The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-02-05

tc the Office Of Spperintendent of Public In
struction. ASSupefintendent must be had
to carry out any well devised system of pub
lie instruction, md the objection made that
itwculdsbe ten 81, fifteen years before sys-
am OF public schools would be established,
was clearly insufficient =. Besides it was
charged that the Office would be filled ny
partizan. Now it was the duty of every one
to stand IN this matter not as partisan but
as n citizen in favor of education Upon edu-
cation depends future success and If in the
next ten or twelve wears the children OF the
people were permitted to grow in ignornnce;
they would be better qualified for crime than
the duties ofan American citizen. 1t would
cost the State far more in jails and Courts,
than 1t would to educate them All that he
desired fer the present was to have school
in every nook and valley of the State, Where
the children could at least goto school four
or i've months of the year. Then the an
Client glory of North Carolina. of which SO
much is heard, would not pass away.
Mr. Harris, of Wake, said he could not be-
lieve that the opposition to this Office ema-
mated truly from the apparent disapproval
Of it manifested by the opposition. 1t came,
he feared, either from too much love of the
olden time or too much hatred of the new
condition of affairs. The party which now
oppose had formerly expended money with
liberal hand for educational purposes
Large sums of money had been bestowed
by former Legislatures, and when the late
war began North Carolina had two millions
of dollars in specie for Literary fund. 1t
was needless to say what went with it, for
all know that too well. Besides the State
then paid out 100000 annually forthe same
purposes Would it be unreasonable then
to now ask for twenty-five or thirty thou
sand dollars annually tor the next five or ten
years Why should those Who had former
~ favored education, now oppose the crea-
ton of the Office of Superintendent of Pub
lie Instruction? Not more than three
months ago, he had conversed with the for
mer Superintendent of Common Schools,
who had given him valuable information
This office was no innovation in fact. 1t
was no new thing at all. The gentlemen,
who opposed in his opinion could not be sin
cere, for all their former acts spoke the other
way. They are only attempting to create
political capital. The very party they rep
resent appropriated $4,000 to keep up
Chapel Hill, through the last Legislature, in
order to educate the sons of the aristocracy.
But when this Convention magnanimously
proposes to educate the poor children, the
cry of party is raised. Thousands have been
spent on the sons of the aristocracy,-specie
in millions have been squandered, how then
can gentlemen oppose this request of the
| peopel Besides, there was history OF the
| Swamp lands, which he might relate, but
enough had been said. Only this in conclu-
sion, more had been spent in one year to
educate the sons of the gentry, than this
Convention proposed to spend on the chill
dren of the people for the next ten years.
Mr.. Forkner moved to adopt the whole
section, which not being in order. was with
drawn, and the amendment of Mr.. Durham
! lost
Mr.. Heaton moved to increase the term of
office for the Auditor, three years. after Jan.
LIST. 1859, and also that officers first elected
under this Constitution shall take their seats
in thirty days after its adoption, and serve
two years from Jan. 1, 1869.
He said this amendment covered the in
terregnum of seven months, between the adop-
ton of the Constitution and Jan. 1st, 1869.
1t also proposed to make the term of office
of Auditor longer than that of the Others,
because it was more important that it should
be so. Upon the Auditor devolves the most
important financial interests of the State. 1t
requires a man of experience and Judgment,
one acquainted with bookkeeping, the va
rious public funds and the tax laws of the
State. From him emanate important in
structions upon such laws. Therefore, to
call a man here from distant part of the
State for two years only is against public
policy. He would be hardly able to under
stand the duties of his office, before his term
expired. He would not allude to the prae-
tioe of other States, nor excite the gentle
man of Cleveland by such precedents He
thought the other offices should be extend
cd for longer time also, but at least the
Auditors should be.
Mr.. King, of Lenoir, moved to rise and re-
port progress. He was opposed to sessions
of the committee of the whole, All that
was done here, would have to be gone ovel
in Convention If this plan was kept up, the
Convention would be here until the 4th o
July. All the reports should 60 on the cal
ander and be taken up in regular order
Now the Convention was only marching W
hill to march down again. He wished tc
save time, and get at some practical results
Mr. Abbott said he too wished to STOP
this interminable talk. Two days nearly
had been spent on frivolous matters. Bu
he would suggest to the gentleman that thi:
matter be left to float another day, and sec
what would then be done.
Mr. King, of Lenoir, withdrew his motion
when
Mr.. Ashley moved to amend Mr.. Heaton':
amendment to make the term of all Officers
three years. which was accepted.
On motion of Mr.. Heaton, instead of The
words thirty days after their election, was in
serted acceptance of this Constitution b,
Congress making the term of first officers
to begin at that time.
Mr. Tourgee offered substitute lncorpor
ating Mr.. Heaton's amendment and term o
office for two years from Jan. 1st 1869. A.
dopted.
Mr. Rodman moved to strike out "twt
years." and insert four years"
Mr. Gambler raised the point of order
that this had been settled. Not sustained
when the amendment was put and lost
The first section, providing for Governor
Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State
Auditor, Treasurer, Superintendent of Pub
lie Works and Superintendent OF Public In
struction, with terms of two years to begir
January Ist, 1859; the first officers t,
take their places on the acceptance of tn
constitution by Congress, was then adopted
The second section was then taken up pre-
scribing qualifications for Governor.
An amendment was offered making citi
zen of the United States, twenty-one year
of age and having resided in the State TIVE
years, eligible to the Office of Governor
| NJ,
make any qualified voter eligible to the offic
of Governor Or ,iautpnanf Governor