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i BY W. A. LEE AN1) HUGH WILSON. ABBEVILLE, S. C., FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 1867. VOLUME. XV. NO. 15. ? . mm AN ADDRESS) delivered before the Alumni Association of JSrskine College, July 10, 18G7, HY n. A. FAIIt, ESQ. [Published by reqneit of tlia Association.] " [CONCLUDED.] III.But what of tho future prospects of the Collego ? What are tho hopes of its friends as to its usefulness for years to come 7 * la it to bo rovivod and ro-invigoratod and pursue again, rejoicing, the even tenor of its way ? Or are its dayR numbered, its miHsion at an end, and it to bo named as a thing of the past? Are those buildings to crumble into ruins?these grounds to pass into tho hands of strangers?this grove to bo flayed by tho axe-men?this soil to bo turned by tho harrow?and the spot of hallowed memories and sweet associations, only to bo marked by tho tassoling corn or tho waving wheat? Oris tho College toe?eout a miserable existence of feebleness * and imbecility, always dying and yet deniod tko boon of deatb ? Ob ! who ^fciin bear the tbougbt of all tbis?or ovou any of all thin? And yet thore is danger of the realization of just such fears as these. There is no disguising the fact?indoed, it would bo folly to disguise the fact, that the condition of iho Institution as a woll developed, flourishing College, to say tho least of it, is quite precarious. And who would desiro to boo it making claims no higher, 4 Vi a n 4 /-? l\/i A1?A<! <> lil a vuau iu uu uuiioiuut uu u iuiui uuiu aeadoojy, or ft decent, high school? It is true tho Institution lias suttcied greatly, terribly, from tho effects of the war. As before remarked she way stripped of her students und despoiled of her endowmonts. To-day ( lie is weak in numbers and destitute of means. But notwithstanding those facts are so, her condition, though precarious, is not desperate or eveu hopeless. But one thing is necessary to insure her a long life ot prosperity and usefulness?but one thing is necessary to restore her to provioue glory?but ono tbing necessary to make her even transcend tho utmost of ber former achievements? and a simple thing, hear it; it is efl'urt, efljrt, effort. Let this but bo pat forth, combinod effort, earnest effort, . coatinr >d effort, and all will be well witb <10 College, iler destiny i* in the iindB of her friends?it ia but for tb m to do and she lives?to neglect, a d she diet. Now, who are the lriends of the t i.A \^uucge, wuu uro ui oiiuuiu uu inter? ostcd in her welfare ? .Let us search them out, that we may Bay a word lo them. These may be divided into three classes, the first of which we will make to include the founders of the Institution, and by these wo mean the members, whoever, and wherevei they now may be, of the "Assocint* lioformed Synod of the South.' These should be deeply interested ir the welfare - of the Institution foi throe reasons? 1st. Simply because .they are iti founders. And it would be strange were tbey not interested in it, io: this, if tor no other reason. It wouh DO contrary 10 ido promptings o human nature?indeed, to well know princ'ples existing in tho heart. Man is the projector ot scheme* the originator of thought, the erocto of strtxctQi'.es. And having schemed having thought, having bUilded, h Jovos ; tcf see his schemes prevai bis thoughts to live, his buildings t endure. And what is his idea in all thi perpetuation ? He desires to exist i thcr memory of his fellow men?-1: -<rlShs8 to be ftriewn rfed thought .( by nations yet to be born?he strug in ndmA' av>H fair W/ U DUDUUVI MM IV UMUIV HUU M?UJ through coil title*# ages to the peopi Jiving pon the very verger, of etei ntty. Illustrative of this principle, in tt bosom of man, is hie bequeathing 1 his children, portrhlta &hd heir-loon and mementoes? his bai)diog oi ca ties, palaces**od temples?his orectic of monarfients, obelisks and pyramid Is this akin to tbo principle in his' naturo which irrospcctivo of rovola-J iiou Buggcbts to him thoughts oi a! life beyond the grave?which makes j him long for immortality; to live j through tbo ceaseless ages of coaselcss | time? If bo, ie it not harmless, innocent, commendable, indeed, to bo fostorcd, nourished and cherished '! Would it not bo strango if the principle rofcrreiLtp, failed to prompt the founders of turn Institution, to effort to perpetuus it? Is it not their duty to fostcrtjjho principle by acting upon it, and exert tbemsolvos to the utmost to perpetuato tbo Institution as a monument of the goodness and wisdom of 1?