viii

vidual opinion to meet on common ground, which, shall bring
order out of the existing chaos.

It is true that some of the Counties have well organized
schools ; as good, perhaps, as it is possible for them to have,
acting separately and independently ; but they are not com-
parable to what they would be under a common system, fos-
tered and controlled by the State: a system which begins
with the Primary School and terminates with a well endowed
University, capable of furnishing all the requirements of the
most perfect and finished education. By the adoption of
such a system, thousands of dollars which annually go to
build up and enrich Institutions of learning beyond our limits,
would be expended among the citizens of our own State, and
our youths would grow up Marylanders by education and
training as well as by ties of birth and kindred. It would
relieve us from the necessity of going abroad to procure teach-
ers, for we should find them at home, thoroughly competent
and reliable in every respect.

The means for the institution and organization of such a
system are now, it is respectfully suggested, within the con-
trol of your Honorable Body, and it can be accomplished
without imposing any additional burden upon the people.
Should the Direct Tax be reduced in accordance with the re-
commendation before made, what objection could be offered
to giving the benefit of that reduction to promote the cause of
Common Schools ? The tax is so small that no reasonable
being could complain of it, and yet this half mill in the dollar
would probably yield an annual School Revenue of $160,000.
In a few years more the remaining half mill may be removed
and carried over to the School Fund, thus doubling the
amount of the annuity from this source. A fixed portion of
the amount thus realized might be distributed directly to the
Counties, and the surplus permanently invested by the Treas-
urer in some safe and profitable stock. When the condition
of the State shall be such (and we trust the time is not far
distant) as to justify her in dispensing with other sources of
revenue still further additions may be made to this excellent
purpose, and thus an immense fund speedily accumulated