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tablish throughout the State a thorough and efficient sys-
tem of free public schools, and shall provide, by taxation
or otherwise, for their maintenance. "
Section 2 was read, as follows:
"The system of public schools as now constituted 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 Assembly. "
Mr. Franklin moved to amend, by striking out all after
the word "and, " and insert "shall expire when the sys-
tem provided for in the first section shall have been
adopted. "
Mr. Brown hoped this article would remain as reported
by the committee. He thought the abrupt suspension of
the present system, unwise as he considered it, would be
very injudicious.
Mr. Farnandis said the members of the committee had
severally prepared an article embodying their views, and
had instructed him to prepare the report based upon
them. The reasons which actuated the committee in
making this report were that the school year ends on the
30th of June, and the contracts for the ensuing school
year will then be made, under constitutional authority,
with which this Convention cannot interfere, as its work
cannot be done before that time. It was an important
matter, to be impressed on the Legislature, as this sub-
ject engrosses the attention of the whole community, to
enforce upon the Legislature the necessity of immediate
action at its first session, and he did not think they would
be apt to neglect it. The contracts for the new year, the
employment of teachers and superintendents will neces-
sarily be attended to before their work can be accom-
plished. It is also rather difficult to say where the school
funds are, and as this may be a matter of legislative in-
quiry, it was thought better not to embarrass that body
by naming any particular day when this system shall ex-
pire. It is not believed that it was ever legally put upon
the State, and there exists no doubt of its abrogation.
Mr. Maulsby had intended to offer an amendment, but
after the clear explanation of the chairman of the com-
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