^founders. 2d. This class Bhould exort themselvos to porpetuato the Institution for tliAre of the cause of education. Mtuiwprayors wore offered, much moneWoxpended and timo consumed in founding and in nursing the CollegeJjhrougli tbo brief years of its pastKxistcncc. We huvo scon that it mis accomplished much good alrcaW *D P,acinS ^oon ?f a finisho,^Slucation within the rcach of many ydlng men, and probably ot many vg^o but for it, would have gone uneducated. Its buildings are ail standkff and in good repair?its fencings ^otect its enclosure?its libraries are l in its shelves?its apparatus within its labratories?its teleseopo swinging in mid air?all are in trim for a bril? i Hunt career in tbo future. Nothing 0 I is lacking but effort, effort, effort, i For luck of thiB, will this body of ! Christians, I should say Christian in inj isters, squander the investments in ; theso buildings and their parapher? ! nalia?betray want of proper appreciation of the infmilc blessings of mental culiuro, and doom thousands of the indigent and the weak in pecuniary means to groBB ignoianeo und its attendunt curses? Can such a j thought bo entertained of a body of j men, whose province it is to teach : from the sacred dt-tk, the lesson, that | effort belongs to man, that it is enjoined upon him, that ho would be j miserable without it?of a body of men, who themselves are in the lull enjoyment of the blessings of intellectual training and many of them illustrate in their own persons the peculiar advantages of this very Institution in conferring theso blessings. From this body ot mon may effort not be expected ? Is it not now being put forth ? Will it not bo earnest judicious and long continued? But a third reason why the founders of tbo Instittltiju should exerl themselves for ils perpetuation if | urawu iiuiu coijsiuoiuuuiim 01 gouu it j tho church to which they belong, i From the first tho Iustitution hai i been a liberal feeder to tho pulpit o I tho "Associate Jtoforraod Douomina 1 i tiou of the South.Thus far, by odds i more of her graduates liavo gone int< ! j the ministry, than to any other om 1 I profession. Of these a fraction i I mere fraction, has gone to other sects ] Tho great body of these minister now fill the pulpits of tho Synoi 1 founding the Institution. The Col lege has contributed immonso powe to this Sypod. It has swelled the lie 9 of the "Associate Reformed minister! ' and through the ministers of its ow 1 graduation, it baB doubtless adde greatly to $fae numerical strength c the denomination itself. ti Bat for this Institution with il , constant adjuncfp the Theoiogici r Seminary, which could not ha\ l( existed for a moment independent < e the College, whore would this pow< to the Synod, this list to the ministr; o this atrohgth to tho denominatio havo come from ? Would those gra< iB uates h&ve been educated rn otb< n and expensive Colleges ? Would the ie have befen trained in other And dil )f forent Seminaries? And if educate r? in oiber Uolloges and trained in di te forent Seminaries have we any aasi [Q ranee that they vrould have flook< to the pulpits of the "Associate' K< formed Church?" Bat for thisli ie stitution with its Setiaioary, what 1 0 day would have been the condition lB this church, compared to what it ie *- Suffer tho assertion, hv v&v I T - 7 / / >n warning and with the present motiv 8, ' mode,? Upon the existence cf (hit Insi 4R tution depends the existence of the Associate Reformed Church South." 1 know that before tho founding of tho Institution tljere was an "As%oei-1 ato Reformed Church." I admit thero may bo, without tho Institution, such a church uotil tbo passiug away of tho present generation of its ministors, but j there it will ond, or shorn, of its strengin ana useiuineBH, live duc a very littlo longer. Previous to the founding of this Institution tbe number of the ministers of this denomination was Biuall, ' its worshippers few, its churchos scatUered. Sinco tlie founding of tho Institution, its ministers are more numerous, its membership increased, its i churchos multiplied. In lormer years !ii _ ?..i _r aL _l i_ ; luo niuuHiurb 01 mis cnuiuu wcru I quito adhesivo to tho tenets of tho i church?of later days thoy arc more | incliticd to affiliate "with churches i kindred in doctrine and practice, j Tho loss of tho Institution as a I feeder