The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-12-29
REMARKS OF MR.. FERGUSON,
.Iulaa stoF GUgRNsRr,
In the Senate, December 6, 1859.

/ The bill TO provide for The reorganiza
tltion, supervisors, mainten ance Of com
mon schools having been referred to ths
sispdipg committee on that subject, on tn.
9th instant, II
1 MI. Ferguson moved "That the stand
linz COMMITTEES on Common Schools and
School Lands be, and hereby ate; instruct
ed to so amend Senate bill "a. that the
school funds, therein contemplated. for the
number of months in said bill ehjoiied to
be taught annually, be exclusively Stats
! Mr.. FERGUsoN remarkedlas follows: 4
| ] MIR; Presideni--Senate bill. % being
again in the hands Of the standing com,
miltes on Common Schools and School
Lands. and instructions appearing 10 be
the order Of the morning, | felticonstrain
ed, by q SENSE oflduty to my constituent.
and the constitution Of the State. To- offer
and insist upon the adoption, Of the reso,
luton now under consideration The
matter of supporting and maintaining
schools for the education Of the you'll, Of
the State had not its existence as, an in
junction OF the fundamental law until the
adoption Of the, present constitution
Heretofore the system was exclusively
Legislative. 1t now no longer remains as
matter Of discretion With the, Legisla.
ture. The Legislative branch Of the Gov
ernmsnt is forced, by the constitution OF
the State. to spread upon the statute book
such law as will, in the language Of the
constitution, "secure a thorough and eff.
cient system, Of common schools through.
out the State" By The constitution the
track is marked, we can turn neither TO
The right nor the lett The command is
positive and clear. and none can mistake
the language in which itisput forth. The
command is as long and as broad as the
State. and II knows no divisions or lines.
other than those that bound the State. In
submission to die definite and comprehen-
si,e. spirit OF the constitution, that there
shan be secured TO the youth throughout
the State thorough and efficient system
Of common schools, the Senate in com.
mittee of the Whole determined that the
schools should be kept III operation for the
term Of six months annually. .tas
Before the system could be in its nature
and characterthorough and efficient, some
definite time must be fixed upon during
which the schools are so compelled'to to be
in operation. Nor can il be claimed that
the six months, during which the schools
are TO be kept, can be fixed for portion
Of the State, and a different number Of
months for the balance. If the number Of
months per annum that ihe schools are in
operation, in that particular. gives to them
the character of Efficiency in the one por-
ton. the different number IN the other por.
ton would undoubtedly give to them the
character Of inefficiency; and hence in
this instance the constitution would be
so far as one part OF the State is
and with reference to the bal.
snce. entirely dlsrWarded. If the Legis.
lature wereoto refer to the people of each
and. every school district of the State, this
question Of time. with II discretion in each
disiric, as 10 its length, or duration. the
whole system would be entirely destitute
Of anything like efficiency. 1t would not
produce the result intended by the copsti.
luton. and in such easel the districts would
be vested with an option that the Legis.
ature cannotitself exercise without man.
fest disregard OF the letter and spirit Of
he constitutions NJ :e...heft leap.I
The object is to educate all the youth of
he State. aud such Gas il must be appa-
rent TO every man cannot be done without
,inl the language, of, the copstilution) a
thorough and efficient system, and the
ength Of iine,, during which the schools
are to be taught annually, is the first and
among the principal matters TO be taken
into consideration and determined. i. That
ime being determined and agreed upon.
and in compliance with tho constitution,
extended 70 every district and foot Of ter.
-itory Of the State, the next, and one of
he important Questions to be settled is, the
,pe presented by, the resolution. aa{s,, |
: For the purpose Of carrying into effect
his provision of the constitution, after ex-
,susiing particular funds dsenumerated in
/, the, Legislature is forced 70 resort to.
axstion, and the mode or manner Of that
axaiion is the question presented BY this
The old system, which, in my
opinion, was entirely defective, first raised
m amount Of money. by State, county and
district taxation, and, 70 some extent, re-
erred the matter, as 10 amolnt, 70 the dis.
,rs,ion Of counties and districts. The
lmount,thus produced Limited the lime that
he schools were to be taught annually in
zach district The bill now in the hands
,f'the committee, proposes radical change
! this particular. by first fixing 4 definite
iips 70 be taught annually. and then do.
handing 4 levy Of taxes suficien, to sup
,Iy sGch time, Without such change Is
have already remarked, common schools
4 Ohio would De bdt I name, producing
u benefcial result, and having no char.
Icter al all ~ Efficiency ''2'a el'' \ 'sei Y
The:iuni Nafe required 10 ksep ths
FtNf4ri,1hNN n I 1sl,