Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, August 27, 1852, Image 2
Cuba.?Wo learn by a gcntlcmon from Ha- J
vam. :'nt on the ."?! iusr.. fifteen persons, all
r v ... ::i; ; v.1 .it tiiat city, of whom H-n
at?. i:i: .?* -. aii.] :;\o It*i?isiiv.-s. Iii their dwellings j
were discovered 10,000 eat ridges, 12 demijohns ]
of powder, and 20 arrobs (500 lbs.) of lead. It 1
is said that this discovery is but a priming of |
wli.it rcniaius undiscovered in the interior of the ;
15-.UIU.
0:. ;lio 7lh the arrrested parties were examined,
and three of them sent to the Cabanas fortification*
During the week ending August 14, a good
many young men were arrested, and others invi
ted to go to Spain. They will be permitted to
return when they obtain a diploma of loyalty.?
These events created quite a stir in the government
office, and evidences of alarm.
On the 2Gtli July, No. 3 of the revolutionary
paper called "La Voz del Pueblo," Organo do la
Idependencia, [Voice of the People, organ of Independence]
was published, in spite of the utmost
efforts of the goverment to discover its origin
and authorship. Other handbills, we understand,
were making their appearance from lime
to time, of a very incendiary character, and the .
government were unable to prevent it, notwithstanding
all the efforts of the Police, ard the
offer of a large reward for the discovery of the
perpetrators. No. 3 of the 41 Voice" is before us.
It is a small sheet, say 12 inches by 12, and
printed only on one side. Conspicuous at the
top is a lone star, which we presume would like
to belong to a constellatiou. We translate a
few paragraphs as as follows:
" We have before us a dsepatcli from the Lieut.
Governor of Cardenas, Don Manuel Hector, directed
to the land owners, merchants, and other
capitalists of his jurisdiction, asking them to contribute
as much as their patriotism dictates, fur
the construction of a prison in that town as a
larger one than the present is required.?and
Mr. Hector expects to gain celebrity by procuring
it to be built. This act, of itself, is sufficient
to show to the people of Cuba and foreign
nations the situation to which Cubans are
reduced, and what they owe to their 'paternal'
government. Prisons, scaffolds, and banishments;
such is the gubernative system of our unfortunate
country.
" We do not doubt that in Cardenas, and indeed
in the capitals of all the depart incuts of I
this island, new prisons are needed?for the j
vast prison of this capital is so full ofimmates,
innocent or guilty, now, that they have scarcely
room to stand up; and the government, far from
making the people more moral, by establishing
institutions of education, and houses of beneii-1
ence for the orphans and beggars who roam
about our streets, is expending a still larger sum
in the construction of prisons, barracks, and
forts ; for tyranny does not rule without terror,
and can only be sustained by military and inquisitorial
power, exercised against defenceless
subjects.
"Doubtless Mr. Ilector will bo able to realise
his desire, and receive considerable sums to carry
into effect his project of a prison; but the
Cuban people, who are one and all watching
the vandal acts of their Government, will have
an account to settle with Mr. Hector and the
individuals
f antl|"i jif ti|p| | 'p.. are asked to contribute*
? r for the construction of a prison in which they
are to be incarcerated?to-morrow they will be
obliged to erect the scaffold on which they arc
to be immolated.?N. Y. Journal of Commerce.
Correspondence of the Charleston Courier.
Washington, August 20.
The weather is becoming again very sultry.?
Our citizens who left the watering places in the
cool and rainy weather, may now wish themselves
back. There has never been a season of so much
travel, in every direction, as the present summer.
Some years ago citizens of the South were to patronize
their own Springs. It is believed that
they have done so; but there were never half as
many Southern people at Northern watering
places before. The facilities and temptations to
travel, and the abundance of money, were never
so great as at present.
