The following text is dated "ca. Mar. 1873." It appears that the text is of an oration that Scott delivered. As Scott reports in his next letter, towards the end of Spring term, each senior preparatory student delivered an "oration," which appears to have been a formal speech on a pre-selected topic. This was a common activity at 19th century universities. For example, USC's literary societies had members deliver orations at their regular meetings.
Scott uses two quotes in his text. Both quotes are from the Book of Psalms. The quote "man is fearfully and wonderfully made" is a paraphrase of Psalm 139:14 ("I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made). The second quote, "What is man that thou art mindful of him; and the son of man that thou visitest him; for thou hast made him a little lower than the angels and hast crowned him with glory and honor," is Psalm 8:4-5.
Shall we be Something or Shall we be Nothing?
Every man, as he enters the arena of life, should have some purpose in view.
Animals of the lower class merely exist for a time, and when they die are no more, beside the several matters with which they were formed.
They live for the accomplishment of no purpose, hence they accomplish nothing worthy of record.
But not so with man: created in the image of his maker, he is placed here for a much nobler and holier purpose. He is not created to be a mere nothing, but he is made to be something real, noble and God-like, so that when this earthly tabernacle shall have been dissolved and his spirit shall have winged its flight to his maker, he shall leave behind him in the memory of all something that shall be a lasting benefit to nations yet unborn.
Says one "man is fearfully and wonderfully made" and also "What is man that thou art mindful of him; and the son of man that thou visitest him; for thou hast made him a little lower than the angels and hast crowned him with glory and honor."
Must he not then be something Noble, who is worthy to be so estimated by God as to be just a little lower than the angles?
The next item is a letter Cornelius wrote to his parents in April, 1873.
Cornelius discusses participating in a speaking competition. He mentions several of the students from Charleston as given good lectures. The students he mentions are students he discussed in his previous letter: William M. Dart, Paul J. Mishow, John M. Morris, Joseph W. Morris, and Alonzo G. Townsend. He also mentions "Job Hayne" as having done well. Job was a student from Marion, SC. His family had moved there around 1867. Earlier Job's family lived in Charleston, and they may have met Cornelius' family there. Before the Civil War, Job's family were free persons of color, and the father worked as a carpenter.
The winner of the speaking competition was Inman E. Page. Inman was born enslaved in Warrenton, VA. His father had been able to hire himself out and was running a livery stable in DC before the Civil War. Using the funds he had earned, the father purchased the family freedom's and moved them to DC. At the time of Cornelius's letter, Inman had been working for Howard Univeristy for several years, as a janitor and as a clerk for General Howard. Spring, 1873 was Inman's last semester at Howard. In Fall, 1873, he enrolled at Brown Univeristy, making him of the first two African-Americans to enroll at the univeristy. Later in life, Inman would cross with Cornelius' USC classmate J. C. Whittaker. They both lived in Oklahoma City and taught at Douglas High School from 1920-21 and 1923-24.
In his letter, Cornelius indicates a familiarity with two prominent South Carolina politicians in D.C. He says that he tried visiting "ex senator Sawyer." This is likely Frederick A. Sawyer. Sawyer was a White Harvard-trained educator from Massachusetts. He had moved to Charleston shortly before the Civil War (in 1859) to run a normal (or teacher training) school. After the war broke out, he remained in Charleston until December, 1864 when he was able to return to Massachusetts. Once the war ended, he returned to Charleston. In 1868, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, narrowly defeating Albert Mackey. Both Mackey and Sawyer were Republicans. Sawyer was viewed as the more moderate candidate. He left office on March, 1873 after losing the election to John J. Patterson. That year the state Republican party split between the Regular Republicans and a more moderate reformist group. Sawyer was aligned the more moderate group which largely lost the election. Scott's letter was writing about a month after Sawyer's term in office had ended.
The other South Carolina politician that Scott mentions Alonzo J. Ransier. Like the members of Cornelius's family, Ransier was a free person of color from Charleston. Beginning with his participation in the 1868 constitutional convention, Ransier was active in state politics. At the time of Cornelius's letter, Ransier had recently been elected U.S. Congressman, and his term had started in March. In the congressional election, Ransier had run as a Regular Republican and was opposed by reformist Republican candidate William Gurney. William was a White Civil War veteran from New York state.
In his letter, Cornelius asks about a few people associated with Claflin Univeristy. One person he asks about is "Prof. Crogman." This is Professor William H. Crogman. Professor Crogman was from the Caribbean island of Sint Maarten. He had moved to the United States at age 12 (in 1853). He had moved to Orangeburg, SC to the then-newly created Claflin Univeristy in 1870. He had moved there after studying at the Pierce Academy in Middleborough, Massachusetts. Cornelius likely knew Professor Crogman from studying at Claflin during the 1871-72 academic year.
