THE HUNTINGDON GLOBE, A DEMOCRATIC FAMILY SOURNAL, D EVOT ED TO LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS, &C.
THE GLOBF,.
Circulation—the largest in the county
EllOff - VIM - DOM 22.
Wednesday, May 6, 1857
DEMOCRATIC NOMINATIONS.
FOR GOVERNOR,
lion. r►Whl. P. PACIC ER, of Lycoming.
FOR CANAL COMMISSIONER,
NIMROD STRICHALAND, of Chester.
Election of a County Superintendent.
The time fixed. by law for the election of a
County Superintendent, by the Directors of
the several districts of the county of Hunting
don, has come and. gone. The prediction in
dulged in in our issue of last week, relative
to the result of the election, has been fully
verified by the action of the convention, a
full report Of the proceedings of which is
given in another part of this paper. We
take pleasure in announcing to our readers,
the re-election of ALBERT OWEN, and the in
crease of the salary of his office to six hun
dred dollars per year.
Owing to the inclemency of the weather,
swollen streams and muddy roads, the attend
ance at the convention was not as large as we
would like to have seen it. Not one half of
the Directors were present ; yet, a full attend
ance would not have materially changed the
result. This result must certainly be grati
fying to Mr. OWEN, his numerous personal
friends, and to the Directors who firmly ad
hered to him and withstood the powerful ap
peals of the boring machines which were vig
orously at work to effect his defeat.
We are, and the people of the county, the
tax payers, have occasion to be, gratified at
the happy termination of the election—not
because of a vanquished. competitor, but in
retaining the services of a man whose ability
and experience amply fit him to execute the
many and varied duties of the office. Polit
ical and religious sectarianism should not be
permitted to interfere with, and influence,
the decision of questions like that of an elec
tion of a County Superintendent, wherein
the advancement of the school interest, and
the qualifications of candidates only, are
mooted. "The proceedings of last Monday
indicate a sufficient rebuke of the mean and
servile machinations devised by certain indi
viduals whereby the Superintendency might
be made the convenient hobby-horse to serve
their own purposes ; and. how little the Direct
ors of Huntingdon county, can be "pulled by
the nose," and. made to vote as the chief of
the great sanhedrim demands. The result
testifies, too, how little influence can be ex
erted in this county, by the men who under
took to effect the defeat of ALBERT OWEN, not
forgetting the ever-wise "Socrates," himself;
and how an unsuspecting candidate, a gentle
man of ability, was deceived in protestations
of friendship, and finally immolated by those
who sought him to be a candidate, on the
altar of SELF INTEREST.
Shipments of Coal.
The shipments of coal from the Broad Top
mines for the week ending April 30th, was
3,634 tons. Total for April, 9,83`? tons. For
the year, 23,825 tons.
viD—We have examined the " Tenth An
nual Report of the Pennsylvania Rail Road
Company," and find some of its statistical
information highly flattering to our borough.
During the year 1856, 30,809 passenger§
arrived at and departed from Huntingdon,
making an average of one hundred persons
per diem.
The freight shipped during the year, from
several prominent points on the road, is as
follows:
Columbia
liarrisburg
r,l'ffiptown
Mount Union
Tyrone
A1t00na........
Hollidaysburg
Johnstown
Whilst from Huntingdon, the freight amounts
to 25,387 net tons.
It will be recollected that last year, the
Broad Top Rail Road Company only commen
ced carrying coal from a few of the mines.
Since then, as their Road is extended to other
mines, the business has largely increased
every month, and we have no doubt that the
next report of the Penn'a R. R. Co., will show
that the "ancient borough" is the most prom
inent freight station on that road.
The following is a statement of the
business done at Huntingdon, during the
month of April, by the Penn'a and Broad
Top Rail Roads; and the Perra'a:
Canal Tolls received by Collector $2,477 42
Pennsylvania Rail Road
Freight received
Do forwarded
Tolls
raseengers
Huntingdon & Broad Top R. IL
Freight
raiiiiengers
Total for April
TRIAL or DlcKtm.—The trial of McKim for
the murder of young Norcross, is now in pro
gress in Blair county. The evidence against
him is altogether circumstantial, but of such
a character as to leave but little doubt of his
conviction.