Some of the Northern papers are speculating j
upon the subject of the financial condition of the
country, and some persons predict a great and
sudden financial reverse. Though importations
are falling off a little, in comparison with the last
year, yet it is snown tnat me amount 01 our indebtedness
abroad is greatly increased. We have
sent away our gold at the rate of about fiftyeight
millions a year. Our best stocks are gone, and
individual "debts to a large amount have been
contracted. All the commodities that foreign
nations would take from us have gone. As to
the grain and flour the amount of ex port at ions
are diminishing, not increasing, and the production
does not much exceed the wants of the. county.
The amount of paper currency is swelled far
beyond the example of any former times, and far!
beyond the limits supposed to be safe. Specie j
forms hardly any part of the currency, and no-;
thiriLC but paper is to bo sc<*n. The inflation of
the currency is followed by a great increase in
tbo value of real estate, and of the Cost of all ar- j
tides of ordinary consumption. It is followed,
too, by an increased extravagance of expenditure.
An extraordinary degree of activity is important
to every branch of business, and public and private
enterprises and improvements of all kinds
are prosecuted without regard to cost. The tendency
is to still further inflation, and it must go
on till the bubble shall burst. It may go on,
however, for some time; some say one and others <
two years, without interruption.
The subject of the acquisition of the Sandwich 1
Islands is much talked of. It may he that the 1
President will not feel himself at liberty to give 1
the information that has been called for, at any J
time during the present session. The policy of 4
the administration on this subject was disclosed I
in the 1 'resident'sMessage at the opening of the <
? t 4i... /.fii... ,
OTi?iuil. H# UH5 JHU' l?;Huruv,v> "I i in: |
Islands and give them protection from any fur- I
eign power is tlio object of Mr. Filhnore. lie I
iitterpo^ d to protect tliein from France. ncgo- '
tiations with France on tliis subject, are proba- i
bly now* going on. II she keeps her hands oil I
from the Islands no other foreign power will molest
them. But we cannot dissuade France from
taking possession of the Islands if wo attempt to 1
acquire them ourselves. Imprudent steps oil this s
subject might, bring about a maritime war with I
France, and away would bo swept our commerce i
on the Pacific and tho sources of the gold trade, r
and the basis of prosj>ority. a
Highly- Ixterestino from Havana.?The
L . S. mail steamship Crescent City, Capt. Porter,
arrived at New-York, on Wednesday night,
18tli instant, from New-Orleans, via Havana.
She remained at the latter port twenty-one hours,
notwithstanding which she made tin.; run in sixdays
and eight hours, being the <|tiickest running
time on record. The Crescent City brings one
hundred and twenty j>assen^fc|^i ty of whom
arc ironi jja\au;i. >
Hates from Havana arc to the 13th instant, at
wliich time tlie greatest possible excitement existed
among the population in consequence of the
daily committal of a large number of Creoles to
prison.
So great is the number of tbose already incar
cerated that it has been found necessary, in order
to accommodate them, to bring into use prisons
that have been untenanted for twenty years'. Indeed,
the most loathsome dungeons are said to '
have been brought into requisition for the safe- J
keeping of those that are considered the most
refractory and dangerous.
Notwithstanding all this exertion to put down
the opponents of the government, proclamations
continue to he issued from a quarter that baffled
all the ingenuity of the police. A secret press
managed to supply the exciting seditious articles,
and the government was unable to discover it.
The consequence of all this is that most rigorous
measures are instituted on the part of the
government, and many innocent people are made
to suffer. Almost e.\ery Creole family is under
the surveillance of the police. Female privacy
is disregarded, and, altogether, a very unhappy
state of affairs reign in Havana.
The Havana papers, winch are mostly nneci i
with proclamations of a local character, say notli-1
ing about the arrests. They endeavor to keep |
the transactions a secret. In fact, they do not
contain a line of news of any kind.
Yellow fever, cholera and small pox prevailed
to a great extent, and almost every ship in the
harbor had some eases of the fever. Out of one
company of 120 soldiers, 110 had died, and in a
chain gang of 109 there died 100.
