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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1837.

Mr. HIESTER, of Lancaster, presented a petition from citizens of Pennsylvania, inhabitants of Chester county, on the subject of incorporations, and praying that a clause may be inserted in the constitution. prohibiting any members of the legislature, who may be interested in such incorporations, from voting, in case of application for a charter, or an extension of privileges, which was laid on the table.

Mr. WOODWARD submitted the following resolution, viz :

"Resolved, That the secretary be authorized to convey to Philadelphia, for the use of the Convention, one copy of the several journals of the senate and house of representatives

of this state."

Mr. WOODWARD moved the second reading and consideration of the resolution, and the motion being agreed to, the resolution was read a second time and adopted.

Mr. KERR, of Washington, submitted the following resolution, viz: "Resolved, That when this Convention shall meet in Philadelphia on the 28th inst., each member shall have the privilege of retaining the same, or corresponding situation he now occupies in this hall."

Mr. KERR moved the second reading and consideration of the resolu tion, and the motion being agreed to, the resolution received its second reading, and was adopted.

Mr. CHANDLER, of Philadelphia, submitted the following resolution,

viz :

"Resolved, That the use of this hall be allowed to Mr. E. C. Wines this evening, for the purpose of delivering a lecture upon the importance to Pennsylvania, of a general system of public schools, and the best means of promoting that desirable object."

Mr. CHANDLER moved the second reading and consideration of the resolution, and the motion being agreed to, the resolution was read a second time and adopted.

Mr. DICKEY, of Beaver, moved that the Convention proceed to the second reading and consideration of resolution No. 123, offered by him on the 14th instant, in the words as follow, viz:

Resolved, That the committee of the whole be discharged from the farther consideration of the seventh article of the constitution, that the consideration of the ninth article in committee of the whole be dispensed with, and that the Convention will proceed imme diately to consider, on second reading, the amendments already made to the constitution in committee of the whole, and that this Convention will adjourn sine die on the 25th day of December next.

Mr. DICKEY asked for the yeas and nays on this question and they were ordered.

The question was then taken, and decided in the negative, as follows,

viz:

YEAS-Messrs. Agnew, Baldwin, Barndollar, Barnitz, Chauncey, Clarke, of Beaver, Clark, of Dauphin, Cochran, Cope, Cox, Craig. Crum, Denny, Dickey, Dickerson, Dillinger, Dunlop, Forward, Harris, Hays, Henderson. of D uphin, Hiester, Hopkinson, Ingersoll, Kerr, Long, Lyons, Maclay, M'Call, M'Sherry, Merill, Mer

Montgomery, Pennypacker, Pollock, Porter, of Lancaster, Purviance, Reigart, Royer Saeger, Scott, Seltzer, Serrill, Sill, Snively, Stevens, Thomas, Young, Sergeant, Pren dent-49.

NAYS-Messrs. Ayres, Banks, Barclay, Bedford, Bigelow, Bonham, Brown, of Nathampton, Brown, of Philade'phia, Butler, Chambers, Chandler, of Chester, Chandi of Philadelphia, Clapp, Clarke, of Indiana, Cline. Crain, Crawford, Cummin, Cunning ham, Curll, Dorr h, Donagan. Donnell, Doran, Earle, Farrelly, Fleming, Foulkrod, Fry, Fuller, Gamble, Gearhart, Gilmore, Grenell, Hastings, Hayhurst, Helffenstein, Hende son, of Allegheny, High, Houp', Hyde, Keim. Kennedy, Krebs, Magee, Mann, Martin, M'Cahen, M'Dowell, Miler, Mevin. Overfield, Poster, of Northampton, Read, Rite, Ritter, Rogers, Russell, Scheetz, Sellers, Shellito, Smith, eterigere, Stickel, Taggar Weaver, Woodward-67.

SEVENTH ARTICLE.

The Convention again resolved itself into a committee of the whole, Mr. REIGART in the chair, on the report of the committee, to whom was referred the seventh article of the constitution.

So much of the said report as is called "section second," being under consideration, in the words following, viz:

"The arts and sciences shall be promoted in such institutions of learn ing as may be open to all the children of the commonwealth.