to tho pulpit of this denoraina(tion, wilh the prevalence of this I spirit of affiliation, will provo tho ! doatb-knoll of the church at no dis| tant day. It is an element of weak| ness, now felt or imagined in the church, that underlies the disposition to affiliate with other and stronger bodies of hut slight doctrinal differences?increase this element, and scarcely any alternative but to affiliate will bo loft. I And who would nnt. liiltArlv crrinvn at the death of a church of doctriuos so puro?of practices, so perfect?of Christians, eo holy. Wo would rejuico in the union of such a church aB a bod}', with a Bister church, but never desire to see her waste and languish and perish for tho more want of tho principle of inward vitality. Founders of ihe Institution?morabei'B of the "Associate lleforroed Synod of tho South," take tjio suggestion jiurwnaiu is wortn?ponder it auu regulate } our coudnct according to your conceptions of its merits or demerits. A second class of friends, irrespective of denomination or aect, who are or should be interested in the perpctu ation of this Institution, may be known by the name and style ot resi dent friends. And wo meaii this class to includo all those of the neighbor hood of the'College?those of Its vici nago?thoso within easy and conve, nient reach thereof. These should b< ; fast friends of the College, also, foi t lbroo reasons which may bo briefly stated." 1st. On account of past favors con ^ forrcd by the College. Because simi ply of tho contiguity of many of thii class, and this alone, thov have beei t ' ' " enabled to educate their childron They might not bavo been able, witl * other burdons resting npon them, t< have scot their Hons to distant colleges at the annual expense of sevoral bun ' dred doliara Hence these sons wouli 5 have been deprived of the benefits c 3 collogiate education. The localit; % of this College brought the advan '* tages of such an education to tbei 8 j i ?iJfi! ?- .i " ? -1 wry uuuio, uuu iu uuuitiun tu tnib ui fercd it at rates cheap and reasonabh 2d. These oducaied children are s?s' r tling around these parents, in th 1 same neighborhood, or are takin their places. These are having, c " will havo children of their own to e(j ucate; by all means keep the Colleg at your d'oors; by all moans, ava yourselves, at all events, of theoppo ts lunity of finished educations for yoi il children, at the very low ratos offor< re by this College. >f Ud. Irrespective of either of tt )r preceding considerations, the membei f, of this claBS should exert themBelvi n t.n rnt.Ain tliA f!nllnirn linnnnoA nf -J 1- influence in their neighborhood?b< sr cause of the power even of its reflect* >y tight. . . I- But because of these three reatoi id combined, the neighborhood its< f? should, if necessary or needed, contri i- ute, per annum, whatever amount tl )d College might lack to sustain itself. V a- mean that, rather than lose the ben i- fits of the College from its localit o- the neighborhood would do well of contribute whatever might be necesc i ? ry, to m^ke it a self-sustaining Insl of tution. It would pay to do this? ea would be & good investment. PI* tors of tho viajpage, hoar what i * say ! Heads of young families, consider it! Young men of the surrounding country, who nobly sustained tho war, and whose education was interrupted by its occurronco, take care that you are not in error in supposing that now an education is beyond your power, and, therefore, bavo betaken tborasolves to the plow-handlos?these 'tis true, are honorable?quite honorable?but remember, all tho more hon oraoie oy a cultivated Drain, moving between them. But a third class of friends deeply interested in the perpetuation of the College, embraces the Alumni of the Institution. Wore it necessa/y^o uso arguments to move this class to exertion in behalf of ^he Colloge?would more be necessary than to refer its members to memories of tho past ? to associations of former years ? t<J tho friendships of days never to be forgotten ? Would more be necessary than to point tbem to themselves as living moving epiBtlea^of tho advantages of tho Coilego to tho boy of modeufte moans thirsting for au education ? to the rich young gentleman desirous of a finished course away from the temptations of a crowdod university?the gross vices of a populous city ? to somo meek .believer without property or friends who longs in some way to work himself into the holy calling of the ministry ? Would