The government were sending the troops to the
country. The sickness was chiefly outside the
walls of the city. The city was shrouded in
gloom when the C. C. left.
Steamhoat Collision?Two IIcxdred and
Fifty Lives Lost?Erie N. Y., August 20.?
The steamer Atlantic last night came in collission
with the propeller Ogdeiisbnrg, and sunk in a
half hour. There was a dense fog prevailing at
the time.
The Atlantic had on board an immense number
of passengers, and it is estimated that .about
230 of them perished?chiefly Norwegian emigrants.
Whcn^he collision took place the passengers
were all in bed. and the utmost consternation
ensued, especially among the steerage
passengers, many of them jumping overboard.
The emigrants, who could not speak a word
of English, or understood a word spoken to them,
added to the horror of the scene by their cries
of terror.
The cabin passengers, and those who could
understand the exhortations of the Captain were
comparatively calm, and 1 provided^Ihe.maejvej
. ^~.V\rr- T * i u.... V ,
I ??1 11. IJ L IIIU jHt'Ct'MCISf a II 1(1 II UvJI UL'llI^ Ull IMJtllU
the boat; were saved. The emigrants jumped
oveilloard in their terror, and rushed to certain
death.
The water gained very rapidly, and the fires
were soon extinguished, tiie beat sinking amid
a scene of the must terrible and heart rending,
Confusion. At half-past 2 o'clock, amid the
wildest shrieks from a thousand voices, the boat
settled and sunk.
The officers of die propeller Ogdcnsburg did
all in their power to preserve the lives of the
hundreds of human being struggling in the
waves, and many were rescin d? The whole
number picked up by the propeller was'250, and
they were taken to Erie. A large number of
tln--e left at once on board the steamer Sultana
tor Cleveland, and others came down in the cars
for this city. They, of course, lost every tiling,
and most of them are completely destitute and
homeless, at the same time mourning the loss of
friends and relatives.
The whole number lost is estimated bv some
to be not less than 300. A large number ol
bodies had already been washed ashore.
The Ogdcnsburg is considerably damaged,
le:ik*inrr Jvnllr litil in itnifimr ?.? lwn-f
r?' 'v,"b vv" I"-"1with
the remainder ot the Atlantic's passengers.
The steamer Clayton was immediately despatched
to the wreck, to save the property of
the passengers.
IIow thev Tueated Him.?In this city is an
honest mulatto man we wot of named Jack. lie
lived very quietly, and as ha >pily as falls to the
lot of most mortals, lor about two score years, in
the state of Onesimus. Jack is a preacher of
moderate abilities among his colored brethren.
In the last year or two he was seized with the
progressive spirit of the age, and bought himself
at a nominal price.
Not experiencing a ri<e at home corresponding
to his new relations, Jack concluded last,
spring to take a trip to the "Norurd." And to
tlic North he went. He had never seen any of
liii friends there, but. bad beard a <rrr>nt ile-il ,.t"
their love and sympathy for the black man and
the freed man, and lie looked for a reception
very cordial?almost amounting; to an ovation.
Jack has returned quite chap-fallen. His account
of his trip to the "Nnrurd" is doleful.?
1 hose from whom lie expected greetings and
hospitalities, and a great shaking of hands,
'didn't come a-nigh." He, couldn't find the
'oiks that had done all that beautiful talking,
lie did edge his way into one or two pulpits.
Hut then," says he, "they wouldn't allow me to
Lake up a collection." As for caste and cold
-boulders and all that, Jack found it to increase
iivtty much in proportion with the ascent in ,
atitude. We give, in his own words, the whole ;
listory of his reception by his Northern friends : ,
'They chori/cd me like a white man and treated
tie like a nigger, and that way o'doing ain't
air."?0. Christian Advocate. i
The Washington corresnond. nt of the n.ilii- <
nore Sun under date of the 10th insl. says: "The I .
trenglh of the French Spoliation lijll in tlir? [ T
louse was tested to-day on a motion (<> take il
ip. The result is that it was defeated hv a ve- r
y small majority, whioli seems to a (lord some s
insurance that the hill ultimately pass. ' j
THE SEMLWEEKLY JOURNAL.
FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 27, 1852.
THO. J. WARREN, Editor.
??TWc arc a little ahead of time in our outside date.
It should be August 27.
Our Town.
We are happy to state that the health of our Town
has been, aud continues to be, good. There arc but
few cases of sickness, and none that we are advised of
of a serious character.
Broom Factory.
Wo desire to call attention to the advertisement of
Mr. T. C. Dutton", (a blind youth) who has established
a Ilroom Factory, one door above the Post-Office,
where he is now making brooms for sale. We have
recently visited the place, and have seen the modus
operandi, and feel prepared to say that the brooms
which he makes, in point of service and durability, will
compare with any bought and sold in this market.
Wc hope that he will meet with sufficient encouragement
from the good people of our town and vicinity,
to warrant him in continuing tlio business. It is his
only means of support, and surely lie will be patronized.
Tie does not ask our charity, but will give an
equivalent for all ho receives.
QaM%ath Srhnnls.
It is not ordinarily expected that scculnrjournals aro
to be constant in their advocacy of the claims ofRoli
gion and kindred matters, which by universal consent,
have been confided to those publications which repr0_
sent the different classes of christians in our country.
Notwithstanding these things aro in able hands, yet
the press is in duty bound to aid in all moral enterprises
which look to the goodaof society, and the common
benefit of all.
We have thought proper to devote a paragraph or
two to-day, to the subject of the moral instruction of
the young. It is not for us to attempt to enlighten
those whose age and experience better fits theni as our
instructors in such things, but we may bo able to do
some good by calling attention to the subject, and if so,
we shall feel glad that we have undertaken the task.
There is much more importance to be attached to this
branch of education, than, we fear, many are apt to
think. Indeed we regard religious instruction, and
moral teachings, as the very basis upon which to build
a thorough education, and the foundation of a useful
and practical life?as absolutely indispensable to the
bringing up of the youth of our country, and in perpetuating
the principles of virtue, truth and justice, inculcated
in the doctrines of our civil and religious liberties.
Wo are plainly taught in the divine law that
"righteousness will exalt a nation, but that sin is a
reproach to any people." These are words of vast import,
and are sanctioned by a law higher than ali other
law. How can our nation be exalted unless we acknowledge
the authority of Him who is above all, and
greater than all? No nation or pooplc can expect to
be blessed or happy who have not the fear of God before
their eyes. We have only to look to those nations
and countries where religious teachings are shut out
from the minds of the young, to see the miserable
effects of tliisLeross sin in all its hidcousncss in thcdif?..cm
pnasog anil ???? at- -,r mrmuii cnaractor.
Those whoso minds have been blinded by the errors
of ignorance and superstition, until they believe a
lie, and arc prepared to receive the most absurd and
gross perversions of flicts as religious truths.
We have much danger to apprehend in this country,
from influences which are insidiously at work, and wc
fear-may yet give us much trouble.
All moral pcrsonsns well as christians, should be moro
zealously concerned in the things which affect our
dearest interests here, and hereafter, and we are bound
to east our influence into the scale which will weigh
for the common good.
Sabbath Schools, when property conducted, aro the
most effective means for properly instructing the young;
here lessons of religious truth arc imparted, which may
never be forgotten?upon the fair tablet of many young
hearts maxims of virtue are so indelibly impressed that
neither time nor age can efface them.
Let us contemplate this subject?take it to ourselves,
and view it in all its parts and bearings?as
christians, calculate its vast importance, and the effects
which aro to tell in all time to come. Let us ask
ourselves the question, have wc done our duty? Arc
we doing our duty? What excuse is there tbr us? Let
us examine ourselves, that we may be able to give unto
all who may ask, a reason for the faith that is in us.