_Thou WATER.—The Juniata and its tribu
taries have been high for several days. We
learn that considerable damage has been done
the public improvements above and below
us. The dam at Petersburg bas been partly
washed away—a, dam above Williamsburg is
also said to be washed away.
Convention of School Directors and Elec
tion of County Superintendent.
In pursuance of the requirement of the ;
school law, the Directors of the several school
districts of Huntingdon county, met in Con
vention at the Court House, in this borough,
on Monday, the 4th lust., and organized by
the selection of DAVID CLARKSON, Esq.,
of Cassville, President, and JAMES E. GLAs
cow, Esq., of Clay township, Secretary.
The Convention being organized, a motion
was made to fix the salary of the Superinten
dent, before proceeding to an election, which,
on a division, was lost.
ALBERT OWEN, ROBERT MCDIVITT,-and-DA
VID TUSSEY, were nominated as candidates
for County Superintendent. The Convention
then proceeded to vote viva voce, which re
sulted as follows :
For ALBERT OWEN:
Alexandria— Isenberg, Wm. Moore,
Jno. H. Kennedy, John Porter.
Barret—George Bell, Jacob Miller, Thom
as Stewart.
Cass—John Spangler.
Cassville— , David Clarkson, A. W. Evans,
Jacob Gehrctt, John Noble.
Henderson—David Goodman, John Rhoads.
Hopewell—Solomon Linn, David Mountain,
John B. Weaver.
Euntingdon—•Graffus Miller, Alex. Port,
Wm. .Rothrock.
Juniata—Wm. Geisinger, G. W. Mountain,
Abraham Speck, Wm. Speck, John Thomp
son.
Jackson—Eliphaz Bigelow, Mitchell.
Porter—Henry Grafius, Harnish.
Shirley—John Shaver, Esq.
Shirlegsburg—Henry Brewster, John M.
Clark, M. S. Harrison, Wm. .McNite, John
R. Wicks.
.Springfieh/—N. K. Covert.
Tod—John Hamilton, Piper, James
White.
}Talker—A. B. Sangaree, John Vandevan
der.
West---Mordecai Henry, K node, Ja
cob Longenecker. Total, 44.
For ROBERT MCDEVITT :
Brady—Jno. Vandevander, Adam Ware
field.
Cassville—lsaac Smith.
Clay—James E. Glasgow.
Cromwell—G. W. Cornelius.
Franklin—• Keiner, J. Wareham Mat
tern, G. M. Thompson, Jno. Zcntmyre.
Henderson—John Flenner, Jacob Miller,
John Porter.
Huntingdon—M. F. Campbell.
Morris—Ed. Belgic, Hem an,
Wallace.
Oneida—Wm. Levingston, Henry Wilson,
A. P. White.
Porter—James McElroy.
Springfield— -- Gorsuch, Johns.
Walker—Daniel Flenner.
West—James Maguire. Total, 24.
For DAVID TUSSEY:
Morris— -- Waters. Total, 1.
ALBERT OWEN was then declared elected.
Several sums were named for the annual
compensation, and after considerable discus
sion, the vote was taken as follows:
For a salary of $4OO per year, 6 votes.
600 44 41 "
800 CC 12
44
GC 44 1200 1C 3
CC
The President declared that the proposition
to raise the salary of the County Superinten
dent to $6OO per year, was carried, and the
Convention, on motion, adjourned.
** It may be stated that the reason why
so few Directors were present, was on account
of the weather. Rain falling almost con
stantly, producing bad roads and swollen
streams, which deterred many from coming,
who would otherwise have been in attendance.
Several townships were unrepresented.
X: Y. Z.
A Monthly Periodical, in the style of the
New York Knickerbocker: Devoted to the
Literary, Farming, Manufacturing, Mining,
Trading and Educational interests of the
State; and containing Descriptions of Penn
sylvanian Scenery, with interesting passages
in our Oldtime History.