more be necessary than to remind tbem of tho fact that it is their Alma Mater that needs their sympathies and helping hand '( their Mother that gave t.hom literary birth, ---that watched over their mental infancy with tho tendercst solicitude? and that would, if her precious lifo were spared, rejoice at tho rich profits the}' might reap from tho judicious application of the patrimony advanccd them? But surely, it is not necessary to waste the timo and further exhaust the patience of an already wearied aud icnce in the endeavor to urge the grad' ualcs of tho Institution to exertion in 1 i<? linhnlf Thi^v nrn nrmul nf tlin - high and distinguished ancestry of ' their Alma Mater?they have studied ' the history of her short but brilliant i career?they are well versed in her - achievements of the past?they pre * acquainted with her present imper* illed condition, they know their 3 duty?they will perform it! r To tho three elapses of friends com' bined, and to all others whom it may concern, let tho announcement bo mauo, mat upon mo cioho oi uio war, - the hideous war, that leveled with the b dust the religious and educational in3 stitutions" of the country, tho very first and paramount duty ot every 1 good citizen, irrespective of self; oi > personal eaae?of domestio comlorls > is to rebuild these institutions and re '* store them to their wonted influence i .During the war tho avenues to pie ty and education were closed to oui y sons, and ono of the saddest effects o - this tho saddest of wars, has boer v greatly to demoralize many of thes< ~ eons. These> then aro in ignorance and demoralization?it may therefori * * become us as speedily as possible, ant 6 under all risks and at any expense t< g reopen to them the churoh and ro ercc kl* ? a L /^i~l! IL ' lur bumu tuu uuiiegw. tt nuuut iu< - church and the college no people cat ? be prosperous and happy?withou '1 them the most enlightened natioi r" would sink into heathenish darkness >r or tho^grossest superstition. >d But it is asked, in our impoverishe' condition what can we do? -Wherowitl ie have we to assist ? from whence ar rB we to draw to bo enabled to give Y 38 To the Christian friend of the Inst t8 tution wo reply, " Look to the hill 3~ whence cometh all your helploo ^ to " Him who coverest himself wit light as with a garment; who atretcl ds ed out the heavens like a curtain ?)f who layeth the beam of his chambei b- in the waters; who maketh the olouc tie bis chariot; who walketh apon tfa 7e wings oi the wind; who maketh his ai e- gels spirits; his ministers a flaming fin -y, who laid thq^oundations of the eart to that \i should not be rcmovod fo ?a- ever." Bead "The" life of Trust i- ponder iU amazing a^pouncement* -it gather from its wonderful pages la n-1 sons of wisdom; learn to tnut-tl we yromitti. Study profoundly the oha actor of tho Muler of Faith ; know assuredly that be was not worth adollar ?that he asked not mortal man for a dollar : yet that ho rearod near Bristol, England, throe massive structures of coBtly materials, of modern style ; of every convenience and appliance and that in these buildings he housed, fod, clothed, educated and Christianized between one thousand and twelve hundred helpless orphans. To whom uia no go lor luo means to iouna, build and sustain this immonse establishment? To "Him who^looketh upon the oarth, and it trembleth ; who toucheth the hills, and thoy smoke"?to Him simply who is the hearer and answoror of prayer. ' Gaze then upon this trustful man, as be stands on Ashley Down with t' freo ot faith, from the smallest of soeds, shooting its roots deep into bis heart, springing from his bosom, sproading its boughs outward, and a thousand little or piiuiJH nestling unacr iuj loaves, gamboling amongst its branches, aiuj. feeding upon its fruit. Friends of Egskine College, can you do nothing to perpetuate its name and usefulness? In many ways you can do much, of your own substance, poor fts you fool yourselves to be, yon can do much. For tho asking you can get much from others. You can rocommend tho claims of tho Colloge, you can point students to her door. Cbiistian triends of the institution, you can pray for her prosperity, you can ask for her an alms frotn the "Father of Lights, from whom coraeth down every good and perfect gift, with whom thore is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." And now, friends of tho College, ono and all, let us to pur posts and to duty, and' Ike-Institution of our love will live?its future career will be long and brilliant, and its increased usefulness will shed many, many bright blessings upon society and the world. Alumni of Erskine?in Closing, a word especially to you.