Wc intend to revert to this subject again.
Lady's Book.
Oodey, for September, is at band, and as usual, is
interesting, and bard to beat.
Wo loam from the .Savannah Xews that a
circular was published in Macon ou Monday evening
signed by tho Kxocutive Coinmittee of the Union Tarty,
withdrawing tlio electoral ticket put in nomination
by that party at its late Convention at Milledgeville.
The same circular calls a meeting of the Union Whigs
and Democrats of Georgia, to be held at Atlanta on
tho 18th of December, to determine what course this
party will pursue in future.
I.XCRKASK ok IXTKMI'kkaxl'e IX liOSTOX.?TllCUnited
testimony of tho watch department is, that there was
never so much drunkenness at night in Boston as at the
present time. On Tuesday night, 17th, B.'t drunken
persons were conveyed to the dillorent watch-houses,
and calls wore made upon watchmen toipiell numerous
drunken rows in dill'ereut parts ol the city.
North Oaromxa.?Full returns ol'the recent election
have been received, and the result is the election
of David S. Ueid, the Democratic candidate, by nearly
(1000 majority. In the Legislature, tho Democrats
have 27 .Senators, and llie Whigs 2."!. In the House,
tho Democrats f>8, and tlio Whigs (12, making a tie on
joint ballot. Some offhu Whig members arc known I
to l)o opposed to (It'll. Scott, and tlie Kaleigh Standard I
says that ono thing may he set down as certain?no
Scott Whig can bo elected to the United States Senate
by the ensuing Legislature.
Grkat Dkjkx'Katic Mass Meeting.?At the mass
mooting at Hillsborough, N. 11., t2f>,U00 persons arc
said to have been present. Hen. l'iereo presided, and I
Jo v. Seymour, of Conn., Senator Dix, Col. Clemens, ofj
iVln., and other persons of distinction auurcsseu tno
Meeting.
Among the appropriations embraced in tlio River
uul FI.iri>or l?ill which has passed tho Senate, is one of
,*.'1,000 for the survey of the harbor of Georgetown, i
3. C.
For the Camden Journal. ^
Mr. Editor : Tn your paper of this date, I am J
requested to answer three interrogatories, bearing
upon questions of grave consequence to the State
of South Carolina. 1
tire haw nr titf stats. '
As a citizen of the State, entirely unbiassed by
party trammels, I have been an interested, but dis- ,
passionate observer, of that vigorous and able at- |
tack, of which the Iiank of the State has been the ,
subject, since 1843. I confess, I have never been
able to perceive the benefits to be derived to the
State, by adopting the measures of the Anti-Bank
party. J have never been able to divest myself of
the opinion, that any measure, hitherto proposed
for the discontinuance of the Bank, would lead to
infinitely greater mischiefs, than could result from
an adherence to the Hank system. I have apprehended
disastrous results to the financial and
commercial interests of the State, as likely to ensue
upon the abrogation of the functions of the
Bank of the State. I have esteemed it as part of
a system which would be deranged in all its parts,
by the destruction of this one great constituent.
On the other hand, I have been convinced that
the Bank has boon a valuable financial agent, profitably
employingihe funds of the State; disbursing
them with reasonable fidelity ; sustaining the
faith and credit of the State; affording a most reliable
circulating medium; with a beneficent but
not improvident hand affording any accommodations
to a large portion of our people. I am satisfied
that the operations of the Bank have been to
the public advantage. Hence I am" in favor of
the Hunk <f the State."
But I am no blind partisan of the Bank of the
State?I can feel the force of many of the objections
to such an institution, urged on general
grounds of public policy. I regard them, however,
as ajijilicatde rather to the question of the establishment
of a State Bank in the first instance than to
that of a re-charter. I think the Bank of the State
in its management, as little amenable to censure.
| as any other institution of the same character that
I ever existed. It is not perfect; nor is anything
else, created and administered by human agents.
