The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-06-30

acquaintance and knowledge of con
ditions throughout the State, and IN
oreasing the number of supporters of
the Farmers College idea. Among
those who had been reading the pa
pers and thus became familiar with
the subject, was Mr.. Thomas G. Glenn
son, who was then living the life of
a rccluse ut Fort Hill, Calhoun's olt
home. AZ I afterwards learned upoa
visiting Mr.. Clemson at his request,
he had long had in mind the necessity
for the State to do something i.i the
interest Of Industrial and sctertinc
education, and on the occasion of that
visit 1 went to Pendleton in the fall
of 1896, was met by Mr.. Clemson in
his carriage, and carried to his his
toric home. "Fort HILL" where
spent the night.
wish had the faculty of describ-
ing the appearance of things at the
old home Of John c. Calhoun as it
then appeared and contrasting 1t with
what appears at Clemson College to-
day.
Col d. X. Norris, who had been
one Of my strongest supporters in the
advocacy of separate Agricultural
College, and Col. R. w. Simpson me-
me at Mr.. Clemson's (being invited
by him to dinner.) and the four Of us
spent nearly the whole day in talk
ing over the new project, which Mr..
Clemson had in mind, and which he
unfolded to us. At that time Mr..
Clemson had made will which re
showed me, In which the scheme was
outlined, to make of Fort Hill a sort
OF Mount Vernon. a place of pilgrim
age for those who admired and loved
John c. Calhoun and his polical ideas.
Col. James Rion, of WinnsborO as /
remember. was the trustee, with a
board of ladies as regents. to be
chosen by Mrs. Rion, to direct and
control the property, and take care
oc 1t in perpetuity.
Mr.. Clemson talked over this
scheme with me and mentioned his
desire to establish technical and in
dustrial school such as I had been
advocating. and gave that as an ex-
PLANTATION as to why he had invited
me- to visit him. His ideas were not
clear or we'll defined as to which
course he would pursue, but the
thought OF great agricultural and
technical institution grew on him
Such was my conviction Of the
strength Of sthe agricultural college
idea that felt willing to guarantee
the State ol South Carolina would ac-
cept the property and begin the work
of building college in his life time
should he make the donation at once,
and I recall begging him to have his
last years frightened and made hap
py watching the contamination Of his
cherished plan; but he was the most
suspicious man in regard to lawyers
and the dangers of getting involved
In lawsuits I have ever met, and moth
ing we could say made any impress
sion on him to take immediate action
But he did accept our suggestion in
regard to what disposition he should
make Of his property at his death,
and We talked the whole matter over,
Col. Simpson making memoranda, as
he was requested to write the will and
bring 1t to Mr.. Clemson at his earliest
convenience.
Messrs. Simpson and Norris Joined
with me in urging him to change his
WILL so as to carry out this new pur-
pose, the same had been advocating
as they were so nearly similar that
there were only slight differences as
to details.
Reasons for Life Trustee Plan.
having In view the possible danger
of the negroes, who are so largely in
the majority in our State, at some
time getting control of the State gov
| ernment, we suggested the scheme Of
| seven trustees. who would be self
perpetuating, and thus make it i'm
possible for an adverse legislature to
shipwreck the College, or make it a
school to which negroes would be ad-
| mitted.
Another reason which our recent
| experience with the legislature made
us urge the life trustee idea strongly.
was the fear that board wholly con-
trclled by political influences might
warp and twist the College from its
purpose and finally cause it to drift