The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-18
WHO ORIGINATED CLEMSON /?
NIX. CLEMSON ALONE Is EN-
TITLED TO CREDIT.
III. w. Mills Reviews Speeches and
Writings, Calling Attention to Need
for Agricultural School.
To the Editor of The State:

In your issue of the 9th inst, there
appeared an article with these head
lines, "Presiding Elder Real Glenn
son Man.. DR.. j. w. Daniel Says he is
Irresponsible for College suggestions
to Founder Mr. Clemson Proposed
TO Establish Mining School, but
Amended Idea TO Make it Agriculture
al" The article then quotes Rev. J.
w. Daniel as saying, Il am response
bic for Clemson College ,and 1 am
proud of it,
have absolutely no desire to take
any leaf from the laurel crown which
DR.. Daniel is worthy to wear, but
there are certian facts Of history
which he himself may not know, and
which ought to be made matters of
common knowledge. These will show
beyond doubt that Mr.. Clemson is
alone really responsible for Clemson
college, as it exists today, the Agricul-
tural and Mechanical College of South
Carolina.
The records of the Pendleton Farm
ers' society will show that November
"a, 1866, a committee consisting of
X. +. Simpson, Col. w. A. Hayne, and
Ihos. G. Clemson were appointed to
appeal to their fellowmen for aid "to
found an institution for educating our
people in the sciences to the
end that our agriculture may be
improved, our worn and impoverish-
ed lands be recuperated and the great
natrual resources Of the South be de-
Veloped.' Also, these records show
that in January, 1867, Mr.. Clemson
addressed the society in an interesting
and most able and instructing dis
course and submits the following an
peal in the form of a circular which
by direction of the society was print
ed and fully circulated, both at home
and abroad"
This appeal, which was written by
William Henry Trescott, opens it's
second paragraph with these words.
considering that our lands are SO
impoverished by the growth and ex-
portation Of cotton, that much Of
them will not pay the cost of culti-
vation and that our agriculture gen.
orally is in a wretched condition." and
continues, I'VE, the committee on be-
half of the agricultural society, and
our fellow-citizens, now make this our
earnest appeal to the well-disposed of
all classes and sects, for aid to found
an institution for the diffusion Of
scientific knowledge, that our civili-
zation may advance and we may once
more become happy and prosperous
people"
The appeal concludes, Letters and
contributions TO he directed to Hon.
Thos. q. Clemson, Ii. D., chairman
Of committee, Pendleton, Anderson
district, South Carolina" These quo
tations are sufficient, l think, to es-
tablish the early interest of Mr.. Glenn
son not only in scientific and industrial
education, but in agricultural educa-
ton as we'll. One excerpt more is,
however, much to the point. In the
minutes OF the society, of which he
was elected president in 1865, we find
the following under date October IA,
1869:
The president (Mr. Clemson) en-
tcrtained the society for half an hour
on the subject of scientific agriculture,
and the importance OF scientific ag-
ricultural education" Other ex-
tracts might also be given but | for
bear.
The address Of Gov. Perry, to which
DR. Daniel refers and which seems to
have suggested to him the idea of
agricultural development, was deliver
ed to the Pendleton Farmers society,
at it's 69th anniversary meeting, Oc-
'p'tA' INNf, 81 llldI the interest ana
activity of Mr.. Clemson in agricultu-
raj education antedated this address
by some Is to IS years.
Further. Mr.. Clemson died April 6,
1888, and in his will, bequeathing his
property to the state, he says, Feel
ing a great sympathy for the farmers
of this state, and the difficulties with
which they have to contend in their
efforts to establish the business Of
agriculture upon a proper basis and
believing that there can be no per-
mancnt improvement in agriculture
without knowledge of those sciences
which pertain particularly thereto,
have determined To devote the bulk Of
my property to the establishment If