To this may be added the fact, that many of the
grounds of complaint against the management of
the Bank, either do not now exist, or have been
so f.ir modified as to cease to be objectionable.
If I am elected to the Legislature, I will, if the
opportunity presents itself, vote for a re-charter of
the Bank, and will oppose the measure presented
at the last session, fur the discontinuance of the
Branch at Camden. If banking facilities are de!
sired elsewhere, let them be sought otherwise than
at the expense of the classic oid Town ot Camden.
That her commercial importance has. as
yet, materially diminished, is a mere pretence,
which weed never be tiue, if her wealth, enterprize
and other advantages are properly directed.
TIIF. ELECTORAL QUESTION
Comes next in order, and presents a subject
upon which the Legislature of the State has been
much divided. We have usually considered this
.State as differing in character and policy from all
our sisters in the confederacy, and have llattercd
ourselves that we had greatly the advantage of
them in these respects. South Carolinians have
claimed to be a peculiar people?united at home,
respected abroad?proud, generous, high-spirited,
chivalric, intelligent. These supposed ndvanta- j
ges have hern attributed to the peculiar features
in our State Constitution, which provides for a
representation of taxation or property in the popular
branch of the Legislature, equal to that of,
i population, and al.-o n--igns to each election Dis- [
tricf, including the Parishes, one representative in i
! the s,mate.,Olid two to Chariest""?The Leglsj
future, in other words, are the representatives, not
I alone of population, but equally so of taxation, in
I the House of Representatives ;"and in the Senate,
i are controlled by the preponderance of a geographical
representation trom the Low Country.
The operation of this peculiar Constitution, is to
I lessen the importance, in the body politic, of the
people, as such. To this I am inclined to attribute
the fact that we alone have adhered to a I
different mode of Meeting the Electors of Presi- J
dent and Vic President, from that which obtains
in any other State. The people are not sufficiently
elevated in this State in political consideration,
and it is to our interest to give them more importance.
When t-elate election for members of the State
Convention was held, but few of the people of the
State rennired to the Dolls, and n convention was
j elected, pledged (.<o far as they were pledged) to |
J secession, when tin1 people of tlip State, as such, j
! were by a large majority opposed to secession. I
j But, for the expedient resorted to of arriving at;
I (lie popular will. !>v bringing uj? the question col-1
j laterally, it is ditiicult to conceive of a position j
[ more embarrassing than that into which the State I
! would have hetn thrown. The constituted au-'
j thorities of the State were in favor of secession? :
i the people were against it. Such a state of things !
| could not have occurred in a government strictlv j
popular. But I am no innovator, with ruthless
hands to demolish this fabric of concurrent majorities,
so greatly admired bv the revered and lamented
Calhoun. I only mention the subject as
an introduction to my reasons for being in favor
of giving the election of Electors to the people.
One of the principal objections to this alteration is,
that popular elections are (fangorous and corrupting
in their character, and should not he multiplied.
This, if true, is only so because of tho incapacity
of the people of our country for soil-government, i
and to admit that they are incapable would be to
declare our whole system of government wrong in
theory and in practice, and it should he abolished.
Another objection is that it would violate the 1
principles upon which our State Constitution is I
based. But this is a fallacy. I take it that the j
i,?T tlir? I 7 tif* <) Sfufpc ic unt thit mnrn
1 I'l'XIIi'lli ui v.iMvu ?*
tentative of tlio Stairs as organized communities, i
Imt is. or rather is intended to he, the representa-! 1
tive or agent of llio People of the several Slates, 1
as such, it) their sovereign rapacity. If this is a j 1
sound view, and I am satisfied that it is, there is , 1
no propriety in the Legislature's electing Electors, i
and there can be no violation of the local, inter- j
nnl and peculiar principles which pervade our, ;
Stale Constitution hv tin proposed change.
