ilhoatd bet free, even from the appi..af
e unce ofimproper motives ; and evert.
undue and corrupting influence,
side or outside the Legislative
should be resisted and condemned:
Itnia..-z-cautse- na ore than ordinary
congratulation, that agriculture, the
first; as a is tie nUblest jntrsetit of Man,
bas, in "u
_ - progress of clevelcor,ent,
'vindicated its own irnputtauce, and
anutned, in public esteem,the honor a-
Me ;position -to which it is so justly
entitled. • C m,tituting, as it does,-the
t.
isuhsfra:urn of our gloat mechanical,
manuiUcturieg, and commercial in
tet i s -ts, it should tsar !le regarded as
the .videlsout . ce uf State and National
omtsrity. First in necessity, it is
;h1 in u.iefulness of all the
depiyetne.!;s of laLur, su twining and
-htum.,ting, in their %.aried and ruu:ti
iplici,rt:lations, all the other induArial
invite:4s u 1 the country, Oar
and commerci4l prosperity is
largely dependent upon the success
. of igricultui 41 industry.
li tts interest to important sbnuld re
esoye the (311cUUritgLiMellt, of all clisses
spciety. No longer a mere art—an
exertion of pilyzjeal strength, it has
rt ached the dignity of a science ; and
to progress and improvement the
yetTle and their representatives should
hserfuily conttibute. :ate and coin'.
ty, , agricultural societies have donu
much to promote 1,:/ . 13 Cllll6O, and
o.rough !heir agency much valuable
information has been collected,unei dif
fused. Much yet remains to be done.
More information is demanded. Mar a
efficiency in the collection and din
sieu uselbl knowledge is required.
To secure this result, the establishment
elan agricultural Lul•eati, iu connec-
perintendency wherever faithfully car
ried out, hay nut disappointed the ex
pectations of the advocates of that
measure. The improved condition of
the schools, and the greater efficiency
of the system, clearly establish the, pro
priety and utility of such supervision.
The official visits of an officer of the
school department to some of the
'•.l3y air stet of the last session, an in- counties of the State, in connection
iititution designated as the i' Farmers `with the County SuperintendencY,
Mgt' School of Pennsylvania" was in- I have demonstrated that the voice of!
cerporated. The charter was accepted 1 public authority to sustain, and the',
by the trustees, and the iustitutiou i presence of t a,u official agent to ce- '
• duly organized. An eligible site fur j coinage, have largely contributed to
the college hai been secured in Ceti- i excise and maintain the deep interest
ler coualyeand two hundred acres of now felt by the public in . our educe
valuable and highly cultivated land florin' progress:and improvement.
donated to the trustees, for the use of j The most marked improvemerut re
pie institutions, by Gen James Irvin, cently.offectedin the system, has been
tittliat county; The citizens of the • - in i's cm pi of teachers. With almost
edunty, with a liberality highly cam- unparal!ered.disinterestednesi and de
mendable, have pledg,cd and secured to yotion to the noble • cause in which
the trustees, for the use of the college, they are engaged, the commit' school
ton tl.on-and dollars in addition to the teachers of the State, have in almost
land donated. Tnis liberality shows every county been using all the means
that the farmers of Pennsylvania fully an d appliances within their power, fin
appreciate the importance of such an self improvement. ,These efforts, so
institurion, and will subpart and En:- creditable t., them, have been highly
sin it. Thu course of instruction beneficial in their results; and - cleatly
Will-he thorough and piactical:Scien- prove the necessity, and t point with
tific and practical agriculture. with - the unerring certainty to the estahrlish
-taiu,o: branches of academic education, I me ntoiStateNormal schools. i'eachers'
will be taught, and the effort will be meetingsfor n day Lave given place to
to make good farmers, good scholars, institutions for a week; and these again
and g•md citizens. jto numerous Nornitl meetings con ! .
