11. Whereas a petition has been presented to the legisla- TIT.6. ture, by sundry persons, inhabitants of the district of Beaufort, praying that certain lands in the said district, the property of A. A. 1795. the state, may be given for the purpose of erecting a college 2 Faust 65. in the town of Beaufort: College of Beaufort. 66 Be it therefore enacted, That all the confiscated property, The escheatto which the state is now entitled, in the district of Beaufort, ed and confis and all such property as hath heretofore, or may hereafter, cated properaccrue to this state, in the said district, on account of proper- ty in Beauty, which by an act, entitled, " An act to appoint escheators, fort district, and to regulate escheats," bath escheated to this state; pro- trustees who &c. vested in vided the same do not amount to more than five thousand shall have pounds sterling; and all the vacant lots in the town of Beau- certain pow. fort, shall be, and they are hereby vested in the trustees here- ers, &c. after appointed, and for the purposes herein after mentioned; and the said trustees, for the receiving and disposal of the same, are hereby vested with all the powers heretofore vested in the commissioners for selling and disposing of the confiscated estates, in the person or persons heretofore appointed escheators, in the district-aforesaid, and the commissioners heretofore appointed, for the purpose of selling the vacant lots in the town of Beaufort. 12. And be it further enacted, That the vestry of the church Power given on Port Republic Island, are hereby vested with full power to convey certo convey, in such manner as they may deem tain lands for proper, any such a site for a part of the lands which hath heretofore been appropriated for college. the use of the church, for the purpose of erecting a college thereon, and shall give the said lands such reasonable bounds as may be necessary for the same, and to use the remaining part of the lands, in which the said church hath a right, in such a manner as in their opinion will most conduce to the interests of the church. of "Trustees 13. And be it further enacted, That John Barnwell, Robert Trustees apBarnwell, William Hazard Wigg, William Elliott, Stephen pointed and Elliott, Henry Holcolmbe, Thomas Fuller, John M'Pherson, incorporated John A. Cuthbert, John Jenkins, senior, William Fripp, John by the name Bull and John M. Verdier, shall be, and are hereby appointed of the College trustees for the purposes herein mentioned; and that the said of Beaufort." trustees, and their successors, shall for ever hereafter be one body, politic and corporate, in deed and in name, by the style of Trustees of the College of Beaufort;" and by the said name shall have perpetual succession of officers and members, and a common seal, with power to change, alter and make new the same, as often as the said corporation shall judge expedient. ties. 14. And be it further enacted, That the said corporation Their corposhall be capable in law, to purchase, have, hold, receive, en- rate powers joy, possess and retain to itself, in perpetuity or for any term and capaci of years, any lands, tenements or hereditaments, or other property, of what kind or nature soever, and to sell, alien or release the same, as they shall think proper; and also, that it shall and may be lawful for said corporation to take and hold for ever, any charitable donations, devises or bequests of land or personal property, and to appropriate the same to the VOL. IIK I TIT. 6. A. A. 1795. 2 Faust 67. purposes of said corporation; and by its said name to sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, in any court of law or equity in this state: Provided nevertheless, That all such purchases, donations, devises and bequests of land or personal property shall be exclusively appropriated for the purpose of erecting and endowing a college in the town of Beaufort, and of establishing such other schools and seminaries of learning as the said corporation shall deem expedient. 15. And be it further enacted, That the said college at Beaufort be under the management and direction of the aforesaid trustees, or a quorum or board thereof, to be chosen, appointed and perpetuated as follows: The said trustees, and their successors, shall meet on the first Monday of March in every year, at the said college, or such other place in Beaufort as may be thought more convenient, between the hours of nine in the forenoon and three in the afternoon, (due and public notice thereof being given by the secretary, at least ten days before in writing,) and the major part of those so met, shall elect by ballot, a president and such other officers as they shall think necessary, for the ensuing year: The said president and officers, so chosen, shall take an oath, for the due and faithful execution of their office, to be administered to them by any judge or justice of the peace. 16. On the death, resignation or removal from the state, of any trustee, the president, or in his absence the next presiding officer, shall, within three months thereafter, cause the other trustees to be summoned to meet at the college, or such other place in Beaufort as may be thought more convenient, after a notice of ten days; and the trustees who shall meet, not less than seven being present, or a majority of those so met, shall choose by ballot, another trustee, in the place of the one so dying, resigning or removing; who shall be vested with all the powers and privileges of his predecessor. 