The critical examination of the clause of the
Constitution of the I'nited States from which the | 1
power is derived, cannot well load to the conclu- (
sion that the Legislature should appoint Electors, j *
"Each Slate, shall appoint in such manner as the j I
legislature thereof may direct, a number if Hire- j t
tors, c) c." " State" is a term here used in contradistinction
from "the Legislature thereof"?|
The former shall appoint, the latter direct the man- j
ner in which the appointment shall he made.
Hut there are other reasons for this change.? j *
The Presidential Electors are required to bo elec-1 h
ted on the same day in every Slate in the Union, j n
*' t . i | _ I ,
This occurs in the lirst week in wovemuer, wince i j,
onr Legislature assembles on the fourth Monday ! a
in November. lichee tho Legislature must as- ^
semhle specially, to vote for Presidential Electors,
an operation at once, inconvenient, unseemly and 0
expensive. I have hern told that ?112,000 would 0
not ho an over estimate of the cost of this exer- ^
ci-e of power. n
As to the. objection that the People exercise no c,
choice in the election of President because the 0.
names ofcandidates are presented by a caucus in
all cases, I do not see that it is different under our N
present svst >in. The Legislature elects those who %v
arn known to be in favor of this or that candidate, h
who is invariably the nominee of a caucus or con
;
i
mention. . It is not a matter of discretion with
Electors whom they shall vote for, in any case,
whether elected by "the Legislature or the People.
In addition to this, I think there is a deplorable
deficiency of political knowledge existing in our
State. Few understand the system; of government
under which we live?few are acquainted
with the history of its administration even during
their own times?few are acquaintad with the po- "a
litical questions of the day, upon which the oper- -jg*
afinnc /if tlio n-nrnrnmanl r\f iUlr, A? J?
U.UUW. ...w wwii ui miogiroi tuuimy ae
pends, and few feel any interest in public affairs.
I would have all this changed?I would have our
people wise, vigilant, jealous of their rights, and %v
proud of their privileges. I would have the young " *
men of the country ambitious, energetic, bold and
self-reliant I do not anticipate these results from -Jfei
this proposed change, but it is a step towards the
elevation of the people.
THE FREE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
The State has long been al:ve to the necessity
of improving the system of public instruction, but
heretofore the subject has been involved in so fc -.j^
much difficulty, that no material-change has been
effected. It is the first duty of the fctate, in free ^
governments, to provide for the education of the '
citizen. It will not do to stop short of the accom- " *;.?
plishment of this end. The wealth of this State v-XJ
is such that it will be no burthen-to provide the . *;*j|
means of educating the poor. The only question / -*
of difficulty is as to the mode of operations. Thirty-seven
thousand dollars have been appropriated
by the State for free schools, for a number of years
past; and it is conceded that it has failed to accomplish
the good it ought to have done* In- .
deed its influence has scarcely been felt except m*)
a few localities. This is attributable, principally,- ^ -m
ta the mode of distributing the amount through- --fil
out the State. The object of the expenditure is,
to educate the children of the poor throughout the
State, and it is strange indeed that the present
mode of distributing the fund, should ever have :
been devised, singularly inapplicable as it is, to v
the object proposed. It is divided among the di? '1 ?
ferent Districts, according to representation in the
popular branch of the Legislature. One half of
the representation, I have already said, is based
upon taxation, the other half, only, upon Dopulation.
It is evident then that the "free school fund
is distributed one half according to population,
the other half according to the amount of taxable
property. It seems to me nothing can be said in % '
favor of this mode of distribution, whatever ob- tjeetions
may be urged against any other suggested.
The only mode of distribution which I deem
reasonable, is that predicated on the actual necessity.
