■Boirfoti) lifliiim mh ftroiiclf. BY DAVID OYER. <;oiEPi\oirs imm. \ Tv the llmorahit f 'iclSeii/ilor * nrui JHe rubers ' < f the House, of R'pmentaiiv es of the | Guteral AsseAbly. Gkxtlkmkx —A kind Providence has rr.oarly biess.-d our LVirmnon wealth dnring ! the past year. No foreign war, uv internal I strife have interrupted or destroyed the :>acefal yuiet of our homes. All the i _-reut interests of the people iiave been e:u- 1 .neatly prosperous. The earth, in rich ! abundance, has. yielded hs increase to sup jiiy our wants, aud reward with her bouu- ' ties the labor of the husbandman. Labor, ] in every department of manufacturing and I mechanical industry, has been stimulated i ;.nd encouraged- 14m ravages of disease and the horrors of the pestilence hare •>! avoided from us; and whilst the cry of : humaA s-tifforing from other States, has been •an! in viViog our sympathy wn i aid, we!, i rive been blessed with heahh aud per- , milted to tny v the comforts and happiness i.f social life. To 'dim who hath bestowed iiiesf blessings upc bs, and upon whose ! ■ ire we are aonstanftY .'lepertient, should .-overpaid the wUl.'lig hounge of our i grateful heaits The report of the .State I'Vou'lirer wil; > riiiljit i < jou, in detail, the .operations u! hi- department. Hie re-wits are uio*e sat isfactory arid encouraging than wfe." *' u! j • hated. ' A The recoi; ts :;{ the Treasury for the .'*■ j . U war ending November 39, 1855, iueiu hiu-' ilie balance in ilw Treasury on the Ist * •lay of December, 1854, ($1,240,928 72; amounted Jo $0,631,402 *3. The total ivmmts for the same period were $">,385,- • 7 '5 52: lenviatf n balance in the Treasury <>n the 30tfc Nov 697 31. .No lu.mS, i'Worary or other wise, were negotiated duAPg 'ho } a *t fiscal ear, thev were not jofJHired by ilia, wants of the Treasury. The receipts during the past tear f iroiu -!i sources, (exelouing the balance in the . Treasure on tlie first day of Decern bo/. 1 *54.) were $5,390,4.4 11. The ordinary ' expenditures for the same period, including' the interest on the public oeut, were sl,- • 159,512 28, showing an iscos. of re ceipts over ordinary expenditures of sl," 250,961 83. The extrannliit&ry paVnurtts for the vnr were 51,246,193 *24. as follows, viz:—-To the e 44 do, 198,200 00 'Total funded deLt. §39,216,707 54 Unfunded debt, viz: Belief note* in circulation, 650,163 00 Interest *netic creditors, 82.932 74 897,528 65 Total :,bt, Doc. 1 :,\ t 4( 5 111,236 39 A Weekly Paper, Devoted to Literature, Politics, the Arts, Sciences tgriculture, &c., Ac —Terms: Two Dollars per annum. S trie merit showing the imtehteilness of He Vommn iwatth on the I*/ dmj of De cember, 1854, ai per Auditor General's Report. Funded debt, vii: <5 per cent loans $592,104 93 d <*" 30.004,009 97 di d ( ' do Bti.-S.2uu UU 4 110 4" 100,000 oo Total funded debt, $40,084,914 90 refunded debt, via: Relief notes in circulation, $494,301 00 lu'st certificates outstanding 24,857 21 Do unclaimed, 4.448 38 Interest on outstanding and unclaimed certificates, when funded, 1.870 97 Domestic creditors certificates, 2,7 l 7 til Balance of temporary loan of April 19, 1853* 560,000 00 Balance of temporary loan of Mnv 9, 1854 , 400,435 07 Total unfunded debt & tem porary loans, $1,538,680 34 To these should be added the following relief notes, not included in the relief notes' I in circulation, viz: Relief notes tuadc by the Lancaster Bank, not charged on State Treas urer's books, §25,000 00 Relief imles put in circu i latum September, 18.54, * an 1 not redeemed De cember 1, 1854, 50,000 00 75,000 00 Total pal. debt, Decem ber L 1854. $41,699,595 74 Do 1851, 40,114,236 39 Increase of debt in •> yrs. S 1,554,359 35 The funded and ~'aliUided debt,including unpaid temporary iMh3*. u the l.t day of December, 1655, the cid'B£? t>f the last ti*eal year, as per report of the Auditor General and State Treasurer, was as fellows, to wit: Funded debt, * 6 (ici* cent loan, $u16,1. >4 93 • i uo do, 38^105, 44J >4 4 4 do do 385,2f10 00 4 do do, 100,000 00 Total funded debt, §39,307,800 47 i Unfunded debt, viz: Relief notes in circulation, §268,773 00 In'st certificates outstanding, 29,1n?' 27) Domestic ei editors, 1,264 00 Balance of temporary loan April 19, 1853, 525-000 00 Balance of temporary loan of May 9, 1854, ' 346,090 00 Total unfunded debt, 1,1641,194 25 Total debt Dee. 1, '55, 4i,067,994 72 Total debt, as above sta ted, Dec 1, 1854. 