Whilst individual liberality and en- tinning from one to three months. - At
ergy have dorm much and will do more every step in this progression, it has
for this institution, an appropriations become more apparent that, perrna
tiy the State, in such a: um as tlmLeg- tient institutions, with their proper
Mature- may deem proper. would not professors and appliances, which -noth
only'aid and micron age this laudable ing hut the power of the . State can
enterprise, but wurald be air honorable provide, are deinauded by, and would
and jut recognition of this important meet the wants of the system and the
ietore*ts involved, occasion.
tiuti with some of the departmeuts of
ty,tuld larguly emittilutte. The
impotiance ~f such a but eau, properly
orgauized, :b au aid to the adt atice
taunt (if aglicultural knowledge and
;he success of agtienhural jut:int:try,
catittut easily be twer-ebtimated. The
ou-hject is earnestly 'cuumzended to
your attentittn.
Tar: laws now in operation, regula
kng man ullicturiog anal tattler improve
meta c ampanies, arc i.l some c•t' their
prThrisi,oil too E evcrely restrictive,
'Ntrci t‘huurd lie modified. Legislation
21in tirrse stihjects has heretofore tend
l'in.to restrain the investment of capi
-I,d—cheek industry, - and curb the en
'orgy of the people it/ the prosecution
thine ices that aid the (level
.°ltipret of our immense resources, and '
ceottibuto so•largely to the wealth
laird prosperity of the State. Liberal
;'aildrjudicious legislation—encouraging
itldiFidttal eine/ pi ise—ioviting the in;
•*;testment of capital . and stimulating
ttlielvat iou"s depaittnents of ninumac 7
•4uandand mechanicalinduitry, would
'irtiatly promote the interests of the
:people—increase our: revenues, and
41iive•to the Cotnmenwealth that prom
..litience and position, in the sisterhood
• :45f States, to which The character of
ltar titiyens and her illitnitablo natu
resources justly entitle her. To
:thia !Subject your attention is itiv:ted.
r''4hbrepuitofthe?ulietintuudeutof
Common Schools wall exhibit to you
their - .untlittottAied thpF! gebtral
rations of the .'system -throughout thei
.Cokinupwealib, cluringllie OA year.
Tn the veloahie and suggestions
-of - the report, 1 u;oulti - ' earnestly ask
the atention of the Legislature.
Theo peration antPresults of the ay .
s
tem as detailed are highly interesting.
Our edncatioualsystem is slowly,
but
surely, conquering the prejudices and
gaining the confidence of the people.
Under the fostering care of liberal aird
enlightened legislation its ultimate tri
umph is certain, When the system
was first intrOduced, it was supposed
that it could be perfected 'and forced
into : general and vigorous operation
by the mere will' of the Legislature.—
Experience has proven, that in this,
as in every other grt at social and mor
al reform, time ,and that consent which
arises from a radical change in the
popular mind, were required. This
slow process ado.: acclimation of the
new system to our social and mural
atmosphere, has been in operation fur
ntarly twenty years ; and it is now
evident that the pm iod for another ef
fective interposition of legislative aid
and audior ity in favor of our noble sys
tem of common schools, has arrived.—
In whatever form this obviously prop
er and necessary interposition may
present itself, if calculated to promote
t h e great purpose in view, it shall re
ceive my cheerful support.
After a careful examination of the
subject, it is my clear conviction, that
the system is tam prepared for and
requires increased efficiency in its
general tupervision—increased quail
ficatiun in its teachers, and increased
•
flleuUS btlpp..rt.
The expel ilneet of the County Su
lien, than from any other exercise of
your-legislative powers., . .
The public schools of Philadelphia
k are deserving of special notice and ap-
In conceding this boon to our chil- proval. In their various .gradations,
dreg, through their teachers, we are etr--i 4 from the primary up to the high school,
couraged by the example of other they are models worthy of imitation ;
cohntries,• and the ex pruience of the and their management and efficiency
past. -Itis a remarkable fact, that no reflect gnat cl edit upon those to whom
State of our Union, nor nation of the I have been committed their 'supervision
~Id world, Las perfected its system of and control. It is to be . p.lgretted that
public instruction, without schools for these selmols,, so creditable to our
the professioilal training of teachers, great commercial and literary empori
established and supported by the pub- I urn, and so honro able tu our Common
lie authority and means i and it is no wealth, should find no place in the
less remarkable, and still more en- -ammal repots of the Superintendent
cOuraging, that uo such institution has of Cornmon Sehools: As at present
ever yet .been abandoned. From I organized, these schools are indopen-
Prussia, whine experience in this re- dent i.'if the State Superintendency,
pard, is that of a century and a guar- and do not report to the school depart
ter, to that of our'young sister Michi- l i mentof the Commonwealth. As every
gait, whose existence is as of yesterday, thing that 'relates to the operation of
the Normal school Las been tried .the common school system, n „,t the
throtighout Cnritendom with unary- condition of the public schools in the
.ing success. Stale, is important and interesting, the
This result is in full harmony with statistics of those schools should be
the laws of mind and of human society. I furnished to the State Superintendent,
Teaching is a high and honorable por- I t that the same might be embodied in
feetion ; and -no proPession has More the annual report of the department.