17. And be it further enacted, That the said trustees of the college of Beaufort, or a majority of them, shall have full power and authority, from time to time to make, constitute and establish such and so many by-laws, rules and orders, as to them shall seem necessary and convenient for the better regulation, government, well ordering and directing of themselves as trustees aforesaid, as well as of the said college in Beaufort; and all officers, professors, or other persons by them employed or to be employed in and about the same, and of all students in the said college: 18. And for the better managing, limiting and appointing of all and singular the trusts and authorities in them and each of them reposed and to be reposed; and for doing, managing and transacting all things necessary for and concerning the government of the same college; and the same by-laws, rules and orders to put in force and execution accordingly; and the same again at their will and pleasure to alter, change, revoke and annul; all which by-laws, rules and orders so to be made as aforesaid, shall be binding on each and every of the said trustees, and on all officers, professors and other persons by TIT. 6. them employed, and on all students in the said college, and shall be, from time to time, by each and every of them inviolably and punctually observed, according to the tenor and ef- A. A. 1795. fect thereof, under the several pains, penalties and disabilities 2 Faust 69. therein expressed, fixed, appointed or declared: Provided, That the same shall be reasonable, and not contrary or repugnant to the laws of this state or of the Congress of the United States of America. 19. And be it further enacted, That the said trustees or so many as shall be fixed on by their by-laws as aforesaid, shall have full power, by the principal or professors of the said college, to grant or confer such degree or degrees, in the liberal arts or sciences, to any of the students of the said college, or other persons by them thought worthy thereof, as are usually granted and conferred in other colleges in Europe and America; and to give diplomas or certificates thereof, signed by them, and sealed with the common seal of the trustees of the college, to authenticate and perpetuate the memory of such graduation. 20. And be it further enacted, That no person shall be ex- No person to cluded from any privilege, immunity, office or situation in the be excluded said college, on account of his religious persuasion: Provided, on account of he demean himself in a sober, peaceable and orderly manner, his religious and conform to the rules and regulations thereof. persuasion. 21. And be it further enacted, That this act shall be deemed This act a a public act, and judicially taken notice of as such, without public act. special pleading; that the same shall be liberally construed for fully carrying into effect the beneficial purposes hereby intended; and if any person or persons shall be sued for any matter done in pursuance hereof, he, she, or they may plead the general issue, give this act and the special matter in evidence, and on discontinuance by a judgment against any plaintiff, shall recover treble costs. 22. And be it further enacted, That the said trustees shall Accurate ackeep an accurate account of all their proceedings in regard to count to be the property granted as aforesaid, which, whenever required kept. to do, they shall lay before the legislature for their informa tion. cieties to con vey certain 23. And be it further enacted, That the Beaufort and St. Power given Helena societies are hereby authorized and empowered to to certain soconvey to the trustees herein appointed, or their successors, for the purposes herein mentioned, any part or the whole of funds to the the funds now in their possession, or which they may hereaf- trustees of the ter possess, any act to the contrary notwithstanding. college. 24. Whereas the proper education of youth, has always been A. A. 1797. considered as the most certain source of the tranquillity, hap- 2Baust 185. piness and improvement of private families, states and na- Atandria tions; and all the seminaries of learning which have been es- College. tablished in the interior part of this state, being, from some fatal cause, become extinct, so that the rising youths, after obtaining a knowledge of the Latin and Greek languages, are obliged to resort to the colleges in other states, to acquire a knowledge of the arts and sciences, to fit them for future life: And the reverend Joseph Alexander having taught a gram TIT. 6. A. A. 1797. 2 Faust 186. Trustees appointed: And incorpo rated by the name of The Trustees of Alexandria College. Corporate powers and capacities. mar school for many years, near Pinckneyville, in which a considerable number of students have made great proficiency in literary education; and it being thought by many pious and public spirited men, that great advantages would result, could it receive the encouragement and sanction of a law for its establishment as a college: 25. Be it therefore enacted, That the following gentlemen be, and they are hereby appointed trustees, to wit: Joseph Alexander, James Templeton, John Simpson, Francis Cummins, Robert M'Culloh, James White Stephenson, John Brown, Robert Wilson, William Williamson, Robert Beegum Walker, Samuel Whorter Yongue, John Foster, John Kennedy, James Gilleland, William Smith, Abraham Nott, Andrew Love, Alexander Moore, Thomas