Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-04-06
Constitutional Convention.

"Kauawha," a Charleston correspondent Of
the Wheeling Register, under date of March
22nd says:
Everything here now indicates speedy
close Of the labors Of the Convention. Mr..
Faulkner, as chairman Of the Committee on
Revision. reported on the day before yesterday
the four first articles Of the Constitution as
ready for the final action Of the Convention;
and il is said be will, on Monday next, report
five additional articles, as ready for its final
action. These Line articles embrace the whole
field Of amendment except Corporations, Free
Schools and Miscellaneous Provisions.
ia correspondent Of the same paper,
under date March 18th. says:
Upon the assembling OF the Convention
this morning, Mr.. Travers moved to take up
the report on education and that il be referred
70 tho Committee Of the Whole. This was
agreed to, and Mr.. Johnson, of Tyler, made
chairman Of tie committee. The report was
then read Ly the Clerk. 1t was considered by
sections, and the day consumed.
On the 26th the subject was again under
consideration. The same correspondent says;
Suffice it to say, taen, that the tenth Arti-
Gle Of the present Constitution has been substi-
tuted for the greater part Of the report Of the
Committee on Education and that Article has
been transferred, almost bodily, to the COnsti-
tuition now proposed. Several slight altera-
tons have been made, but only such as to place
tie article in conformity to the portions of the
Constitution heretofore agreed upon, and sever
al additions made"
"The township system having been discard
ed in the new Constitution, it was necessary to
provide in tie article on education for such a
subdivision Of the counties as would suit the
purposes Of the School system and accordingly
the following provision was incorporated into
the report Of tie Committee Of the Whole -
The school districts into which any county is
DOW divided shall continue until changed in
pursuance Of general law"
4 discussion which was participated in by
MeSsrs. Wiley, Wheat, Davenport, Woods and
Travers then arose concerning the manner Of
collecting the school leyies, aud resulted in the
adoption of the following section upon this
subject which was offered by Mr.. Gallaler:
An leyies laid by any county or district for
the purpose of free common schools shall be
reported 20 the Clerk Of the County Court aud
shall be collected by the Sheriff or other col
lector under such regulations as may lie pro-
yide5 by law, who shall make annual settle
ments with the County Court, which settle
meats shall be made a matter Of record by the
Clerks thereof in a book to 10 kept for that
purpose"
"The section of the report of the committee
requiring the Legislature TO make provision
for tho education Of colored children, and pro-
hibitiug the teaching Of white and colored per-
sons in the same school, was adopted without
debate, even the surviving Apostles maxi
no audible objection
" The Convention has been to-day, since con-
GLIDING the report on Education, engaged in
considering the subject of corporations. Sever
a. amendments have been made to tie report Of
the committee on this subject and am in hope
that the article Of the Constitution in relation
TO railroads especially will be rather more
III eral ana less restrictive than was coutempla-
ted by the committee 1t certainly needs some
enlargement in this direction. The subject
was still under consideration when the Conyen-
ton adjourned this evening and will be resum-
ed tomorrow"
" Ii IS the opinion Of most Of the members
that final adjournment will be effected next
week They are al! tired"
d" A consultation Of Democratic members of
the Convention was held this evening in the
hall Of the House Of Delegates. After full
exchange Of opinions, it was resolved to hold
an election for the officers required by the new
Constitution at the same time that the popular
vote is 10 be taken in reference to tie ratifca-
ton or rejection Of that instrument. The ex-
act time Of its submission to the people and o!
the accompanying election was not determined
but will probably be about the middle Of June.
Another meeting will be held this week to con-
slider that question
Mr.. Faulkner, chairman Of the Committee
on Revision, has now reported the first ten ar
tices of the Constitution for its final action of
the body, and SO soon as the Convention shall
have disposed Of the remaining articles, en-
b7cirg public schools, delinquent lands aud
miscellaneous provisions, they will 10 like man
uer be referred to the Committee of Revision,
and as promptly and euergetcally returned to
tie Convention