arduous and complex duties -to per A modification of existing- laWs on
form—tin one greater, responsibilities this subject, so far as to iequire the
to meet—sod no one operates on, or contrpllers of the public schools of
-
sti t ch valifable and
serial. stthorough prieparation
is; iherefote ? . ..tequiite ; and 4043 du
ties- to 06 perfbrnied are not only' re
sponsible, blit delicate, and tiny affect'
the social, political, mural or religious
Teelingi and rights of • the .citizen; • no
source is so safe. no authority f4)r - theie
discharge " so free from suspicion or
bias, as the State. Teachers trained
by the State..and representing the
tality Of its 'republicanism, will be the
firm rupport and sure guarantee of its
republican, equality.
It is time also that the teaching
minehould resume its true place in
'the schools. In the communication of
knowledge, to be effective, mind, in
sympathetic contact, must act upon
mind, and •withliving, speaking energy,
leave its impress theme. The Great
Master himself thus trained the school
which was to reform world. • But.
now - the tool,: has too much intruded
itself between the teacher and the
taught, The teacher hats ton much he
come the mere exponent orate printed
page, and the mind of the learner the
impressed copy of the text. in thui
raying, the value and impoitance of.
hooks, as a means of-knowledge, are
not intended to be overlooked or de
'ci led ; but tile uses of our best agen,
cies have their limits ; and when ws
find the book usurping the place of the
teacher, to the injury of the mind of
our youth, we should restore each to
its proper position—require from each
1 the perflirmance of its aPpreipriato
functions, Mid thus confei upon both
the fed mt a sure of their usefulness.
As au expedient to supply the place
pf regular Normal scho,ds till establish
ed, and a 3 a v-doable trepiary to them
when in operation, the Teachers' In
stitute would be of unquestionable
value. It would bldng tog2ther the
teachers of a county -under the best
influen . ces. for consultation and im
provement, and exhibit them before
their felloW-citizens in their proper
professional character. A portiOn of
the means of the State, or of the re
spective counties, applicald - e to edtica-
I:
tomarl improvement, could not be more
profitably applied, than to the en
couragement of the meeting of at least
I one such institute, annually, in -each
county. An experiment of this kind
Irecently made in the
. county of Ches
ter, is .said to have been eminently
I successful, and-strongly indicative of
I the wisdom of the measure.
lf, in addition to - these, or similar
measures, the Legislature should feel
warranted—and the measure has all
the sanction this executive - document
can give it—to make a large addition
to the annual State appropriatimr to
common schools; I believe that all
will lie. done which the - patrigy.ism of
the
. peop!e'.: representatives can now
. effect ; and I do not hesitate' to ex
press the opinion that the time has
come for this prom: t, full and decisive
[ action. Let the integrity of the sys
tem, in its great 1.1.1 i -poses and ohjects,
j be maintained ; and ifchanged, changed
only to render it More efficient, and to
increase its power for greater usiibl
ness. :Whatever else may distinguish
your present session, it is In-quilling
little to predict, that more tumor arc
benefit will result from the perfection
- o f the .common school systeM of educa
Ph, !tdelphi . allo offr47to the schoal"
aciiqrtment, 4.he
e L (Mahlon of kbeir oniiiher
of Omit, and
. generallysuclri infortria
thin- in ielathin to theii..go'ierornerit,
as may he deemed us , ..ful , to the cause
of cducatiou,i respectfully recommend..