The first No. will probably be issued by
the close of May ; and will contain ;
A Story of Thrilling Interest, by David
Paul Brown ; Letter and Essay, by His Ex
cellency, James Pollock; Biographical Sketch
of Dr. Priestly, by Hon. David Taggart ; A
Gem Poem, by Lydia Jane Pierson ; Essay
on Industrial Rights, by Hon. Ellis Lewis ;
Fortune Telling, by A. W. Benedict; Letter,
&c., by Hon. R. T. Conrad; Early History
of Juniata County, by Col. John J. Patter
son; Biographical Sketch of Charles B. Pen
rose, .by George T. Thorn ; Early Times of
Huntingdon County, by W. A. Houck; Blair
County, by Henry Stuart Greene; `Essay, by
Prof. J. H. Shumakcr ; Letter from Italy,
by Jeremy Wilson; Broad Top—A Topo
graphical Sketch, by Henry D. Moore ; The
Priest-Prince—An account of the Romantic
Life of Rev. Gallitzin, a Scion of the Royal
House of Russia, who was a Missionary
among the Alleghenies for forty years.—
Also, Life in Nebraska, by the Editor.
Tutus :—One dollar, (in advance,) for a
volume of six numbers.
NET TONS
.... 13,545
..10,017
.. 7.0 n
.. 2,49
... 6.219
... 2,318
4,367
.13,200
.$1,070 44
..15,535 63
250 51
. 1,400 00 2t1,156 G 3
MEE
.767 25 6,929 90
$29,563 95
ZIEr "THE METROPOLITAN" establishment
is one of the most favorite and attractive
places of resort in the "ancient borough."—
It is a second Crystal Palace. The articles
on exhibition are of the latest style and
manufacture. No admittance fee is requir
ed ; and you may purchase any article that
suits your fancy. 'You will be shown through
the establishment by Messrs. J. W. SAX
TON, in their usual polite and pleasant man
ner. In their absence you will find a clever
and accommodating clerk, who will "serve
up" the talking and the goods in real French
style. Visit the Metropolitan !
The Pennsylvania Magazine
GREENE & CO.,
Harrisburg, Pa
Address,
The Poisoning at Washington
.The Clev'eland Plainclealer, whose editor
has recently returned from a visit of some
weeks to Washington, in referring to the late
poison-sickness in that city, and the concur
rent testimony of numerous physicians in all
parts of the country that the symptoms could
only have been produced by poison, refers to
the fact that the malady originally broke out
during Mr. Buchanan's first visit to the hotel;
it ceased when he left for Wheatland, and
upon his return, after a fortnight's absence,
bacame again more violent than ever. The
President elect was warned by anonymbus
letters, not to eat or drink in that house; and
under the advice of friends, although he re
turned to the hotel from a feeling of regard
for its worthy proprietors, he never broke
bread or emptied a glass out, until he took
up his residence in the Presidential mansion.
Occasionally visitors who did not board there,
but used the bar, were not afflicted, while
nearly all the occupants of the dining room
were more or less prostrated. The Plain,-
dealer adds:—
In. France, an infernal 'machine is used to
dispose of objectional personages; in Spain,
the Stiletto; in the United States the ballot
box has heretofore been considered potent
enough. But since preachers have turned
politicians, and pulpits belch forth their an
themas upon political parties, calling on God
to destroy, as with the besom of destruction,
what they are pleased to term the political
heretics of the day, it is no wonder that the
followers of such infatuated leaders should
become themselves infatuated, and do literal
ly what God prayerfully has so often been
called upon to do. This they could do under
a sense of religious duty, and justify them
selves, as obeying the behests of those who
claim to be the Oracles of God, "speaking by
His authority." Saul persecuted the Saints
"even unto death," and verily thought in his
heart that he was doing God's service. The
New England Puritans hung witches, killed
Quakers, and banished Baptists, all for the
glory of God. The same infatuation exists
to-day, and has no doubt exhibited itself in
the attempt to destroy the life of an Ameri
can President.
The design might not have been limited to
the President alone, for it was well known
that the Vice President and leading men of
the party would . naturally congregate where
the President was advertised to stop, and true
enough, J. Glancy Jones, Samuel. Medary,
and other friends of the President, partook
of the poison and narrowly' escaped death,
while several others less distinguished stop
ping at the hotel paid the forfeit of their lives.
Surprise Parties.