Mr. CHANDLER, of Philadelphia, rose to call the attention of the committee to report No. 35, which is as follows:

The committee appointed on the 7th article of the constitution, respect fully report that in their opinion, there should be an additional section to the said article, with the following provision, viz:

In order to advance the cause of education, and secure the most advan tageous expenditure of the moneys appropriated to that object, there shall be established by law, a board of public education, to be composed of one or more commissioners, to be elected by the legislature, who shall have the care and management of the public funds appropriated by law to that object, together with the superintendence of common schools, and such other public seminaries of leatning as may be established by law through

out the state.

Mr. CHANDLER moved to amend the report of the committee by making the proposition he had just submitted, precede that report. He would ask the patience of the committee while he made a few observations in explan ation of his object.

That banner of learning which had been described as streaming in light, had appeared to him, to have hitherto been floating in clouds and darkness. The discussion and the vote had now taken that course which he had expected. The proposition which he had offered did not go more into detail than the article relating to the judiciary. The object is to secure to the people the full benefit of that system of education, which had received the final sanction of their votes. An immense quantity of seed had been scattered, and it was our duty, as faithful representatives, and as good citizens, to gather the harvest for those we represent. For twenty years, we have seen the light break up, then flicker awhile, and die. A bill was passed, and was submitted to the people for their votes. Sometime after the election, on looking up the votes, he read in the papers, that we had carried the elections, and that not a single free school

We have now exhibited an

man had showed himself at the polls. improvement in that state of things. The bill was not exactly to his taste, but the people have gone beyond the constitution and the provisions of the present law. Governor Wolf, in almost every one of his messages, recommended this subject, in connexion with the electoral canvass, thus keeping the subject alive, and although in opposition to the administration at that time, he (Mr. C.) believed this course would lead to ultimate benefit. This plan, for which we owe so much to the late governor, has been followed up by the present chief magistrate. It has become connected with him, and has received the sanction of the people. It was said that all these things are in their infancy. The system of canals and rail roads, connecting all parts of the state, is still said to be in its infancy, although millions have been expended upon it. He agreed that it was so; but, if this great system is in its infancy, what is the condition of public education? It is a mere embryo; the uubaptized offspring of Pennsylvania; rough, but soon to be polished; shewing little of its magnitude and proportions, but soon to be expanded into perfection. He had listened with delight to the debates which were now going on. He was pleased to hear of the greatness of the state. Its geographical greatness, its exhaustless mines of ore, its fertility not to be surpassed, its growth in the arts, all make us proud of its condition, and should fill us with reverence and gratitude to Him, who has spread out to us this bountiful land for our enjoyment. Greatness! A different word should be selected. Greatness applies to the physical. When we speak of moral greatness, we should have something like evidence to exhibit. Man is the noblest fruit the state produces. Of the great men who have been nurtured into greatness here, some who have been here, and some abroad, have shed splendor on the state. All this we may boast of every where, except at home and among an assembly of Pennsylvanians, where it is not so seemly. But these distant gleams, do they partake of our republican character? Are they what we should seek? When we boast of this, we do not seek to elevate the people to some degree of rank. If we boast of this, as constituting our greatest pride, the greatness of the state is an imperfect pyramid, its base is upwards, and its weakest part in the earth. He had felt deeply anxious for the fate of this measure. But, although imperfect, after ail, the system was capable of being made perfect. He had voted and spoken against the policy which had been pursued. But the spirit of education is abroad: if it had slept, the sleep had done some good-it was only buried under the verdure which spontaneously grew around it. But gendemen had admitted that the improvement was owing to the efforts of individuals acting on the people. He would be content to keep what we have got. He would wish to act as a balance wheel of the great machine. His attention had been called once or twice to the progress of education Brilliant as its success has been, it would be more remarkable when the system shall be adopted.

But, sir, with all the love of learning that prevails in Massachusetts, it is found impossible to keep alive the spirit of education, without some such clause as this. The legislature wanted a commissioner, like this which is here proposed, in every district in the state, and provided for It was true that annual reports from him as to the state of the schools. there was no provision on the subject, in the constitution of Massachu

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But why was the subject omitted in the constitution? Because they never dreamed it to be necessary to lay injunctions upon the legis lature of that commonwealth, upon the subject of education. The laws had for a long time fully provided for the subject. But there were constitutional provisions on many other subjects. We, too, had provided in our constitution for almost every thing else. We have provisions in reference to trade and improvements. We have persons appointed for the superintendance of roads and canals. We have, too, a state geologist. In fact, wherever there is a dollar to be earned, we have a man to get it.

