The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-12-29

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those results are brought about and pro,
duced. 40 before stated, the, object Of
result intended 70 be effected. is The, edu
cation of all the youth Of the State; and
the means, which is the taxation proposed
should, in my opinion. be as broad a' ihe ihbee
State.
For moment will refer 10 the second
section oi the, sixth article of The copstitu
ton, which reads, The General Assem-
bly, shall make such provisions. by taxa
| ton or Otherwise, as, with the income aris
ing from the school trust fund, will secure
q, thorough and efficient system Of com
mon schools throughout the State; but, no
religious Of other sect. Or ,sects, shall evel
have any exclusive rightfo. or control OF
any part OF the school funds Of the Stale
In this section Of the constitution, nc
bounds or la,iis are iniimated, other thar
those OF the State. 1t speaks to and o
the whole and entire State, as a State, ant
not to particular portions of the State
Such 10 the, forge Of the word. .'lhrough
OUT in its connection with the other Ian,
guage Of the section. Now. no one will
for a moment. htbut thai the snguage
and spirit of this section, in so far as il
regards the education Of the youth. is gen,
ersl, and equally applies TO +; the whole
State. This conceded, and we are forced
to adurit the position. that the means qnnst
be co.squal and co-ex,ensve with the oh.
ject, and therefore. that tlieitaxalion con-
templated by the language and spirit Of
this section is equally general. aud intend
ed to, and must be levied upon the proper.
~ Of tho entire State. as State levy; 9th
erwise it will operate uueqnally and un.
justly upon the. less able districts and por,
lions OF the State. If the bill il permitted
10 remain. as it now is, with its system OF
county common school funds. produced
by county levies. 'sll the injustice and inc.
quality. before reierred to,;wll he produc-
ed. and thats too, clearly in violation of
the words and intent Of the constitution.
Again, in my opinion. the syst.m Of coun-
ty levies. TO any extent. forcomnion school
purposes. is clearly prohibited by the96
section ofthe 2lartlcle OF the constitution.
which reads thus: "..All laws Of general
nature shall. have a uniform operation
throughout the State" @
In order 10 illustrate and show wherein
these provisions OF the constitution aoi the
State would be coptraysned, by the levy
of the county school fund. as proposed by
the bill, reference may be had TO the re-
ports of the Auditor and Secretary Of State,
made TO the Legislature in january last.
In the one. / find the ,axabevalue of the
property in each and every county Of the
State. and in the other the number of youth
will first take the counties Of Miami and
Monroe-in the former the taxable value
of property is $6.6 ,989,' and 1.-THE mum.
ber Of youth lO.5O7; and lin the latter the
taxable value is SO, 164,95O. and,th nun.
Der of youth lO,292 Thus it is apparent.
that while the number Of youth 10 he edu.
Gated in each ofthese counties u about
the saine, Miami has three times as much
taxable propertyas Monroe, and the tax
OF one mill on the dollar will furnish three
times more money in Miami than it will
in Monroe, and If the bill did not 60 fur.
ther than to prescribe the amount OF taxa.
ton in each county, and il an assessment
Of one mill on the dollar is required to
secure a thorough and efficient system Of
common schools in Miami, certain it is,
such an assessment will be entirely insult. |
ficient Tor that purpose in Monroe Next
lakeithe counties OF Washington and Mad.
ison. In Washington the taxable yalua-
lion is SO 967.755. and the number OF
youth 2.IO2; and in Madison the valna.
lion is 'S3 662 ,665, and the number Of
youth 4.3i9. Hence the result would be
4 violation, not only of that clause Of the
constitution which requires the Legisla-
|ure ''to secure q, thorough and efficient
system OF common schools throughout the
State" but, also. that clause which re.
luires that "Laws Of general nature
shall have uniform operation throughout
he State" .,t-.,... .t,....
But The bill as amended in the committee
of the whole. requires shools 10 be kept in
operation for the term of''six months an, |
nually. ipls Aslpg 30 7ida a fd047 sdi
Then suppose the State tax of three
ourths OF a mill OH the dollar will be suffi.
,ien, for two months Of The time, there
will still remain tourmonthsto be provided
or by some oiherm de Of taxation. ri And
f an assessment OF but one mill on the
dollar on the tax valuation in Miami, will
seep the schools for the remaining four
months. IL viii require levy OF three mills
IN the dollar in Monroe County, to- sds-r
ain the schools therein for the remaining
our months. y, Here, then, would be a gen-
sral law having nothing like a uniform
operation throughout the Slate. as requir-
ID by the 98th sectioli Of lhe e'9,l article OF
he econstituiion. g Its certain and undoubt-
ID dioperation. is TO tax the people of somet
,oupues at slmapiiesly higher rate, for
he support and maintenance Of common
'chools. than the people Of other coanties.
h addition. lis operation il CLEARLY unjust
a. Z rx a. %. Il