We find in the Boston Herald, the follow
ing just criticism upon this new phase of so
cial fashion. Why cannot some.poor widow
or laborer, broken down with poverty and
disease, be " surprised ?" Why should sur
prise parties be confined to clergymen, reti
ring office-holders, and railroad conductors,
who have made snug little fortunes out of
salaries not sufficient to support an ordinary
family? The truth is, the whole thing is a
humbug. The Herald says:
"The latest demonstration of fashion is
" Surprise Parties." They had a small be
ginning. Some affectionate parishioners, to
testify their regards for a beloved pastor, got
up a party to surprise him with their gifts.
The idea was a novel one. The thing looked
amazingly. It was at once adopted by fash
ion, and became a social institution for the
season. Surprise parties take place every
where. "Are you goinr , to the surprise par
ty to-night?" says Jones to Brown. "I don't
know; where is it to be ?" "At my house,"
says Jones. This short colloquy explains the
prevailingidea of surprise parties, better than
whole paragraphs could do.
We have read of numerous surprise par
ties where the recipients of gifts have been
the favored of fortune, and had no want un
supplied. But we have looked in vain for
the record of surprise parties to cheer the
heart of the widow and make glad her home;
to clothe the naked, relieve the destitute, bring
needed food and fuel into families famishing ,
for the one and freezing for want of the oth
er. Surprise parties turned in this direction
would fulfil a high and noble mission; would
become worthy of being cherished in any
community ; would carry a blessing with
them, and would ennoble and elevate all who
participate in them. When shall we have a
surprise party of this description to record?"
llnnvr DAMAGES.-A case was tried last
week in the Common Pleas of this county,
for slander, in which Abraham Swartz was
plaintiff, and Jacob Benninger defendant.—
The parties reside in the lower end of the
county, and the facts of the case, as given in
evidence, are about these : About one year
ago, as will be recollected, a man named Kis
sel was found near his house brutally mur
dered. A man named Miller, and a negro
named Matthew Willis, were arrested charg
ed with the crime. Miller subsequently com
mitted suicide in prison, and the negro was
convicted of murder in the second degree,
and is now undergoing a long imprisonment
in the penitentiary. About the time of the
murder and afterwards, Benninger repeated
ly alleged that he believed Swartz had a hand
in the murder, and many similar.expressions.
These declarations were made in the Harris
burg market in the presence of crowds of
people, in the justices office before whom Mil
ler and Willis had a hearing and were com
mitted to prison, and at numerous other pla
ces. The counsel of Mr. Swartz proposed to
prove his good. character, this the counsel for
defence said was not necessary and admitted
the excellent character of the plaintiff, but
offered some evidence to show that the defen
dant's mind was not well balanced, and that
these slanders should be attributed to that
cause. Other witnesses .were called who sta
ted that they had never heard the soundness
of his mind questioned. The jury
,after de
liberating about half an hour, rendered a ver
dict of $2,500 damages.—Carlisle Democrat:
COUNTERFEIT GOLD DOLLARS.-A man nam
ed Nugbes, Was arrested in Philadelphia, last
Wednesday, to answer the charge of passing
counterfeit money on Dr. Ashmead, and upon
searching him in the station house, ten coun
terfeit dollars were found upon his person,
and $4O of the same coin was found in the
street at the time of his arrest. The accused
was committed in default of $3,000 bail.
Line upon Line—Here and There a Little
itl.,--There will be divine service in the Protestant Epis
copal church on Sunday next, 10th inst.
gl3-14"hen a man voluntarily swears to what he says, ho
admits that his word is not sufficient. Uence, swearing is
always the habit of habitual liars.
henry, of the Smithsonian Institute, knows
but one man among the scientific men of the United States
who is an infidel.
Nor YET FOEGOTTEN-TEO journal's forgery enterprise
last fall. Any thing coming from that quarter must have
better backing than the characters of the editors of that
paper, before the people can be induced to take their word
or advice. Their friendship is certain death to any man
seeking promotion.
470 -- " Great oaks from little acorns grow"—if they don't
get rotten in the heart before they arrive at maturity!—
Who hit the Professor?
the credit of the county it can be said, that the
School Directors, instead of a few teachers, made the selec
tion of the County Superintendent.
li It is the general opinion of all sensible men that the
Journal's influence, so strenuously exerted against Mr.
Owen, helped to elect him, Any man or measure the edi
tors of that paper support, is looked upon with suspicion.
