The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-04-01
cow EN- TITO N.
Action Of the Convention on the
School QuestIon-PrOposed APP
pointment of Committee 10
Draft Laws Carry ing Out the Pro-
visions Of the Constitution.

NISIOhS Oh tuc SOhStIe"sA
CHARLESTON, March 20.
Editors of the Register:
In my letter addressed TO you a few
DAYS ago, | ventured 10 express the
opinion that the report Of the Commit.
tee on Education would not receive the
sanction and support OF the Convention.
This opinion has been verified In a
more prompt and decisive manner than
even | had anticipated. When the
report was taken up in Committee OF
the Whole this morning and read, a
feeling OF disappointment and dissatis-
faction was apparent upon the counte-
nance of every member. 1t was conse-
quently very soon determined to cast
aside the report OF the committee by
substituting, in lieu thereof, the pro-
visions of the tenth Article Of our
present Constitution. This, after q
short debate, was accomplished, and
the report OF the committee repudiated.
We NAV therefore now conclude that
the present Constitutional provisions
upon that subject will be readopted, the
State and County Superintendent re-
tanned and the same meansa and resources
which support and maintain the present
system will be continued, leaving all
the details to be carried into effect by
legislation.
The system of free schools is yet new
in this State. 1t has been in operation
in some of the States for many years,
and it is being introduced into all the
other States. Every years experience
must shed some light upon the system,
and develop many points in which it
NAV be improved 1t would therefore
be dangerous experiment TO attempt,
in any Constitution, TO deal too much in
detail. Such provisions in permanent
instrument might lead TO great en-
barra.smcnt in the future. All that
can safely be done is to enact some
leading and fundamental features Of the
system, and leave the enforcement OF
those general provisions to the wisdom
and fidelity OF the Legislature. And If
the people, in their selection OF members
of the Legislature, shall infuse into
them half the zeal which now animates
the Convention in support of the free
school system, the interests OF that wise
and enlightened policy will be in no
danger of suffering. Such are the views
Of the leading aud distinguished friends
of the free school system here, both
Democrats and Republicans, and they
are no doub. the correct views
This sudden collapse Of the report OF
the Committee, and substitution of the
provisions of the present Constitution
on the subject of public education, have
impressed every one with the idea
that the labors OF the Convention are
coming to a speedy close.
Mr.. Faulkner, chairman Of the Com
mittee on Revision, has now reported
the first ten articles of the Constitution
for the final action of the body, and so
soon as the Convention shall have
disposed of the remaining articles, en-
bracing public schools, delinquent lands
and miscellaneous provisions, they will
in like manner be referred TO the Com
mittee of Revision, and as promptly
and energetically returned to the Con-
vention.
A strong desire has been expressed bv
many leading minds in the body, that
provision should be made in the sched-
ule to create commission composed Of
three OF the best informed lawyers Of
the body, to prepare, by the meeting Of
the next Legislature, should the Constr
tuition be adopted, series Of laws 10
carry the Constitution into effect. The
idea is no doubt an excellent one, and
would curtail the period of session Of
the first Legislature some fifty or sixty
DAYS, and thus prove means OF econo-
nv. But the task would be laborious,
with little or no compensation for the
time devoted to it, and it is feared that
it might be difficult to obtain the &C.
ceptancc OF it by those members best
qualified to perform it.
The weather has been exceedingly
pleasant for the last few days, and the
farmers in the Convention are particu-
larly JOYOUS and enthusiastic at the
prospect Of a speedy return to their
farms and homes. kASAwHA.