# Our Alma Mater, as you have heard, bus graduated twenty classes, aggrogating two hundred and seventy-six All of these classes have been iuvaded by death. Of our brotherhood, seventy-six are no more j thoy hav< ceased to live; they have paic tho debt of nature; thoy have passod from time to eternity. Of these fortj died in tho usual course of the dealings of Providence, and thirty-six losi their lives in the service of their coun try, six from disease and wounds, ant thirLy in battlo. Of the twentj classes, every one,. at ono period 01 another during the struggle, bad iti representatives in tbe field. ISigh P of these suffered nothing from doath , tho whole loss falling upon the twelv ' and of the twelve; the heaviest upoi the classos of 1858 and 1860, tho ou losing little less ttfan half, the othe r just half of its numbers. f The promaturo fate of our decease* j brothers, it is our sad duty this da; j to mourn. .Let us cherish their moir 3 ory, let us respect them for their than; 0 virtues and noble traits,?especiall; j tboso who poured out their life's bloo 3 in support of the "lost cause." lit t them bo remembered for their patrio 0 iam, their gallantry, their devotion t 1 the uternal principles of right an t jastico .which underlay the great rev a oiution. , Dropping a tear upon the graves < all, and forgetting tbe bitter, bitU j past, let us look hopefully and praye j fally to the future. 0 * ** FABK WORK FOB AUGUtf. The lateness of the Spring hi !" thrown farm-work much oohir 18 where it usually is at this season i k the year. From tbe succession of lai h springs, we are led to infer that ot 1# seasons are rapidly undergoing chango. Oar oldest inbnbitants cn > easily remember when corn was plai ?n T^aKwita?ir TTaviAna KsnAf nAfl/ w WVI 1M A'wiwwijr* V ?**?? - 'TU""'"**"" Is have been offered for tbis cnSnge, i l0 for example tbat all the woodland hi ^ been cut down, or tbat the Gu Stream is romoving furibur eaut,< tbat Borne changos aro taking place b the Arotio Ocean, &o., bat with th r- we arlrnot at proaent conoorned. ? Cotton baa not yet all been la ' by, and when the ploughs are p ' into it, they should be very careful *' bandied bo aa nob to break tl W branches or Btir the groapd too mm K about the roots. Grass should still *1 +. kept down, though the cotton has in most places oatgrown it. In Greece* and southern Italy, it is the custom of farmers to top the cotton so as to stop its growth, and bring it to bearing soonor, so that a full crop might bo had before tho early frost. "We have never seen this tried here, but would bo glad if some would experiment on it. As tho.bolls ripen, have the cotton pickod as soon as a hand can pick 40 or 50 lbs. a day, as this quality of cotton brings the highest prioe in the market. This is the month for fodder palling. All who can save hay should do it in preference, as fodder pulling is the most uscIobb part of farm-work; for if the corn is left, to ripen with the blades untouched, it .will weigh as many pounds as the corn and fodder together, if tho latter be gathered. F armers should therefore give partio ular attention to raising grasses, and let foddor go. Where the corn is small, cut up the corn at the root and dry for long forage. Sweet Potatoes, such aa have not beon laid by, ought to receive one last deep working Keep grass down until the vines cover the ground. Ground-peas ought to be earthed up ana mia dy. covering vuw uiu?? soma as they appear, increases their productivenees! As you now have a little loisuro time, pay attention to getting your barns and gin-houaea ready for the approaching harvest. Haul up and house wood for winter. Work on your compost heaps for grain land. Break up for wheat, &c. In fact a great variety of work presents itself.?Farm aud Garden. ? ^ The following ia the platform adopted la th? South Carolina Radical Convention, now aitting in Columbia: 1. That in order to make the labour of all our loyal fallow-citizen* more effectual for carrying out the provisions of Congress, for the rsstoration of law aud order iu our State, aa well u for the peace and prosperity of our entire country, we, the people of South Carolina, do form ourselves into a political organization, to be at? TT_ n Known m ilia vuiuu nrjiuuiicnu {iwi'jr ui Sou ill Carolina. 