The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-04-08
CHARLESTON.
The constitutional Couvention-Tne
Free school System.
CHARLESTON, April 3.

Convention has passed upon the report
of the Committee of the Whole upon
this subject and has made no changes
that can materially affect the interests
of the schools. | am heartily glad
that it is so, both for the sake OF the
schools themselves and for the popu-
lari,y of the new Constitution. II has
been the most difficult subject with
which the Convention has had to deal,
and it has required the utmost skill to
avoid the dangers that beset the sys-
tenn as we'll from the efforts Of its foes
as from the iniudicious advocacy OF its
friends.
Perhaps | ann in error in conveying
the impression that there are in the
any enemies 0; the free
schools per se. Certainly no one here
has avowed himself as such and the
main confic, OF opinion that has taken
place has been as to the best and most
economical means OF securing an object
which all admitted to be desirable and
were anxious to promote.
The subject was taken up in Com
ven,ion on Monday morning and en-.
crossed the attention of the members
during Monday and Tuesday and a
portion of this forenoon. About eleven
O clock to-day the Article of the pro-
posed Constitution on the subject OF
Education was referred to the Commit
tee on Revision to be smoothed off and
dressed up as only such masters of the
proper use Of English words as Mr..
Faulkner and Professor Pendieton can
finish off a sentence.
The REGISTER of the Both Of March
aud OF the Let OF the present month
contains tolerably accurate report Of
the debate that was had in Committee
of the Whole upon the subject Of free
schools. That report may also be con-
sidered as representing the debate in
Convention. The ground was all
fought over anew between almost the
same autag onists and with almost the
same result. | took copious notes Of
the debate and could write up enough
to fill at least two pages OF the REGIS
TER, but | am satisfied that you have
not space for that purpose, and | know
| have not the inclination today to
undergo the labor necessary to present
even a synopsis OF what each man said.
The chief topic of debate was the man.
per in which the funds should be raised
for the support Of the free schools
whether by local taxation alone; by
general State taxation; or by mixture
of the two upon the question OF
State taxation only, as distinguished
from the present system, which is
partly State and partly local, the whole
discussion hinged. Upon this the
members of the Convention divided and
the same division was apparent in
almost every vote that was taken upon
any subject connected with the schools.
| send you copies OF the printed journal
of Monday and Tuesday from which it
NAV be seen how the whole ground was
fought over, inch by inch, and by Whist
slow degrees the article in relation to
free schools was made to assume its
final shape. | trust you may find room
for its publication in full in order that
each man may appear upon the record
in every vote just as he announced him.
self here.
The result of the whole discussion is
the adoption of the Tenth Article OF
the present Constitution almost Ger
batim with the adoption OF several new
sections. No more Independent
school districts are to be formed and no
more Normal Schools chartered.
White children and colered are not to
be educated in the same school and no
pcrson connected with the public
schools is to be interested in the sale of
free school books or apparatus. The
State Superintendent is to have an al
lowance of not more than five hundred
dollars per year Tor travelling expenses
and the school law may provide for
County Superintendent as it now does.
The law is to arrange all the details Of
the system and prescribe the limit OF
county or district levies and designate
the officers, who are to make the esti-
mate in accordance with which the
County Court is required to make the
lew. which is to be collected by the
Sheriff or other collecor for the
use of the school district Mr.. Daven-
port succeeded in having the word
common" stricken out wherever it &C.
curred, 80 that the law will now provide
for Gree schools" and for whatever
comes under that designation.
Much of the unpopularity OF the
free school system in various counties
in the State has arisen from the fault OF
it's officers In some localities fraud
and speculation have been the order OF
the day. The taxes paid for free
schools were not honestly applied; a
large portion of the funds was stolen
and, Notwithstanding the payment OF
normous levies for that purpose, the
schools were poorly taught and were
kept open only during about three
months In the year. The then who
alone could have remedied this state Of
affairs were prescribed and cut off from
all participation 10 school matters ex-
cept in 30 far as the payment Of taxes
was concerned, and hence many OF the
members of this Convention had been
compelled to hold themselves sloof