|
|
|
not, however, in favor of the proposition of his colleague
from Baltimore, (Mr. George, ) as he thought it too
broad, but he had an amendment which did represent his
own views, and with this he did not see any objection to
the plan as recommended by the committee on education.
In regard to what has fallen from the gentleman from
Charles, (Mr. Stoddert, ) he (Mr. G. ) did not scruple to
say that he had no objection to being taxed for the sup-
port of the schools of the lower counties in the present
impoverished condition. He wanted this system of Bal-
timore secured to them, and then if the Legislature may
prefer to lay a general school tax he would not object,
but all he asked of this Convention was that it should
give them their own system.
Mr. Rider said that, as a member of the committee, he
should like to give the reasons why he had sanctioned the
report. The subject of incorporating into the constitution
a detailed system was thoroughly discussed, and he was
satisfied that it would not be politic to encumber the con-
stitution with such a provision. He believed that i;
would be the most popular thing they could do to pass the
first section as reported. He was in favor of giving to the
city of Baltimore a separate system, as he did not believe
a uniform system could be adopted. The present system
was odious, because the funds were eaten up by the offi-
cials. He confessed that there were some features in the
present system which were good, and he believed it was
the opinion of the people that it might be improved upon.
The whole subject had been thoroughly discussed in com-
mittee, and the unanimous conclusion was that the con-
stitution should not be encumbered with the details.
Mr. Barnes said they were all in the dark as to the re-
sult of education, and read from the statistics of crime
in Massachusetts and Maryland, by which it appears that
crime of all kinds was relatively three to five hundred per
cent, greater in Massachusetts than in Maryland.
After some further remarks, Mr. Barnes moved the
further consideration of the subject be postponed until
Tuesday next.
Mr. Farnandis had no objection to the postponement, if
the Convention thought it could improve this article. In
202
|
|
|
|
 |