That's so, truly.
IN A RAGE---The Professor of the " American." Ills in
fluence may yet save the school system of the county from
being destroyed by the, Directors who would not be influ
enced by him. What a pity his labors have not been ap
preciated to his satisfaction.
now expect a " spell of weather" and a calm on
the County Superintendency question. We are sure - of the
former.
Billy Brewster says we extorted from him more
postage on books, &c., than was due. A very simple ques
tion to be decided. Present the documents' and if we
have charged you too much, we will advise you, gratis,
how to " put us through 1"
.try — TREMENDOUS!—The influence of the Journal, edited
by Brewster, Gabe, Rearton & Co. For proof, see Joui nal
of last week, and proceedings of School Directors' Conven
tion.
TAUGHT A LESSON THES: sucreLn szummEn—The "snob
teachers" -who attempted to lead by the nose the School
Directors of the county.
During the month of April there were 11,470,134 lbs
coal shipped from the mines of Messrs. Saxton, Powel
Co.
SLIGIITLT Coxrusr.n—The ideas of a few leading aspirants
in the opposition party. The old birds couldn't be caught
with chaff. We honor them for discharging their duty as
good citizens.
CAN Caow—The Shirleysburg Herald. Its influence is a
leetle ahead of the Rat concern down street. Figures won't
lie. Who is elected County Superintendent?
HAS NOT TET APPOINTED THE DAT—Billy BICIVSICT, for the
investigation of those charges. The only advice his attor
ney can give him, is, to try to lie himself out of the diffi
culty. Such advice is unnecessary, as the old sinner has
never practiced anything else.
-tc.,—Like the Clown's Estate—The 'Christianity' of ' So
crates.' How politic!
Arz.a.be is down on Billy Dunn, because Billy won't as
sociate with him in the sassafras business. Billy saw the .
sights while on his way to California. Gabe saw them
through the bars of our county institution, Billy is poor,
but honest; that's why he avoids associating with Gabe.
IN AN 051501. sm.—Brewster, Gabe, Hearten & Co. They
made charges without having the slightest evidence to
prove them. Will somebody be kind enough to help them
out of the difficulty they have foolishly got themselves
into? We pity them.
ta_The Journal boobies are shooting at the man in the
moon as our "legal adviser in the case." Have never been
at that expense. The poor simpletons have permitted some
legal adviser' with about as much honesty as themselves
to advise them into a difficulty, and there he leaves them
stick, because he dare not attempt to get them out—the
effort would expose his ignorance, and completely expose
their dishonesty.
ASTONISHING !—The new goods at Saxton's store. The
ladies are, requested not to crowd. There are enough for
all. Take a peep.
XOTEILNG RERSONAL.—A. change in the weather is expect
ed soon. We always welcome any kind of change.
GOING DowN—The old building on the north east corner
of the Diamond. Mr. C. Long intends to erect a brick
store in its place.
RECiPE.—TO make pantaloons last—make the coat and
vest first. It has never been known to fail.
Vra Brewster, Gabe, Kearton & Co., are down on the
people generally, and the " rest of mankind," because
their statements are not believed. A humiliating confes
sion, truly. Better back up your statements with sonic
show of evidence. Verily, your condition is deplorable.-
5120 forfeited—ss and costs for cheating the 'United States
-55 lost in the washing fluid speculation; and now a proba
ble failure in coloring dogs' hair I Too bad—no wonder
the Rat business won't pay expenses.
--4. .41. •
Extraordinary Case of Somnambulism
A young lady, (Miss Mary Stan,) a niece
of A. Loomis, Esq., of Fulton, says the Ful
ton Patriot, who is living with her uncle,
and attending school, has of late been and is
the most singular and extraordinary som
nambulist of whom we have ever heard. 'At
night, after she has fallen asleep, she gets
up, lights a lamp, and taking paper and
pencil, writes several stanzas of poetry.—
Her uncle, one night, fearing that some ac
cident might occur from a sleeping person
having a burning lamp in her hand, took the
precaution to remove the lamp from her
room and beyond her reach. That night she
arose in perfect darkness, wrote another piece
of poetry, which upon examination by day
light, was found to be well written, correctly
spelled and punctuated, and the ruled lines
as a ecurately followed as they could have
been by the best penman with a good light.