. ,
- _
/ To improve the aocial, intellectual
ahariral •conditimi - of the people—re
claim the erring . , and ameliorate hu
man suffering, are objects
. that com
mend them :elves'to the . consitletation'
of the philanthropiA and the statesman.
Our educational, charitable and ref)r
tnatory institutions,are ji:Aly the pride
of the State, bonorabf alike
. 16
. the
wisdom that devised and the liberality
that founded and sustains them. They
have . strong claims upon- the bounty of
the people, and I cordially re6 , mmend
them to your care and the liberality of
the Commonwealth.
TIM State Lunatic Hospital, at
Harrisburg, in its of and results,
merits our. highest approbation. The
juit.expectations of its projectors and
f 'udders have not been disappointed.
Kindness and love, with their softening
and subduing influence, constitute the
rule or its government. Maly. of its
former unfortm.ate. inmites have.been .
i restored to reason,.to friends and home
and the enjoyments of i social life:
Those that remain require our sympathy
and aid.- They should not be with
! held. The report of the directors will
I exhibit, in detail, the operations of the
institution.
- The ,necessity and impjrtance of
providing additional accommodation
for the insane of Western Pennsylvania,
have been :,toungly pressed upon my
The present accommoda
tions are clearly insufficient, and these
have been providedptincipally by the
ccmilibutions of benevolent eitiZens.
It is urged that: the rapid advance of \
our population—the gloomy increase
of the insane—and the inadequacy of
the present asylums for their care and 1
management, render it imperatively
necessary that effective aid should be II
-
[ given to that potting). of the State, .for
1 the establishment of a new and entire
ly distinct Western Insane - Hospital,
as a home to those of our fellow-viii . -.
zees whose only alleviation is 'to , be
found iu their own ignorwlce of the
frightful me'a'ly with %Ojai they are
burdened. The subject is wolthy . of
calm and dispassinuate inquiry. I will.
cheerfully co-operate with the Legis
lature, in all proper efforts to accom
plish this object.
Should you decline-to act upon this
subject, I would then recommend that
an adequate appropriation be made to
the Western, Pennsylvania Hospital
for the purpose of extending its ac
commodations for the -card of the in -
sane. as distinct as may be practicable
from the other clas; of patients and
inmate , . The charter of this institu r
thin is-liberal in its provisions, and
comprehensive its the objects liable to
he brought under its care ; embracing
the insane, as well as the sick, help
les: :mil infirm. "
attetiticm
•In this connection I would commend
to your ,attention the Peutrrylvania
Training School for Idiotic and Pee
ble-Minded Children. The aid of this
Commonwealth has her etoflwe been
ex.tended to this-institution. It is, a
noble charity, a•ud appeals to the•hest
feelings of the heart. It deserves to
share the bounty of . the State.
The House of Refuge in Philadel
phia, and are Western House of Ref
uge tlear . Pittsburg, areinstitutions Of
great excellence, haring for their
. ob : -
ject the reclaiming of wayward and
,erring youth—the employment of the.
in'stroction of the ignorant—
the•refirmrtion of the _vicious and de
praved, and the relief of the wretched.
They are schools, not prisons—homes,
not places.of punishment ; they are a
refuge to the neglected and outcast
children ard.youth of our Common
wealth-. The olICCt3.;:i of the past is a
sore guarantee•,of their future useful-
They should receive your aid
EDE!
and encouragement.
The Blind and the Deaf and Dumb
Asylums in Philadelphia; invite our.
sympathy, and ask to share the bone-
Lake's of the Cominonwealth. They
should not be dit.appointed.. The blind
in their darkness—the dumb in their
eliel'ish the gift, and bles
the generous donor.
Legislation, in regard to all ques
tions of mro:al,and social reform, should
he carefully and wisely considered and
matured. On no subject within 'the
CWitigifititiir authorif.rof 7,theT.fgisi: . oriel:: — To facilitate action-on these
.