41,008,595 74 Do do Dec. 1, 1855, 41,067,994 72 Decrease during fiscal yr. §630,601 02 This statement exhibits the gratifying fact that during the fiscal year ending No vember 30,185.5, the indebtedness of the Commonwealth has been reduced $630,- Oul 02. 1 luring the same period large appropriations and payments were made ; for the completion of the new Portage Railroad, rehiring the track of tint (Jo- Inmbia railroad attd for other purj-OMs. — Theke demands upon the treasury were, without the aid of loans, promptly paid. Refusing to undertake any new schemes of internal improvement, limiting all ap propriations to the actual demand* of the occasion, practising strict economy in all departments of the government and hold ing the receiving and disbuisit.g agents of the Commonwealth to a rigid accountabili ty, will greatly reduce the expenditures, and, under ordinary circumstances, leave an anr.uat surplus of the revenues to be ap i piied to the redeuiptiou of the public debt. The estimated receipts and expendi tures for the current fiscal year will be pre ' sented to yon in the report of the Stat.j ' Treasurer. The receipts from the usual sources of revenue, above the ordinary ex penditures, may exceed tlie sutu of one juil— j lioti and a half of dollars. These estimate* ' may approximate the true result, but can not be relied upon with certainty. By the 38th section of the act of the ♦ 16th of April, 1845, entitled "An Act to provide for the ordinary expenses of gov ernment, the repair of the canals and rail roads of the State, and other claims upou the Commonwealth," the Governor was au thorized to cause certificates of State stock to be issued j all persons or bodies corpo rate holding certificates for the payment of interest on the funded debt of the State which fell due ou the Ist day of August, 1842, the Ist days of Februarv* and August > 1843, and the Ist days of February and August, 1844: in an amount cquai to the amount of certificates so held, upou the de livering tip said certificates to the Auditor General. In pursuance of the authority thus given, certificates of State stock to the amount of four millions, one hundred ami five thousand,me hundred and fifty dollars and twenty cents, bearing interest at the rate of five per cent' per annum, payable 1 semi-annually, on the Ist days of February and August iii each year, and redeemable on or after the Ist day of August 1855, were Issued. The minimum period fixed by law for the redemption of these certificates, expired on tlie 6r*t day of August last. No provision has been made for their renewal or redemption. Although by the terms of tlie act author- | tzme these certificates of State stock, asal ; so by the conditions of flic certificates is j sued in pursuance thereof, the time of pay- | ; '"cut , after the expiration of the minimum I penod: is optional with the debtor—the ( omtnonwealth— yet a due regard to the credit of the State requires that provision • should be made for their renewal or re j demplion. To redeem these certificates a ■ loan would become necessary, as a loan can- j ! not be effected, in the present financial eon- i i uiti?n of the country, on terms more fa j verable to the State, than those on which these certificates were issued. I wou]d frec j ouimeud that authority be given to issue the bonds of the Commonwealth in renewal of said certificates, bearing interest at the rate of five per cent, per annum, payable semi annually, aud redeemable on or after the ' expiration of twenty years; and tbat tip- ■ ; bonds be issued with coupons or ccrtifi- ; j eaten of interest attached, in sums equal ' in amount to the semi-annual interest there ! on, payable on the first davs of February aud August in each and every vcar, at such j place as may be designated." This change in the form and character of the ccrtifi- j rates, it is believed, will be so advanta geous to the holders, without increasing the liabilities of the Commonwealth, as to iu ; duce a willing and prompt exchange, at a 1 , premium, for the bonds proposed to be is- I ' sued. I The condition of the public works, their tfeueraJ operation, and the receipts and ex | jieuuitures for the past fiscal year, wiil bo ' | presented to you in the report of the (Ansa! j ! Commissioners. The aggregate receipts at the Treasury from the public works, for the year ending November 30, 1855, were $ 1,942,376 71. 