The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-11-04
EVENING SESSION.

Convention met at the usual hour. ii5
Mr. -Rnssell of Wood renewed his mo=
tion to close debate on the pending amend
ment of Mr.. Dohoney and substitute OF Mr..
Whitfield. Carried. sss
The amendment of Mr.. Dohoney was lost.
Mr.. Whitfield's substitute was lost by d
vote of SO to 40.
Mr.. Whitfield offered as a substitute for
section three the tollo~ing:
y 1.-THE Legislature may provide for the
levying of tax for educational purposes;
said fund shall be annually distributed for
educational purposes among the several
counties, according to the population in
each.''
Mr.. Waelder offered the following as an
amendment to the substitute: Strike cut
all after the word ''Ievying," and insert
ssand collection, annually, OF not less than
one-tenth of one per- cent. on all taxable
property in the State, and apoll tax of not
more than two dollars on ali male lnhab1-
tants between the ages of tWenty-one and
sixty years, for the benefit of and support OF
public free schools, but, if at any time
hereafter tax of less than one-tenth of
one per cent. should be sufficient to main
tain an efficient system of free upubhe
shoots, the Legislature may reduce the tax
accordingly" tt 5i.5a3 faaa. ='a
Mr.. WaeIder spoke at length in favor of
free schools, and contended that the State
is amply able to educate the sons and
daughters of Texas. He believed there was
no difference on the question of the advan-
tages desirable from education, and as to
the State being too poor, he thought that
was wholly imaginary. He believed the
people of this State desired free schools,
and we should provide for the same.
IL Ill &I.,kf
was vested in, the State .tos,lay its iron
grasp, upon the childred of this State, and
force, on them an education n0Ilus 00Ieas
The parents were the natural guardians,
and had the first and supreme care and con-
troll of their own offspring. A great deal
had been said about the public free schools
of Massachusetts. He never would have
mentioned the State had not his opponents
lugeed it into the discussion; and as they
had, he wound say there was no State in
the Union where there were more crimes
committed, where there was as little reyer-
ence for the marriage relation, and demor-
aiization generally He did not say these
things were the result of education, but he
did know that these things and education
existed in the same country. His friend,
McC Cormick, had alluded on yesterday, to
old Virginia, the gioiiptis old State, having
inano ourated, in the days of her sorrow and
struggle, systrrII 90 --l- = Mac
sir, she is glorious, and her sons rank
among the truest and best of the nations's
glory; bat he would say it was mot the
true sons of that proud old State that lived
this day. but it was John G. Underwood
and his memOrnble compeers, who IN the
dark days of Y:rginia's poverty. foisted
on them this infamous tax, and the peo-
Ia 81 koI a slraxx
10 get rid OF military rule, and the control
once more of their own State.
:" At the conclusion of his speech, Mir. Nc
Cornick remarked, that, the people OF
Virginia had been in control of their Owl
government for several years, and while
they had amended various portions of their
Constitution, they had never amended that
portion in regard to free schools.
Mr. Ford took the door in favor of free
schools. He said it had been argued that
education did not repress crime. He did
not pretend to ssv that it always did
There must be moral as well as mental
training. Let Us give the children the men
tai training, and leave to the parents the
moral training; and with these two ele-
ments combined, We would raise the present
children. of Texas and future posterity 10 I
high degree OF education, and who wo1lo
be worthy and competent to take charge o.
this great State. and carry on the still mo:
greatness and glory.
Mr.. Flournoy asked him II Texas had AM
childrena That he had always believes
that Texas was the child Of the people. and
they could do with her what they pleased
Mr.. Ford replied that, IS he had no allu
sion TO that part Of the subject, be de
lclined 70 answer; IL any one else had, IN
gentleman could ask hin.
Mr.. Brady followed in favor Of fre'
schools. and referred 70 the United State
census 20 show that wherever priy1t'
schools was depended on, and no publi'
/ schools fnaugarnted, ienoFance and VIC
lpredominated to large extent he con