And this has been repeated' from night to
night, each time a new piece being produced.
She has no knowledge of the matter herself
—cannot repeat a word 'of the poetry she
produces, and insists that she does not write
it. Her friends watch her closely. They
have interrupted her while writing, when
she seemed like one aroused from a deep
slumber, and. cannot finish the line or even
the next word of the stanzas she happens to
be writing; materials are removed from her
room, she rises, and finding them missing,
proceeds to search drawers, trunks, etc., in
the dark, with as much ease as another
would do it by day. She has sometimes
fallen into this condition in the day time,
when her writing impulse comes on.
The young lady's health is not very good,
and since her somnambulic exercises, seems
to fail daily. Physicians have been called,
but as yet have afforded her no relief.
Prepare! Prepare ! !
In the event of the world coming o an end,
on the 13th of next June, the - Mount Vernon
(0.) Banner offers the following consolation
"to all whom it may concern :"
"But if the world s/tou/ci come to an end,
there is one class of people we pity from the
bottom of our heart—newspaper delinquents!
Awful, terrible, fearful will be their doom!
In vain will they attempt to hide themselves
in caves and coal cellars! It will be of no
use—there is no escape for them ! Their only
hope for redemption is to square off with the
printer by the 12th of June, and take a re
ceipt, so that St. Peter will admit them with
in the gates of the Celestial City. A hint to
the wise is sufficient."
ge- In 1659," a man was prosecuted in
London for sellingcoffee, as "a nuisance and
prejudice to the neighborhood."
The Normal School Bill
In this number will be found the bill now
before the Legislature for the encouragement
and recognition, by the State, of schools for
the professional education of Teachers, to
gether with the report of the special commit
tee of the Senate on the subject. Our read
ers will at once recognize this as the measure
recommended by the State Superintendent,
in his last annual report. Being a measure
which marks an era in our school system, the
project - will command the attention and en
gage the close consideration of every friend
of general education.
Year after year, ever since the passage of
the first common school law, its advocates
have been demanding the establishment of
Normal Schools founded by State authority
and supported by State funds; such as are in
operation in several States of Europe. More
than once, bills for this purpose were before
the Legislature; but they always met with
chilling neglect. Since the passage of the
act of 1854, and under the reviving influen
ces of the County Superintendency, this omis
sion by the law-making power to furnish
means to render its own law effectual, has
caused many to despair of aid from that quar
ter, and to set others to inquire whether it
might not be attained from some other source,
yet still in such a manner to include the re
quisite degree of public authority; all admit
ting that such authority was, to a certain ex
tent indispensable. But while inquiring
minds were thinking on the sultject, active
minds and hands were at work; for in this
country there is no such a thing- as a state of
abeyance in such cases. llence, ;private
schools for the preparation of teachers were
springing into existence in every quarter of
the State.
At this juncture it was that the State Su
perintendent—with a wise forecast for the
efficiency of the schools by means of proper
ly qualified and properly authorized Teachers,
and at the same time with a prudent refer
ence to the signs indicating the probable and
safe direction of public opinion on the sub
ject—presented the project now put in form
by the Senate committee ; and the question
is, Is it right ? Should it pass ?
For -our own part after as full and careful
consideration of the whole subject as we ever
gave to any matter, we have come to the con
clusion that the plan is not merely the best
that can be expected under the circumstan
ces of the case, but that probably, if put into
operation in the manner proposed in the bill,
it will ultimately prove the very best that has
yet been devised to effect the great object in
view.
It is needless, here, to state all the advan
tages and disadvantages of the purely State
Normal School, and of the purely private
Normal School, or of the combination of both
which is now proposed. That branch of the
subject has been nearly exhausted by the
State Superintendent in his annual report.—
But there are certain other reasons in favor
of the plan, which are also entitled to con
siderable weight.
The measure is self-adapting. Wherever
the way has been opened—the ground pre
pared—the necessity created, for a school of
the kind proposed, there and no where else
can it arise; and there, as surely as establish
, will i„1, be sustained. It will—to use the
common phrase-I,e a development of the
times. It will necessarily conform itself to
the wants of the locality, and thus in the
greatest possible degree, effect the object of
its origin. It will also for the same reason,
at once attract and retain the favor of the
community around, for it will be their insti
tution, within their control, and fur their ben
efit.