2. That as republican institutions cannot be preferred unless intelligence be generally diffused among all classes, we will favor a uniform system of free tchoola and colleges, which shall be open to all. ' 3. That we will favor a liberal system of public improvement, such as railroads, canals and other works, and also such a system of \ awarding contracts for the same as will give all our fellow-citizcns an equal and fair chance to shttre iuthein. i 4. That as large land monopolies tend only to make the rich richer and the poor poorer, and are ruinous to the agricultural, commerr' cial and social interests of the State, the Legis| lature ahould offer every practical inducement for the division and aale of unoccupied lauds among the poorer classes, and as an euconragej ment to immigrants to settle in our State. 5. That the interests of the State demand a * revision of the entire code of laws and the ro| organization of the courts. o. j nut it ib just* auu jiruper uiui# imcs r should bo ad valorem, aud proportioned to ths . property of tbe citizeus. 7. That tbe ballot being the surest safeguard ^ of the rights of the citizen, all executive and . legislative officers of the State should be elected . by the people ; therefore, ' Resolved, That in our opinion a purely repnb* 7 lican government iayaintained only by making our rulers responsfl? directly to the people by frequent elections?not by the Legislature, but 9 by the people themselves; therefore, t Resolved, That the delegates we shall send to the Constitutional Convention about to be called ; by the Commanding General, be instructed to so frame our new constitution that the Governor and Counoil, Senators and Representatives of n the State Legislature, and all eubordinate officers, except thoee of the judioiary department, he chosen by the people, lo hold their respective T offices, not for two years, but for oue year ; and th*t in the election of President and Vice.Presi dent or the United Bute*, chosen every roar 3 year*, the eleetort, as they are now in every ~ other State in the Union, shall be choeen by the ' people directly, and not by the members of the I- Legislature. y 8. That the poor arid destitute, those aged * and lufirm people, houseless and hemeleee, and y past labor, who hare none to cars for them, d should be provided for at the expense of the State ; and tbnt, in the reconstruction of our >t government, we will see to it that they are not I. neglected and forgotten. 9. That the unhappy polioy panned by An0 drew Johnson is, in its effects upon loyal people d of theSouth, adjust, oppressive, end intolerable^; and accordingly, however ardently we desire to ~ see our 8tate onee restored to iU proper position in the Union, we wonld Jeplore rest6r?tion on any ? other conditions then those prescribed by the 31 Fortieth Congress^ to which we give our cordial )r and entire sanction, believing the priociplee enunciated by the Republican party, through * that Congress, to be just ana wise. 10. That the adv?r?? discrimination toward* the agricultural laborers of Uia Southern States, aa manifested by the enormous tax on ootton. ia unjust and oppressive, and ahoald be 18 abrogated at the earliest practicable moment, j II. That we sincerely axult in ibe faet that as a uation, we are now absolutely a nation, of freemen, and tbat'from the St. Lawrenoe to Le the Rio Grande, and from the Atlantic to tha ir. Pacific, the sun no longer ahiaee upon the brow ft of a slave. 12. Tbat a wise care for the public safety sometimes renders it necessary that those who n* have sought resolutely to overthrow a governSB aaent shonld'oot hastily be restored to Uie privlg ileges of whioh they have deprived themaelvea lg by their crime of treason?certainly not unto w they have shown evidence of sincere repentauos, 111 and a disposition as energetically to support as iiiisy nmvo iu nines jmnt- suu^iib iu urtnujr mo [q Union ; and that we consider willingutsa on the jg part of these men lo elevate to power the men who preserved unswerving adhereuoe to the gov* ., ernmeut during the war, as the best of sineerity in prorsesioa* for the falare. at IS. That we wi'l sot .support any candidate ly fer office who will net openly indorse the prlakg eiplea adopted by the Vntoo Republican party; ? and that we ptaage oarselvee to stand by the regular nomiuattoaa of the party, without any 80 reeenratiou whatever.