Cornelius also mentions Dr. Fox. Dr. Fox is likely Henry J. Fox. The next year Fox would become a professor at the University of South Carolina, but at the time, he was in a state of professional transition. He had moved to South Carolina to start a farm in Chesterfield county but had abandoned this to try working as a minister in Charleston. Among his other responsibilities, Fox served on Claflin's Board of Trustees at the time of Cornelius's letter. From the context of Cornelius's letter, it appears that Fox and Cornelius knew each other from Claflin.
Howard University
Washington D.C.
Apr. 2nd 73,
My Dear Father and Mother:
Your letter of the 21st was received. You did not state whether you had received the two newspapers I sent you or not. A murder is committed here about once a month. A man George Jenkins was hung sometime ago for killing his wife. Another was sent to the penitentiary for insulting a woman at a picnic and then murder [sic] her husband another was hung in Alexandria, a few miles from here for killing a man. One is being tried now for murdering a peddler and another is has just been arrested for killing a farmer a few nights ago and robbing him. Beside this one is arrested for killing a man in self defense last Wednesday.
If I could afford it I would send you the papers often.
Now I will tell you a little about our examination. We were examined in Latin only for our professors had so much business to attend to and we were also tired as well as prof. so we voted to have no examination in Greek and Geometry as we will be examined in these same studies at the close of next term. I think I passed a creditable examination. I have not recieved my certificate yet. I shall send one to you soon.
Wednesday night was devoted to prize speaking for the Freshman class. John, Paul, Alonzo and William did very well but neither of them succeeded in obtaining the prize: it was awarded to Inman Page for delivering the best declamation. Thursday night our class, the Senior Prep, delivered our orations. We all did very well indeed. My subject was, Shall we be something or nothing. I was congratulated as having done first-rate though and suppose it was all flattery. Job Hayne did well also.
On Friday the Sophomore clashed their prize speaking and also the Junior class their exhibition. There are only six in the Sophomore class and two in the Junior. Thomas Stewart for some reason not assigned would compete for the prize. Though, after the speaking was over, the judges said that he declaimed best, but as he did not compete, the prize was awarded to Joe Morris who was second best. Some think that Morris did just as well Stewart and some think he did better. Stewart's declamation was English but Morris' was Latin. We had a first rate time every night. They gave just holiday from last Friday till next Monday.
I was all but worn out at the close of the term and have done nothing since then. I have been sleeping nearly all day so I will be up till late tonight reading and writing.
Give my regards to our friends and neighbors. The money ($10.00) that you send me was thankfully received.
Please tell [Louis?] I ask him to send whatever money he has for me as I am entirely out of stationary and also money. I have clothes sufficient for the present but will have to get some shirts, collars, and cuffs and also cravats in about two months. I just tell you so that you can lay aside a little small change now and then. Tell Sister I received her letter and contents was very much obliged. May write to her tonight if I have time. We have splendid weather now. They are making improvements in the city very much now. The smallpox is still prevalent in the city. A fire occurred the other night but was soon extinguished. A steamship, The Atlantic, went down yesterday with a thousand and thirty eight (i.d. 38) persons on board and only three (300) hundred were saved. I visited the medical museum the other day and saw all kinds of skeletons skulls arms legs +e +e. also a little Indian papoose all shriveled up. The sight was worth seeing.
How are Wifie Nena and the rest of the family? The inaugural address of Pres. Grant has been severely criticized by the English and also many of the papers in the United States. I visited ex senator Sawyer in company with a friend but he was not at home. I have not seen Mr. Ransier yet. Well I think I have told you all the news that I now think of so I will say goodnight. If I think of anything more in the morning I will tell you.
Thursday April 3rd Do you know where Prof. Crogman is? So you see what nepotism is carried on at Claflin. Tis a pity the people of Charleston won't take any interest in it I suppose. Dr. Fox himself will be there soon as teacher or something. He never did answer that letter I wrote him. Did you ever here [sic] anything more about the money Dr. Webster had for Mother and me? I know he has some for I was told so. I hear that we are going to have a new uniform soon. Do you want me to have my picture taken in this or wait till we get the new? As soon as there is an opportunity I am going to sell this coat. Have you heard from Mr. Lewis lately? My regards to Mr. Weston and family.
Your Affectionate Son
C. C. Scott
Note to self: Mr. Weston - Samuel Weston?
Dr. Webster = maybe Rev. A. Webster DD at Claflin
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