more to amend it by striking out the words, "the
present fund for the support of free and common
schools" in the third line of the first section, and
the word "heretofore," and inserting the words
"hereafter to be," in the sixth line of said section.
The PRESIDENT stated that two amendments
being pending, the amendment of the gentleman
" was not now in order.
The question was then taken on the amend-
ment of Mr. EGE, and it was not agreed to.
Mr. DAVIS moved to amend the report by
striking out in the sixth line the word "hereto-
fore," and inserting in lieu thereof, "hereafter to
be," which amendment was agreed to.
On motion of Mr. DAVIS,
Said report was further amended, by striking
out in the third line, first section, these words,
"the present fund for the support of free and
common schools."
The question being on agreeing to the amend-
ment of Mr. BISER,
Mr. RIDGELY moved to postpone the further
consideration of the report indefinitely.
Mr. DAVIS demanded the yeas and nays on the
motion, which were ordered.
Mr. THOMAS made some remarks, which will
be published hereafter.
Mr. BISER agreed with his colleague in every
word he had uttered; but it became necessary
for him to say a single word in regard to the
amendment, which he (Mr. B.,) had offered, the
effect of which would be, if carried, to distribute
the school fund equally throughout the State, ac-
cording to the white population, a doctrine which
he had ever advocated. He was not disposed to
disturb the school system; he was perfectly wil-
ling to let it remain as it was. The county of
Frederick had been active in her operations in
regard to the school fund. They now paid an
annual tax of $8000, to keep up the school sys-
tem in said county, in addition to the school fund.
He could not speak of the school system being as
perfect in his county as the gentleman from Queen
Anne's (Mr. Spencer,) spoke of the perfection of
the system in his (Queen Anne's,) county.
He (Mr. B.,) had made careful estimates, and
found that every free white citizen in the county
of Queen Anne's, received at the rate of thirty-
five cents from the school fund; and that in his
(Mr. B's.) county, they only received at the rate
of eleven cents. If a new system was to be
adopted, be was determined to make an effort to
bring about a nearer equality. He was willing
to vote for a postponement, and leave the matter
as it now stood; but if there was to be a general
supervision, he thought that Frederick county
should come in for a proper share. Not only was
Queen Anne's receiving this large amount over
and above what Frederick, Washington, and Allegany
counties were receiling, according to white
population; but in other counties in the State.
whose population was even smaller than that of
Queen Anne's, the disproportion was still greater.
It was for this reason he had offered his amendment.
It was white population alone by which
this fund should be disbursed for it was only that
102 |
class who derived benefit from it. The late period
of the session—time being very precious—
prevented him from saying more on this all absorbing
question; it was a matter in which he
had ever felt a deep and abiding interest. If the
subject was acted on, be hoped his amendment
would pass, so as to deal out justice to all. It
being a common fund, it should be fairly disbursed.
Mr. DAVIS said he deaired to reply to the extraordinary
remarks just fallen from the gentle-
man from Frederick, [Mr. Thomas.] The gentleman,
for effect, and to create prejudice against
this school system, raises the bug-bear of taxation.
He cannot consent, he says, that additional,
taxes shall be imposed upon the people. Does
not the gentleman know—he certainly ought to
know—that the school fund is derived from other
sources than taxation; that the interest upon the
surplus revenue received from the United States,
and an annual bonus from the banks of the State,
constitute the present fund?
Mr. BRENT, of Baltimore city, rose to a point
of order.
Mr. DAVIS hoped no difficulty about points of
order would be interposed to prevent the reply
which ought to be made to the gentleman from
Frederick.
Mr. BRENT insisted that the debate was out of
order; but afterwards withdrew his point of or-
der.
Mr. DAVIS insisted upon his right to proceed.
The gentleman from Frederick not only raised
the bugbear of taxation, but objects to the elec-
tion of a general superintendant, upon the ground
that the people in one section of the State are not
capable of judging of the fitness and qualification
of a person for that office in another part of the
State. He asks, how can the people on the Eastern
Shore judge of the qualifications of a candidate
for that office, residing on the Western
Shore? This is, indeed, an extraordinary objection,
coming from the gentleman from Frederick.
How long since he thought the people on the
Eastern Shore capable of judging of the qualifications
of a candidate for the important office of
Governor of the State, residing on the Western
Shore? since he told the people of Worcester
that they were capable of judging of the qualifi-
cations of a candidate for Governor, residing in
Frederick? and how many days is it since he ad-
vocated the election of a Board of Public Works
by the people? since he said, by his votes and his
speeches, that the people of Harford were well
qualified to judge of the fitness of a candidate for
that office, residing in Allegany?
Why, the gentleman completely stultifies him-
self; contradicts and denies his own course in
this Convention. If the gentleman would take
the trouble to examine the mass of information
which has been, by order of this Convention,
collected and referred to the committee on education,
he would see that from Maine to Alabama,
without an exception, this office of general su-
perintendant, which he now opposed, because the
people, as he says, are not capable of selecting
the officer, was the foundation, was held to be |