15!tiro i ll re fltpople so sensitive ; ati# n(?:.- piest . lins-:—. economize time reduc e
-tine more-Ueply interests:Oert ilas'al the e*penses of legislation—secure
and conditinn of sociely: .S . Amptuary: unifoitnity, and confine the compani es
incorporated, to the legiti..
liOrs, as a.gineral rule, are...of dpiiiitftd:
expediency ; and as abridgments- of mate purposes of their creation, I
the liberty and privileges of the citi- would . recommend the propriety of
I en,pn only - he-justified on-the-gcound- .euacting.geuerallawsreguloti llsjek
of necessity.' Whilsl this iS'ichnitted, corpotations. Already laws o f t i,i,
it cannot -be-denied that the - ekilx-re- character for-coal, iron, canal, raii t .„,d ,
suiting from intemperance, create a turnpike; plank ; and bridge - cion tm .
necessity - for iegulating and - restrain. flies, have been passed, and in pr act i ce
ing:by legislative acts . ,-the•erafile and j have ..been found highly useful and
sale of intoxicating liquors; ; To what •econornical. Such htiv4, well ieem a .
extent thiS traffic should be :restrained ted and Can .- di/11y gttardcd; mel d 1)0
1 by •positive law, must...depend om the productive of similar results in their
I . will of the people, determined - by- con- . application. to iitsu ratice and the oth er
sidetations of their own moral, physi- cur -ponies named
[
I cal, and .social welfare. . Whatever
may be my•own opinion, or that of tire
Lt.Tislature, or the people, in reference
to the law of the last session 6. to re
strain the sale of intoxicating lirpiti i rs,!'
it must he admitted that - a full return
The propriety of limiting and re ,
straining corporate balite; to the oh
jseeclilsnaeit'd be "::::= 1 ':)fr tcb(L:iertr'cir.eve3trti'edm:
•i •
In relation to thepowers and • •
pure.
- leges of insurance cinnlarties, thi s -
plain principle has, hem overlook e d'
of r}
e
it d g l i many ed
. 13• y ~ricces~ive .
iptriaivuett:
tione have acquit ed
leges, and nearly all the e . powers et
ba t iks, without their peril's, restrie•
tions, and liabilities. This lies .been
effected by the magic el some general
tanee, is a - proposition too plaits to lib t preeision in the act iecerpttretiee the
doubted. That they 'need tevision company, or by reference to seine fur
must also be conceded. In our larger ; gotten suppleinent co:is:eared in the,
cities and towns,ehe evils- of the sys- fold: of an e omnibus bill,"•o: hut*
tern were more severely felt.- The the mazes of the.pemphlet laws. Gee.
facility and cheapness with which 11- mat laws; whilst they' wuuld confer ea
senses were obtuined,operated• as. • a such cotnpanites all the pOwers'neces•
premium to vice_ and immorality, and sary to acceinplisit the objects of their
multiplied tippling houses and places incorpot adorn, would at the same time
where intemperance under the en- prevent au exteesion of privileges
thinity of law, was not only permitted, fereiert to such associations. This
but encouraged, My immediate pre- 1 subject is cotnmimsled ti your ceased
decessor, in his. last annual message eration.. ,
to the Legislature, in reference to the • The jurisdiction rf the Courts in re•
then- license laws, says : "So • far as ation te rent c ;tate, trust;, the ince ! ,
relates to the city of Philadelphia, peration of literary, clttitthie, and •
they are peculiarly prejudicial to pub- religions societies, itsUracterite; and
lie morals, and seem_ to have been con- other as societietts, tree lt-eett gre ale
.81:meted to prnmete the coervenience extended by remit legislation. This
of drinking fat; more than to. restrain 1 enlarged jurisdiction was - conferred
its evil consequences." In this npin- for the purpe r ee of .relieviee•the Leg•
ion I fully concur. That a
: remedy Isla' ere from the pressure of\ nuniernus
was demanded', all will concede.— applications for' special leg,islatiett it
Whether the law of the last session j the premises. The courts are, there
was the propel remedy, it is not my fore,.the proper trilmnale to determine
province now to determine.. Enacted such questions ; and in all cases where
by the representatives of the people, I the subject meter isWithirt their jun
gave that act my official reproval, riSilicti•ei, the Legislature -shouldrt- •
Recognizing the people as the source fuse to entertein the applieetiete
-of all political power, and their repre- Divereee, unless in C:rei t.f extreme
sentatives as the i nrnediate (epellents neceseity. clearly beyaed die ju
of
.their Will, open you will devolve riellisetion of the courts, should nit be
the teeprineibility of further legi dation granted by the Legisbatire, ..
