The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1871-10-12
THE SPEAKING.

According to'appolntmeut respectable
number Of the citizens Of Mason county
assembled at The Court Hsase last Satur.
day afternoon to listen To . Join. discuss
ion between Major N. Fitahugh, Demo,
cratic candidate for the Constitutional Con.
yeutiou for this Senatorial District, aud
Nl. !. B, Swami, Republican candidate
6t shesamo position. The arrangement
snnoapea'was that Major Fi,zhugh was
taRsk ~ Aour, to be followed by Col.
Ssaun in speech Of an hour and 3 quar-.
ter; and Maj. Fitzhugh to close The discus.
.'sh5 fftl ifttit Is; then introduced
TIC audience. He began BY saying that
be was here as sbe nominee Of the Demo.
ocrasic and Conservative party Of the 7th
Senatorial District. Then be showed up
most fully the deception Of the no party"
movers, and couclusively proved that it
was only dodge" to catch votes, and
that it vas the Radicsl-Rcpublic'n party
still, and that their candidates we're Rad.
icals, only under new uameof Peoples
Party and that il bis friends Mr.. Hall aud
Col. Swami, we're elected upon the ticket
bearing the name Of Peoples Ticket
they would serve tie Radical party and do
its bidding.
After making these explanations Major
Fitzhugh went into discussion Of the
questions involved. in this canvass, showing
wherein the present Constitution was do.
fectiye, and where amendments to the 10.
strument were absolutely necessary lie
took up the clause Of the constitution re-
latiug to free schools and discussed it at
some length. He showed in forcible Ian.
guage that the present constitution did not
guarantee free schools; that the whole mat
ter was in the hands Of the Legislature,
to continue It, or discontinue It, as they
pleased. He said he was 10 favor OF a
Constitution that guaranteed . liberal and
effective free school system. He said that
o. the other hand the Radicals we're in
favor Of retaining every line aud letter Of
the present Constitution; and that il be
were an enemy to free education, be would
hold on to tho preseat constitution. lie
stated that under The constitution as It
now stands, any township, ia say county
in tue State, has it in It's power to say
whether schools shall be kept up in tho
township or not, and cited 10 proof Of what
he said, % clause Of article ten Of the
constitution, which read thus: THE Lee.
stature shall also provide for raising in
each township, by authority Of the people
thereof. such proportion Of the amount
required for The support Of free schools
therein as prescribed BY general laws y
Said under this provision thu. the right to
make levies for support Of schools, could
be defeated By the vote Of che people Of a
township. That in Hampshire county
q veto has been ordered 10 each township
ito got tbe assent Of the qualified voters Of
the several townships to the school levy.
He said thst he did not want constitution
that would allow the legislature or town.
ship, to cripple the school system or do.
ssoy it entirely. at their pleasure. But
chat il he was sent to The Convention be
would have a clause in the Constitution
guaranteeing a thorough, liberal aud Off.
oisnt system OF free schools, tia, no lepis.