We were told that it was dangerous to force this system upon the people, when they are not prepared to receive it; but he never heard, in any state, of the people asking for provisions on the subject of education, until they were offered. But, let them be made, and they will be slow to part with them. They will always receive them with gratification,no case was ever heard of to the contrary. They must be used to the system, before they begin to think of, or appreciate it. There is no such objection urged against rail roads or canals; and yet the people did not demand them, until they were offered. Every man was taxed to sustain them, and the system of internal improvement was put into operation. What was the result? Why, the man who would now question the utility of canals and rail roads, would be deemed worthy of a strait jacket, Yet, he remembered the time when it was dangerous, almost, for a manto advocate the system of internal improvement. He never heard any one, in this state, speak against the public schools, and it was a great mistake to suppose they were unpopular. The people of this commonwealth were in favor of the diffusion of light and knowledge. The only diffi culty is, that all cannot agree as to the time and the circumstances of a system of education.

He would do justice to the feelings of gentlemen who so earnestly opposed the amendment which had been carried. None of them had any objection to the school system, on the score of expediency, and there was not one of them who would not wish to have schools in his own county.

But the object of his motion, was to insure the application of the full benefits of the system, to each district in the state, overcoming at once all the difficulties, as to details, which have some time prevented its voluntary acceptance in some of the districts. There were six hundred and ninety districts that had accepted the system, and two hundred and forty that had refused it. He did not wish to force the system on the non-accepting districts, but to make them acquainted with it. He asked it with a view to encourage parents, and to encourage school directors, to the good work which we all desire. We must soon have public schools in every county and district of Pennsyvania. The work cannot go back. The system must be followed up, and it is for us to expedite this work, and give it stability. We must establish it on such a basis that its advantages shall be equally diffused through each county and district in the state. The system which he proposed, was one that was adopted in regard to all the public works of the state. There was nothing new in the principle on which the system was founded. It had always been

adopted in every place for the diffusion of light and knowledge in the world.

Who did not know that in the year 1775, the society of methodists, now so numerous and wide-spread, consisted of only one man. One individual, so recently as the year 1775, represented the whole of that flourishing institution, which is now the most numerous of any religious sect in this country, with one exception, extending into the bosom of the union, and diffusing every where the influence of their moral example. How was this done? By concentration; by establishing a certain point, and extending accountable agencies abroad. They had their preachers, and travelling agents every where abroad, and where there were ten men collected together, they formed a class. The example of this excellent society ought not to be lost upon us.

Wherever there are two or three gathered together, in the name of education, there let us be, with the means ready for encouraging and promoting it, and securing its success.

The proposition had nothing to do with the details of education. That would belong to the school directors and teachers, in connexion with the children, when they were a little advanced. In the same manner the details of our internal improvements are left to the commissioners, and other officers. He deemed this matter of so much consequence, that he could not leave it without expressing the hope that we should have the aid of all, in making useful and permanent provisions in regard to it. Those who had opposed the proposition which was carried yesterday, would, he hoped, come forward to sustain this. His long acquaintance with the subject of education, had made him an ardent, if not a wise, friend and supporter of the cause. He wished to see the asperities of party softened down, and an impression created on the mind of every one, of the necessity of moral improvement, as the basis of the future greatness and glory of the state. The system of common schools was to be our chief reliance for this great object. The colleges diffuse a broad glare, for a moment, but their light vanishes, and leaves all void and cheerless. They are but of little use, except to guide us on our way. Like the bright foam, on the shore, they indicate the danger of the coast, but the common schools diffuse their gentle light through every part of the land.

He had not risen to make a speech on the subject, and should not, until he saw some farther objections made to the proposition.

Mr. INGERSOLL said he had intended to submit a proposition as a substitute for that offered by the gentleman from the city of Philadelphia. He would send it to the chair, and say a few words in respect to it. The amendment was read as follows:

"The legislature, in joint ballot, shall select a person as a director of education, who shall fill the office for three years, and be re-eligible, and whose duty it shall be to superintend all the public schools, and make a report of the same, every year, to the legislature, during the first week of the session."

Upon this amendment, Mr. Ingersoll wished, he said, to say a few things. He would explain his object to the gentleman who had the care of this subject, if his interference in it might not be deemed impertinent.

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