The measure will be efficient: Iu the organ
ization of State Normal Schools, there is al
ways a risk to be encountered in the selection
of Instructors and Managers. Those having
the control of this part of the work, natural
ly look high or abroad for their men, who
may or may not prove successful on trial.—
Whereas, in the organization of an institu
tion of the kind now proposed, local talent
and local experience—that talent and effort
which have in fact originated and built up
the institution—will naturally and rightfully
fall into its places of authority ; and it will
go into operation, less as an untried experi
ment, than as a continuation of a proved in
strumentality, and therefore with much great
er chance of efficiency and success.
The measure will be expansive: The bill
provides that when fourinstitutions have been
duly inspected and recognized, the law shall
go into operation. Every one at all acquain
ted with the educational condition of this
State, knows, that four such institutions, if
now in operation under State authority, would
at once be filled with students. This success
would soon lead to the foundation of others ;
for there is now a vervrevalent disposition,
among thinking men, to invest a small por
tion of their means in aid of the educational
movement of the day. Thus the plan would
grow and spread by natural and easy efforts,
till the whole state would be supplied. There
would be no force on popular opinion, by
public authority. There would be no local
jealousy, for each of the proposed districts
had the matter in its own hands, and if re
miss, or hostile. to its interests, its own would
be the blame. This state of things and of
feeling would soon lead to the proper result.
Eow else could it be ; for would not the mov
ing power be the teacher, every where pres
ent and operating on parental love, which is
the same all over the world?
The measure will be most beneficially stim
ulative: Hitherto intelligent capitalists, and
many of the most intelligent teachers in the
State, have both held aloof from the great
Common School movement. But here is ground
upon which they can unite and both find scope
for their means or. their acquirements, and
that, too, in accordance with their own plans,
interests, and expectations. When, by any
means, these two classes, who possess, , the
one the material, and the other the mental
qualifications for usefulness, can be brought
to unite their efforts with those of the mass
of the friends : of the system, a new and most
important element of success will he stimu
lated into action. •
The measure will be equalizing in its opera
tion: If even two large State Normal Schools
were now in operation in Pennsylvania, 400
graduates might be sent forth annually, of
whom one half (200) would possibly continue
in the profession. These, from their superi
or training and advantages, would naturally
assume a higher standing in business than
their less fortunate fellows. They would be
come a distinct and uncongenial dais in the
profession. But not so under the plan now
proposed. Its schools being opened to all,
and opened in sufficient number to accom
modate all who wished their advantages, a
broad and high but•common level of,acquire
ment would be established, npon which all
might and therefore ought to stand, and be
low which none should be recognized. The
result would be a leveling up of the whole
profession to those attainments which are es
sential, and not the elevation of a few to some
indefinite point beyond.
Finally, the measure will be Pennsylvanian:
If the bill become a law and go into full oper
ation, this will be but
. another of those in
stances in which the cautious and prudent
policy of our State will have obtained an ad
vantage over her more rapid and impulsive
sisters. Hers will be the honor of origina
ting it, and of simplifying a department of
common school operation which has always
been one of difficulty in the commencement,
and of complication in operation. She will
thus, merely by a prudent and well timed av
rangcment of the voluntary agents at her dis
posal, have avoided a great expense, solved,
an embarrassing educational problem ; and
effected an object of - the highest importance,
If the plan succeed, ten years will place her'
at the head of the Normal School States.
Other reasons might .be _given, but these
haye satisfied us of the propriety of the meas- -
ure.
• Some Who read the bill carelessly or hasti-: .
may be at a loss to discover the points of
actual connexion between the schools it pro
poses to recognize, and -the common school
system of the State. It may therefore be
well to specify them. They are two, and are
such as affect the system in portions most re
quiring some vitalizing remedy:
I. The authority conferred on the joint
Principals to examine Teachers and to issue .
professional certificates or Diplomas, which
shall be current in every part of the State.
