Year: 1868




The first Legislature which assemblies un-
der the new Constitution will come together
expecting to work. With the utmost dis
patch the session must necessarily be some
what protracted. The first duty of the body
after organizing will be to adopt the How
ard amendment There will be no difficulty
about this, as the Republicans haye good
working majority in each House. I


Perhaps the next thing to be done will be
to adopt Revenue system. This will require
labor and time The whole system of taxa
ton is to be changed and made uniform and
less oppressive on particular interests. The
Legislature may, under the Constitution, and
no doubt will, exempt small amount of
personal property in thehsads Of small pro-
prietors. But then the same amount will be
exempted in favor of every taxpayer, and
thus no unjust discrimination will be made
in favor of any one. -...s -E


The foundation of Republican govern
ment being the intelligence of the people,
the Constitution has very properly provided
that " the General Assembly, at its first ses-
sion under this Constitution, shall provide
by taxation and otherwise for a general and
uniform system of Public schools, wherein
tuition shall be free of charge to all the
children of the State between the ages of
six and twenty-onc years" The school tax
is, after all, the cheapest tax that the people
can pay. 1t is cheaper to support schools
than courts and jails. This tax will fall light
ly ON property; as at least seventy five per
cent of the tax on the poll is to go to the
schools. In addition to this, fines and pen
altes and certain other of the revenues
which accrue to the State without taxation,
are also appropriated to the support of the
schools. 1t will be the duty of the County
Commissioners to lay off the Counties in
convenient school Districts. Commission
ers failing to comply with this requirement
arc liable to Indictment. .... ....


The State Executive, consisting of the
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of
State. Treasurer, Auditor, Superintendent of
Public Works. Superintendent of Public In
struction and Attorney General, constitute
the State Board of Education The Consti-
tuition provides that this Board shall have
full power to make all needfu rules and reg
ulations in relation to free public schools. p
This will put upon the Board of Education
the arrangement of the details of the COM
mon school system. The regulations of the
Board may be altered, amended and repeal
ed by the General Assembly, but until this is
done they have the force of law. The first
session of the Board of Education will be
held fifteen days after the organizations Of the
State government under this Constitution.


After providing for the Schools, the next
thing will be to organize an efficient Militia
system. A few Regiments of picked men to
be kept in active service to prevent violence
and outbreaks will be amply sufficient for
the safety of the State and the maintenance
of law and order. The Congress will, in
all probability arm and equip the men.
and the expense will be trifing in com
parison with the old burdens and the OPP
pressive system otSuaequal taxation which
fourished undes<he old Constitution. r;
There will beihany other matters whichwill
he of vital interest to come before the Leglsa-
ture. s<t present. the members elect are
ssl1ubtess devoting their principal studies to
the questions of Revenue, Education and the
Militia. ..,H ..Ht..