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431] The Maryland Constitution of 1864. 85
was to serve only in case of the death or disqualification of
the other,"0 was done away with, and the more common
sense plan substituted by which only one Sheriff was to
be elected, and the Governor by appointment to fill any
vacancies.
We now come to an article which was one of the great-
est merits of the Constitution. It was entirely new, and
provided for a state system of education. For years be-
fore this time numerous attempts had been made at the
various sessions of the Legislature to inaugurate some
sort of a general educational system, but for one reason
or another these attempts had always resulted in failure.
The sentiment of the members of the Convention was
practically a unit in favor of provisions of this character,
and they were backed in this by a large majority of the
people of the state. Mr. Cushing of Baltimore City, chair-
man of the Committee on Education, submitted the unani-
mous report of that committee,196 which was finally adopted
with changes mostly of a minor character. In its final
form it provided as follows:197 within thirty days after the
ratification of the Constitution by the people, the Gover-
nor was to appoint, subject to the confirmation of the
Senate at its first session thereafter, a State Superintendent
of Public Instruction, the term of office to be four years,
and the salary $2500 a year, with certain sums for travel-
ling and incidental expenses which were to be fixed by the
General Assembly.
This officer was to report to the General Assembly
within thirty days after the commencement of its first ses-
sion under the new Constitution, an uniform system of
free Public Schools. He was also to perform such other
duties pertaining to his office as should from time to time
be prescribed by law. The Governor of the State, the
Lieutenant-Governor, the Speaker of the House of Dele-
195 Constitution of 1850-1, Art. iv, sec. 20.
196 Proc., 372-3. 197 Art. viii.
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