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Mr. Farnandis, from the Committee on Education,
made the following report:
EDUCATION.
Section 1. The General Assembly, at its first session
after the adoption of this constitution, shall, by law, es-
tablish throughout the State a thorough and efficient sys-
tem of free public schools, and shall provide, by taxation
or otherwise, for their maintenance.
Sec. 2. The system of public schools as now consti-
tuted shall remain in force until the end of the said first
session of the General Assembly, and shall then expire,
except so far as adopted or continued by the General As-
sembly.
Sec. 3. The school fund of the State shall be kept in-
violate, and appropriated only to the purposes of edu-
cation.
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.
The unfinished business, being the consideration of the
Declaration of Rights, was then proceeded with, the ques-
tion being on the motion of Mr. Ritchie to strike out the
24th article, which is as follows:
"Slavery shall not be permitted in this State. "
Mr. Jones submitted the following as a substitute for
the article:
"Article 24. That slavery shall not be re-established
in this State, but having been abolished under the policy
and authority of the United States, compensation in con-
sideration thereof is due from the United States. "
Mr. Page advocated the retention of the article as orig-
inally reported by the committee. He had been home
among his constituents and had learned the views of the
people. They wanted quiet and rest—wanted relief from
the strifes and emotions consequent upon the discussion
of this subject.
Mr. Peters argued against the adoption of either the
substitute or the original.
Mr. Stoddert defined his position on what he consid-
ered this grave question. The people of all that portion
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