Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-04-10
VOL. VII. NO: 262. NEW SERIES. C0LUN
Che Obio 3tatesnram

SPEECH OF HON. JOSEPH r. WRIGHT.
HALL OF HOUSE OF REPREsESrArlvEs,)
i r4 CoLUABU., Ohio,
April s, 1861. }
HoN:J. F. WMGHT.-Sir The undersigned
members of the House of Representatives, hav'
ing listened with much interest to your very abl
remarks upon House bill No. 144, do respect
fully ask copy of the same for publication.
Yours, truly,
GEO. L. CONVERSE. WIN. BLEEKER.
| VIM J. FLAGG. JOHN u. MYERS.
8. BROWNE. JESSE BALDWIN.
J. H. JOLLY. H JOSEPH JONAS.
! WIN. JONES. J. q. CHASE. sg-
WIN. JEssUP. W.B. WOODS.
/ o. HUGHES. WILLIAM PARR.
SPEECH OF Hon. JOSEPH +. WRIeHr, OF HAMIL-
TON, IN THE ONO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL a, 1861, UPON THE PASSAGE or H. B. No
l44, BY Mn. WRIGHT, OF HAMlLToN--To AMENI
SECTION 63 OF THE SCHOOL AcT;
Mn. SPKAKER:--Since this General Assembl.
convened, no question has been presented for it
consideration Of greater interest, or more I'm
portance to the people Of Ohio, than that whicl
is presented in the bill now before the House
II is question which concerns not only tn
material prosperity, but the intellectual and NOR
al condition Of our people. The State Of Ohi'
has always made liberal and ample provision
for the education of her youth. Her people have
always been the ardent advocates and devoted
friends Of common schools. 1 apprehend the
enemies OF well regulated system of free
schools in this State would not exceed cor
poral's guard. ag r'
! know, Sir, at this late period of the session
members are exceedingly anxious for the dis
patch of business. For this reason, il had the
disposition to do otherwise, would not detain
the House long at this time. But bespeak its
indulgence while state, as briefly as can, the
object of this bill, aud offer a few reasons why
in my judgment, it should become law.
This bill was introduced at the last session.
In its original shape, IL provided for the levying
Of tax Of mill and half, and for distributing
the same In the counties where raised. The
bill was referred to select committee, and re-
ported back to the House at this session, in its
amended form. 1t now differs from the existing
law, only in the amount Of tax which is author
lied to be levied and assessed.
It is proper that should here state, Mr..
Speaker, that my mind has undergone no change
In regard to State school tax, as might be in.
ferred by the modification made in the bill. In
my opinion, the whole duty of the State upon
shis subject is comprised in the act providing
BY law system of free schools. The details
of the system, and the support and management
Of the schools, should, l think, be left to the
people in their local jurisdictions. But, in def.
erence to the opinion of large number of
our most able and distinguished jurists, who
regard a State school tax to be REQUIRE
ment of the Constitution, the bill was amended
so as to make It conformable with their inter.
probation Of the organic law of the State. AL.
though l have high regard for the opinion Of
the profession, touching the law and the Con.
stitution, must say IL is with great reluctance
that defe r to it in this instance. For l can
but regard it to be a matter of sincere regret
that State school tax should be Constitu.
tional necessity.
Upon this point, however, desire not to be
misunderstood II is the system of State taxa.
tion for the support of schools to which object.
And shall endeavor to show, before leave
the floor, that my objection is well taken.
The facts, presented in the annual reports of
the State Commissioner of Common Schools,
and Of the State Auditor, will furnish abundant
proof, think, that the State has outgrown the
necessity of the State school tax, if, indeed, It
ever existed. But, as 1t is my purpose to be
brief, will here read from the Constitution:
"Art vi: Sec g. The General Assembly shall
make such provision, by taxation or otherwise,
as, with the income arising from the school
trust fund, will secure a thorough and efficient
system of common schools throughout the
State; but no religious or other sect or sects
shall ever have any exclusive right to, or control
Of, any part of the school funds of this State"
am free to say, Mr.. Speaker, that clearly
see, in this section Of the Constitution, the war.
rant for levying State school tax for the sup-
port of common schools. But do not under
stand this to be duty, which is peremptorily
eDjoined upon the General Assembly. Certain
il Is, that no General Assembly that has con-
vened since the adoption of the new Constitu-
tion, has regarded 1t to be their duty to author
ise State tax that would be sufficient to sustain
the schools for Ithe period required in the law.
But they have uniformly left It to township
and other local Boards of Education, to levy
such additional tax as may be requisite to keep
the schools In session for the period of six
months: Ishall have occasion to refer to this
feature oftbe law again. tll.la w.
Section 63 of the school Law, passed March
ID, 1853, provides that tax of one mill and
half shall be levied and assessed for the sup
port and maintenance Of common schools. In
the same section, IL is also provided that this
tax shall be distributed to the several counties
of the State in proportion to the enumeration
Of scholars, and il further provides that Town
ship Boards of Education may assess an addi.
tional tax, not exceeding two mills on the do. .
lar of tho taxable property Of the township, for
the purpose Of proloDging the schools after the
State funds have been exhausted. The mode
prescribed for distributing the school fund
is even more obnoxious than the tax. The oh.
lection toa State school tax would not be 90
great If the school fund were Justly and equitably