Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-06-10

oate IN order to receive the report of the commte,
previously appointed to make out list of the dele
es'es IN attendance at the convention. The name.
VI about 800 were reported as being present
The consideration Of the fourth resolution was re-
sumed w. -
hev- Mr.. GOODE moved to amend the resolution
SO as to require the submission of the matter 10 The
people on some day separate from any on which the
annual elections are held and the people then to deter
mine IN such manner the Legislature NAV direct
whether there should be tax levied for the suppor
OF common schools at least three months in the wear
MI u said he wished the subject to be kept part
as much as possible, from the existing politics of the
day, aud placed beyond the reach of political dema-
gogues. lie wished TO see il popular State move
inent And there could be nothing but a speculative
opinion as to It's successful operation unless the SEN
uments OF the people were first ascertained.
The amendment, after a brief discussion was, up
on the motion of Rev. Mr.. Daily, laid on the table.
Mr.. BUTLER, behalf of the committee, then
offered the following substitute for the original reso-
luton to-wit:
That this convention recommend the passage of a
law placing our common schools upon permanent ba-
Sis, and providing for raising, BY taxation, an amount
which, IN connection with the present school funds.
shall be sufficient sustain such schools as free
schools IN each and every school district in the State,
Tor at least three months in each year.
Dr. SlMFSON moved to amend the substitute by
inserting Ire following provlso, that If the peo-
pie OF any county should, at the ensuing August cleo
uon by majority of all the legal voters refuse
pay said tax then said tax should not be collected
DIR. SIMPSON upon Offering his amendment said
ne had but a few remarks to make. In reference TO
The great subject OF common school education tine
members OF the convention were all of one mind; all
were IN favor of extending every child in the State
the privileges and blessings of intellectual culture
all were In favor OF recommending to the Legislature
prompt and decisive action. To support free schools
taxation is necessary, but practical question arises,
whether we should recommend the Legislature TO col
Iect that tax E3ht having submitted the question
10 the consideration Of the people of the State.
For his part, he said he was in favor of taxation,
SO far as is contemplated in the resolution. But all
The people IN the State not yet convinced that this
was the better plan. Nor did he feel sure that ma
Jory would vote for TAXATION if the question should
be submitted to them. But let the law be enacted
and placed in the hands of the people-let them see
IN the tax duplicates the of the assessment
and then if majority Of voters are dissatisfied, and
express that dissatisfaction by direct vote at the
August election, the tax in that event will not be
collected.
If the law should be passed without containing
such provision, IT is highly probable that the next
year would witness its repeal. People may be per-
suaded, but they will not be forced. They will give
III their consent should be asked, but they will
give by compulsion. And if those assembled at that
time should, convention, advise the Legislature
to tax the people for such purposes contrary their
will, or without giving them the rght of rejecting
the feature the most offensive, their opposition to
the convention would be excited, and failure per-
suadlng them to examine more fully and thoroughly
the proprety Of such lazy would be the consequence
but II the convention recommend Its submission to
the people, and if the Legislature so enact the friends
Ut free and universal education will have oppOr-
tunity Of showing to unparalleled community the
reaSOnableneSs and necessity of the law. They may
show by an examination of the tax register, how
much each man would pay, aud the great majority
would find that the tax they would pay would not
FL.
school teacher.
He concluded by saying it was his firm conviction
that such submission was necessary to ensure sue
cess. For the precise mode and time he was not
anxious But let the convention recommend the re-
ference to the voters of the State He believed they
would not reject it, but that the law would become
operative; and then the friends of education would
shortly have the desire of her hearts In that matter
realized in Offering to all the children of the State
education free and extensive.
Mr.. BUTLER remarked that he opposed to the
amendment-that he saw no necessity or even pro-
priety IN recommending TO the Legislature submit
the proposed law after its enactment to the vote of
the people eSanSL By ccunSes by the whole State.
The Leglsl p that without our recommend
alton. The~ know the road to the ballot
box as IN 1t they nave their origin, and will be but
recently from when called to the recOmmen-
dalton of the convention. They might have passed
law al the last session containing that provision
but they chose another method least the first step
towards the ascertainment of the will of The people,
Under their call we are now assembled in convention
to express wishes upon the great subject of com
mon schools All the citizens of the State were in
vlted to COME, and here not as Delegates not
IN a representative caPacityj but Individuals
mass meeting of the people to give expression TO our
opinions We are not here legislators, but in our
primary capacity of constituents, and In that capa-
city we have right to advise and instruct the Legis-
lature. We on this occasion its chosen and Sc
lected advisers In calling this convention the Legs
iature has sought its advice, and we should answer
the call IN the spirit In which il was made Shall
we falter when our opinions sought from so high
source, and upon questions Of so vast so vital im-
portance to US and to the Sate-questions involving
not simply the education and elevation of the few
but of the many, the great mass of human society
Shall we hesitate to speak out what we think should
be done by the Legislature under the present crcum
stances of the State. Shall we mock the Legislature
by now putting aside the question submitted TO Ms.
with The recommendation that we be consulted again
and at the ballot box in reference TO them! And
would not such spread abroad in the State
doubt, distrust, and apprehension where there now
exists strong hope or firm cOn6dencel
The opinions which may be expressed by this con-
Venton are not authoritative, and ought only have
as they only can have with the Legislature that
weight and influence which, in view of our numeri-
cal strength they deserve Other means for the as
certanment Of the popular will are still open to the
Legislature, and the wishes Of the people will un-
doubtedly be communicated to it through other ave-
nues. The question may be thrown into the present
political canvass, and if they could be made sus-
pend all party questons-if by them party excitement
could be aayed, great good would be attained in
dePendenty OF the benefits resulting TO the of
popular education. Each citizen of the State would
ho al