mistake
when they bring them in comparison
with the South Carolina college.
I take the ground that it is the duty
of the State to give the people higher
education-andin in doing so she is not
striking at any of them-and provide
for them the requisites of citizenship
It is the duty of the State to see that
her sons are fitted for every walk in
life.
I believe that the State should abso-
lutely provide for the common schools.
am in favor of my friends amend
ment that the common schools should
be supplemented with intermediate
schools to prepare the boys for college.
But weare discussing higher education.
Dr.. Thornwell said that it was abso-
lutely necessary that we should have
higher education in South Carolina:
DR.. Thornwell said that IF we should
dispense with one or the other,
I. think it better that we should
dispense with the common schools.
One sun is better than a thousand
stars"
He is in favor of common schools,
but he thinks that it were better to
have higher educated men than a
class only educated to certain point.
He says again: "That if it had not
been for the college of South Carolina
the low country would have continued
to send its sons to Europe and the up
country to be contented with their
beautiful climate and green hills.
What we are to determine is whether
South Carolina is'bound by duty to
provide for the higher education OF
her sons; and any man who attacks
that should prove that the State has
made great mistake in the past, and
will continue to do so in the future, if
it keeps it up. ,
In regard to the slurs of my friend
from Anderson on her curriculum, l
will say that he must recollect that up
to the war her standard was up with
Harvard and Princeton. Then came
the war, and then the question of di-
viding from'her the agricultural de-
partment. When on the committee on
education, I worked hard to provide
that every branch of mechanical edu-
cation in South Carolina be put under
the roof of great university. But
Mr.. Clemson's death overturned ev-
erything. They had to establish an
agricultural college to get a place to
put his, donation. I am in favor Of
supporting every one of the higher in
stitutions of learning, including Glenn
son. It was the policy of the State
that these institutions should be main
tanned, and it is the duty of those who
oppose them to come here and say
that the State has been all wrong, and
turn it over to the friends of them; or
it ls the duty of this convention to
"see that no lights are put out" in
the words of the president of this con-
vention.
He then read some extracts from Sir
William Hamilton.
Continuing, he said: 1 only quote
his words to show that it is not only
the duty, but the interest of the State
to maintain those institutions. There
is not an amendment offered here but
which is directed to cripple their use,
fulness,or to put an end to their exist
ence.
Mr.. Watson-Dcn't you know that
the old Constitution requires that we
ebonld Laon the free schools for six