Brandon, William Bratton, Samuel Dunlap; and the said trustees, and their successors, shall for ever hereafter be one body politic and corporate, in deed and in name, by the name and style of The Trustees of Alexandria College, to have perpetual succession; capable by its name in law, to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded, in any court within this state; and to receive, possess, retain and enjoy any lands, rents, tenements or hereditaments, of what kind soever, and to alien the same; and also to purchase any lands or estate, real or personal, to receive any charity, or donation, or bequest, which may be made unto them, the said trustees, for the use of the said college; and be capable to sell or dispose of any lands or chattels, real or personal, of any kind whatsoever, that may come to them by purchase, gift or bequest, or in any other manner whatsoever; or to hold the same in perpetuity or for term of years. 26. And be it further enacted, That any five or more of the said trustees or their successors, shall be a quorum to do business; and in case any of the said trustees should refuse to act, resign, die or remove, that the remainder of the trustees, or a majority of them, shall have power to elect others in their stead. And that the said trustees, or a majority of them, shall have full power and authority to make, alter or amend any by-laws for their own government or regulation, that they may deem proper and necessary, which are not repugnant to the laws of this state; and have full power and authority to carry the same into effect. 27. Be it further enacted, That the said trustees of Alexandria college shall have a seal, and have power to appoint or remove their tutors; and shall have power to make such rules and regulations therefor, as they, or a majority of them, may think proper and expedient. And that the said trustees shall make such rules and regulations for the admission or dismission of students, as they may deem necessary. And at the public commencements to grant diplomas, or any other testimonials, under the seal of the said Alexandria College, as they may appoint, to all such as they shall think worthy to receive the same. 28. And be it further enacted, That the said Alexandria College shall have and possess the same powers of any col lege in this state; and the diplomas or testimonials, from under the hands of the said trustees, with the seal of the said college affixed, shall be deemed and taken as such, in as full and ample manner as any diplomas or testimonials of any college heretofore established in this state. TIT. 6. in the trus tees of Alex 29. And be it further enacted, That all such property as A. A. 1799. hath heretofore escheated, or which may hereafter escheat to 2 Faust 302. this state, in the counties of Union, York and Chester, or Certain eswithin the present limits thereof, which by an act, entitled, cheated pro"An act to appoint escheators and to regulate escheats," perty vested hath escheated, or may escheat to this state, shall be, and the same is hereby vested in the trustees of Alexandria College, andria Colfor the purpose of promoting the beneficial purposes of the lege college, and for endowing and supporting said college; provided the same do not exceed the sum of nine thousand dollars. And for receiving and disposing of the same property, the said trustees are hereby vested with all the powers heretofore vested in the person or persons heretofore appointed escheators in the several districts throughout this state, so far as the same concerns that part of the state at present included in the limits of Union, York and Chester counties. 30. And be it further enacted, That the said trustees of Said trustees Alexandria College, be, and the said trustees are hereby vest- to direct the ed with discretionary power to direct the application of the application of said property. said property, in such manner and way as shall seem to the said trustees best calculated to promote the interest of the Alexandria College. 31. And be it enacted, That the said trustees of Alexandria And to keep College shall keep an accurate account of all their proceed- account thereings, in regard to the property being vested in them; which, of, &c. whenever required so to do, they shall lay before the legis lature for their inspection. 32. Whereas the proper education of youth contributes A. A. 1801. greatly to the prosperity of society, and ought always to be 2 Faust 406. an object of legislative attention: And whereas, the establishment of a college in a central part of the state, where all its youth may be educated, will highly promote the instruction, the good order and harmony of the whole community : 33. Be it therefore enacted, That his excellency the governor, his honour the lieutenant-governor, the honourable the president of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives, the honourable the judges of the court of equity, shall be, ex-officio, together with trustees, to continue in office for the term of four years from the passing of this act ;* and at the expiration of the said four years, and every four years The thirteen trustees mentioned in this act, appointed for four, years, have been changed every four years. See A. A. 1805. The associate judges of the courts of common pleas, are declared ex-officio trustees. They were not included in this act, by some mistake in engrossing the bill. The trustees of the South Carolina College incorporated. |