Let a survey be made to ascertain the <
wants of the State in this respect. Let the num- .?
berof poor scholars in each District be ascertained,
and distribute the fund among the whole num- _
ber equally. I think, if necessary, that the appropriation
should be increased uutil the object of the
expenditure shall be fully met, and the means of 4
education afforded the poor. The details of a
system of public instruction are difficult to be
settled, until we have obtained results by actual
experiments, and I will not trespass longer on the .
time and attention of your readers by going at
large into a discussion of that plan which I have
submitted to the people in private conversation,
and on several occa-ions when I have had the
privilege of addressing them publicly. It is sufficient
to say that it embraces the mode of ascer- - m
taming the number ot scholars to be educated?
provides it#1 die eieuiiuu ui a \>u!iiiiii?~iuijci m
every Beat Company?establishes school limits,
and ascertains the competency of teachers. A
superintendent of Free Schools constitues one of
tin? proposed changes which I am prepared to advocate.
I do not hatter myself that I can originate
a plan of public instruction which will be
valuable in itself, but my thoughts have long been^
interested in this subject, and 1 have deemed ifc-.
my duty to advocate such measures as my judggF l
ment approves. jj
With these observations upon the questions "
proposed, I close this extended communication.
1 do not regret that this opportunity of making
known my opinions has been afforded me, since I
do not covet any position unless I am placed in it "%
after a full exposition of my principles.
Very Respacttiillv, your's.
JOSEPH B. KERSHAW. \
Camden, Aug. 17, 1852.
From the Southern Baptist. Jjf
To the Baptists of South Carolina.
The sagacity of the Roman Catholics as a
Christian denomination has mainly contributed
to their extensive spread and the catholicity of ?
their principles; and one of the strongest evidences
of that sagacity is the establishment of a
I'nivoMtv of learning at the capital of the na
tion. There meet our country's assembled , ' */*
wisdom ; and the young men there educated
cannot fail to bo thereby benefitted. There go
the sons of distinguished fathers, from every part
of the land, and naturally they seek there an
Alma Mater. Then scattered to every point of
the compass, they carry with them what they
could not, if they would, leave behind?the principles
there inculcated. The Baptists, in emuln-tion
of that laudable act, have established at
Washington a College?situated on a lofty eminence,
overlooking much of the District, a part
of Virginia, the entire city in the valley below,
Georgetown and the beautifully classic Potomac;
it rivals in location the groves of Academus. Its
buildings arc substantial and *finc; and its
grounds well iaid out; and with all these ad
\anlaces jI. languishes and declines, and why ?
heeause the denomination that incepted will not
finish; because men with well filled purses had
rather see them stuffed witn coins, than their 1
College with studehts. This will not do; there
must be an effort made, a vigorous effort, that
ivill place its permanence beyond a doubt. Let
some system to ensure this desired object bo pro->osed.
Appoint an agent for each State, and
Usees a certain amount for him to raise, and Jet
hat amount be judiciously expended in inducements
to stuacnts. Feeling a deep interest in
>ne of my Ahnrc Matres, Mr. Editor, I have
vritten in haste the above suggestions. Hoping
hat Columbian College may yet become one of
lie far famed seats of science in our happy land.
Camden, t>. C. C. A. Price.
Editorial Difficulty at Nashville Tknessek.?A
personal difficulty occurred, as wo
?iirn from the True Whir/, at Nashville, Ten.
essoo, on Friday rooming last between Gen. F[.
ZollicoiVer. editor of the Republican Banner
ud J. L. Marling, Esq., editor of the Union.?
t had its orgin in editorial discussion. They
schanged pistol shots, Gen Zollicoffer standing
u the pavement near the Tostoffice corner, and
rr. Marling on the opposite side of the street,
ear the door of the Union office. Gen. Zolli
Dtfcr received a slight flesh wound in two liners
of the right hand, and Mr. Marling was seercly,
though it is hoped, not dangerously
ouiided, l>v"a ball striking the upper part of
is cheek hone, penetrating and lodging, it is
elieved, in the cavity of the bone.
. ? - _