This is a wise and just feature. It places the
Teacher on a footing of equality with the
member of every other learned profession,
and enables him to show his diploma from
an eminent school of his own profession. It
will gradually supereede the present exami
nations by County Superintendents, and sure
ly introduce uniformity of acquirement, into
every part of the State. It will greatly en
hance the value of such a Diploma, and ren
der it as much more desirable than a County
Superintendent's certificate, as the latter is
more desirable than one granted after a Di
rector's examination under the old law.
2. The authority given to each district in
the State, to send one student annually to its
proper Normal School, at a reduced rate. It
is not expected that this provision will at
once, or even soon and generally, go into oper
ation. But when it does, it is not difficult to
imagine the stimulating effect. It will of
course never come to pass, that every boy and
every girl in the district will desire to be a
teacher. But when it is known that this
privilege depends on conduct and scholarship,
it will be out of the usual course of human
nature, if the few- actual competitors for the
appointment do not have scores of competi
tors for rank in standing and attainment; so
that the beneficial result will probably be the
same, as if all were actual competitors for
the station as well as the honor.
And here, in conclusion, comes in a remark,
not sufficiently often made nor fully appreci
ated. It is: That preparation for the Teach
er's profession—aye and practice in that pro
fession—is as good a mode to prepare for the
active duties of life in all its departments, as
any that can be named, if it is not the very
best. What hundreds and thousands of our
best and most successful men, in every avo
cation requiring accurate mental discipline
and close application, have made their way
to distinctian through this portal! True, the
profession, and probably the youth of the
land, may have suffered some damage while
they were qualifying themselves for distinc
tion in this way ; but this does not disprove
the efficacy of teaching as a means of mental
discipline. It only shows the necessity for
so elevating the profession, both in standing
and emolument, as to retain its best members
in their proper positions in its ranks.
In this view it is, that no matter how many
young persons may prepare 'themselves for
the calling, by going through the due course
of training and no matter how many may
soon abandon that calling—so that enough
be left to fill the schools, as there always will
be if the compensation be sufficient—still so
ciety will reap the benefit of the outlay, in
whatever station of life the mental capital
thus conferred. shall be employeiL—Pennsyl
vania School Tozernal for May.
The Kansas Case State&
If we had not been accustomed to very
odd ideas in politics, we confess we should
be not a Hitle r but a great deal astonished at
the course of the New York Tribune, and a
few other papers of the Republican stamp,
upon the question whether the people of
Kansas ought to vote at the coming election.
We will just state the case. There are in
Kansas what is called a Free State Party,
and a Slave State Party. We choose thus to
designate them in order to make ourselves
understood. Well, the Free State Party,
acting without any color of law, organized a
year or two ago, with a view of framing a
State Constitution. It is only necessary to
say they elected, in their way, delegates to a
Constitutional Convention, and that Conven
tion, deliberated subsequently and framed a
State Constitution. It was Submitted to the
Free State men, and was adopted by them,
the whole number voting for it being some
thing over a thousand persons. Mean-ye - bile
Congress had organized what is called a Ter
ritonal Government in Kansas—not dissimi
lar to the Territorial Governments organized
in Michigan, Wisconsin and Arkansas in
their respective periods of pupilage. A Le-
I gislature under such Congressional organiza
tion was elected, and a Judiciary established.
A Governor and Secretary were appointed,
the public lands surveyed, an Indian Depart
ment established. What we mean, in short,
is this: That a complete Territorial Govern
meat was put into operation.
Now wo make these points:
1. The Government' established by Con
gress, under which, the people were called
upon to elect their own Legislature and to
make their own laws was, and is, the only
legal government in Kansas. _Rims all the
legal sanctions and it has equally all the
moral sanctions of an American Territorial
Government. Congress assumed only to take
such measures, under the Constitution, as
would indicate its general: jurisdiction and
right of. Federal control; leaving to the peo
ple all special legislative power—all . . .such
faculties of government as are enjoyed by
the States. This principle is so just,. so ob.
vious; so self-evidently in harmony witk our
federal system, that we' oannot comprehend
how it' has been opposed. But it has been
opposed, and this brings us to the. next
proposition:
2. A class of "fanatics, as we havenoticed
above, .took it 'into their heads , that .they
would set up an independent government in
Kansas, and so they established what is call
ed the Topeka Constitution, which received
the sanction, as we have said, of something
over a thousand men: That movement, to•
say the least, was in utter 'contravention of