if arty, on thil . subject. In all its re- Be the ace of ;he .Icelt of April, lefs
lations, economical, political, 'social, entitled '• An Act to iticrense the revs
and moral, the lIIICStIOII is important, ones teed diminish the legielative . et
and its proper:determination involves , pense; of the Commonwealth," it wit
fearful reepousibilitiee. It deserves, provided that thereafter no pi irate bill
and should receive your serious con- ; therein described aed taxed, should he
sideration. If action 13 had, nray sve entelltid in the OgiC,?, of the Sec:etre
not hope that it will be such as will of the CommenWeAtle •or
. ptedilleel,
promote the virtue, morality, and true or have the force and effect of !an.
interests of our people aed Common- until the party aski•te or nertiring the -
wealth. . same sheuld pity iet . the Treasury-
ii
Legislatien, so far ae. practicable, the Convc seweelth die respertive
should be general and tetifot m. sterns ti tin sold :tot. A large
cal and special legislation.shozild not Iml-taller of act; cpeetied by fowler
. be enceuregiel, when the desired ,oh. Legi-lateres,-atel eubject to chit tat
ject can be obtaieed by general laws. remein in the - ogle: or the S : crzta . l
Stich, legishition i 3 not only local and , of the. Com an:tweet& the tat eather l
special in its character, but frerpteethe net having ireee paid. The - nem'ter
temporary—the act of one session be- has been anneelly iecreetene. ald will •
log repealed by the act of the next, cote:tette to increase, nnlees a seteravi
and perhaps replaced by one still more remedy be aft* wiled fee the cellereirl
objectioutible, whicli, in tune soon (tithe enrollineet tie, or in deltait
shares the fate of its predecessor. It plym mCalter a ceredn
crowds the statute book with useless, acts them-elves be repealed.- The
and ineteeeesery laws--rielittee private anew :a of enrell to ent. tax now be
aa
•riehts—creates confusion and uncere C ommonwealths ial:gt!, V.11(1
tainty—destroys eaniftwrnity of practice hive beet) paid hue; since. I would
arid decision —prolongs the sessions of , thereabre recommend-the ea eige ef
the Legislature, and increases the pub- lack- repealing all acts heretofore parsed
is expel see • Oar ge.teral !awe-reg.'. I subject to such tax, uele is the tat
ed
be
lating road;, highways, end bridges; paid within one year thereafter ;
and providing . for the supra and em- further, to provide that all ! . .ach
ployment tit the p.m, constitute a hereafter paesed, shall net bare the
well.digested system for the Deena). 1 1 force and effect of'.aw, unless the ttoe.s
iplislanebt of those objects ; and yet, spectively due theron Ire
. 1 aid with'
under the system of local legislation in six months alter their approval.—
nereterere practice th ve.e frequeittly Such a law would secure the peyteeat
find in different teweshipe-orthe sauce
f these taxes, increase the-revenues,
county. local laws regulating these and at the same time check the de'
subjecte, tint only differing materially- Mend for pris ate acts .design eel 'to be ,
mom the general law, but :from one s used in: abandoned, as the calculating
fanother. Reform in this regard is of c hances, or the lose Or gain of
required, and to this I respectfully , parties in interest might:di:termitic.
ask your attention. , By a teselation of the 14e,i , detu re.
• •
.r, Omnibus legislation," havieg;been ; passed . the27th day of 'l‘lari l it ,
cimilemned ahaudoned, requiring the "NeW York reel Era
be permitted again to sully the records i Railr,,ad company to communicate i 0
oflegislative action.. It cannot receive the Legislature of thiS Commettefea h '
my approval. a statement, cettifiiid under ontlf . by
Numerous applications will doubt- their pre...idmit, setting forth 7fh:
less be made - for the incorporation of quantity.. of land said company Do
tinsurance, gat, water, and boom corn- holds in Pennsylvania—its
to the license system in operation pri
or to the passage of the presentlaw,
is not detinanded by enlightened public
sentiment, and would not promote the
good order or happiness of the com
munity. That the laws then in exist
ence were imperfect, and filled to
check or control the evils of intempe-