The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-11-18

monwealth." This amendment was, after
debate, disagreed to. Mr.. STURDEvANT Of
lered the following amendment;-"It shall
be the duty of the legislature to provide for
the establishment of such schools through
out the Commonwealth as may be deemed
necessary, in which all persons may be
taught at the public expense" Negatived.
Mr.. CHAMBERS then offered the following.-
"The legislature shall as soon as convent
emily may be, provide by law, for the es-
tablishment of Common schools throughout
the state" This it will be observed is a
copy ofthe present constitution. leaving out
the special provision for the poor. Mega
tived, yeas 5l-nays G9. Mr.. JENKs then
offered the following: legislature,
shall as soon as conveniently may be, pro-
vide by law for the establishment of Com
mon schools throughout the state, in such
manner that all the children of the com
monwealth may be taught therein" Neg
atived, yeas 39-nays n.
Some other amendment was then offer
ed changing rather the phraseology than
the substance of the foregoing, when the
previous question was called and sustained
by majority of one vote. This cut off all
the amendments pending and the main
question on the report of the committee
was decided in the negative, yeas 47-nays
50. Mr.. CHAMBERS then moved an a.
mendment to the old constitution (Which
after modification and amendment) reads as
follows, to witt "The legislature shall
continue to provide by law for the ostab-
lishment of Common schools throughout
the state, so that the benefits of education
may be extended to all persons in the COM
monwealth." Which was agreed to; yeas
62--nays So.
1t will be observed that the members of
| the convention all agree as to the necessi-
ty and importance of education in Common
schools, and only differ in opinion as to
the best mode of arriving at one common
old constitution do so (as they say in debate)
wholly with a view TO prevent excitement
and to avoid unsettling the school system,
which is but slenderly fastened in public es-
timaton as yet, in many sections of the
state.
On yesterday, (Nov. A. Mr.. STEVENS
offered the following resolution:
ReSoIved, That the President draw his
warrant in favor of the Secretary for the
sum of $3.50, to be paid to the Clorgymcn
who have oficiated as Chaplains to the
convention, which they be requested to ac-
cept with the thanks of this convention.
After some debate, it was decided in the
affirmative; yeas 60-nays SO. Mcssrs.
Hayh,rSt and Smith voted in the negative.
The second Section ofthe report on the
9TH Article came up in the following words:
"The arts and sciences shall be promoted
in such institutions of learning as may be
alike open to all the children of the COM
monwealth." TO which Mr.. CHANDLER
of Philadelphia, moved an amendment re-
commended by the minority the commit
tee, which he subsequently modified so as
to read as follows, viz: "There shall be
established by law Commissioner of edu-
cation to be elected by the Legislature for
three years, who shall have the care and
management of the public funds appropria-
ted by law to that object together with the
superintendence of common schools" Neg
atived by large majority. A motion was
then made to incorporate manual labour
schools into the constitution. Ncgatived
by large majority. The committee how
ever rose without taking a vote On the re-
port the committee. expect the report
will be negatived.
AIM