1 The aggregate expenditures, including ordi i nary and extraordinary payments, for the 'same period, amounted to §1,838,791 Is,' showing an excess of receipts, over ail ex penditures, of $103,585 53. I he extraordinary payments for the same year, (excluding $ 138,100 00 paid for re laying the south track of the Columbia ' Railroad, and §'28,000 00 for re-building the 1 reeport Aqueduct,! were §690,427 : 1 8. The ordinary expenditures were sl,- 148,363 4u. Aggregate receipts as above stated, §1.942.376 71 Ordinary expenditure.:, 1.148,563 40 N'ett revenues fur fiscal yr., §794,013 31 j This. Main* o-rgfUtt. •, vniajl •<(>]s{■ in i the no it revenues, as compared with the r.ett revenues of 1854, and notwithstanding the withdrawal of the transportation ljues frm the ;otin line of the Canal, the aggro- < gate revenue,. for the last fyear have ex ceeded the revgonex of 1804 by more than tweuty-tlt-re# thousand dollar-. From the abundantcri-ps oi* fbe past year, t!-c improved condition of ihe vimnefary af fair? of the country and tht genera! reviraj of business, a large increase in the revenue for toe curt cut year may be confidently ex- j peeled. The sum of $i'11,125 25, has botvi paid into the Treasury by the i'ouasy! vaniu rail- ' read ecmiptliy and other railroad companies, l as the tax <>u tonnage passing over t | jp ; r ' r ond<. This ttnonnt largely exceds l hesuru pai'l by the same wwupanies i 1§54. The Delaware division exhibits a satisfae f'wv resuit. The total receipts were $392," 673 42: expenditures. $60,097# 86: show ing a net revenue of §552,575 56. If ail our lines of improvement exhibited a simi lar balance sheet, the people Would have . less eause of complaint and more confidence , in the general operat on of tlu system. There bus been a large increment the business aud tonnage of lite (.'oiunthia rail road. and a corresponding increase iu tlw receipts therefrom. , The Operations of this road for the past year have been highly , satisfactory. The operations of tbat parti of the main line from the Junction to Fitts- ■ burg, including the Portage railroad, do ; not present so favorable a result. The re ceipts have greatly diminishi-d, and wore uot sufficient to meet the ordinary expendi tures. The revenues from file main line , do not equal the receipts of the previous ( years. The causes of this reduction are ap parent, and some of thorn liave been referr ed to and enumerated. It is but just to add that the expenditures on this line have ' been much diminished by the avoidance of the iuclined planes on the Portage rail road. J regret to inform you that the railioad to avoid the eucliucd planes on the AUc- i giieuy mountain, bus not been completed as j was confidently anticipated. The delay in j the completion of this work has occasioned j much inconvenience to the business of the main line and a loss to the revenues of the (louimruweaith. The expenditures have [ largely exceeded the original estimates for > its construction; and although the sum of j §277,730 00 was appropriated at the last ) session of the Legislature for the completion ! ; of this work—a sum covering the estimate t : of the Lugiaeer—yet after the expenditure j i of the whole amount thus appropriated, the ! I the road is unfinished; and to complete it, I and pay the debts coutracted, the further 1 sum of §177,573 66, as now estimated !y i ' the Engineer, will be required. Hither tlfe I estimates have been very carelessly made, . or large sums of money uselessly and ex ! travagautly expended in the prosecution ff ; this improvement. As aidiug the business ( f of the Main Line, reducing still further its : expeuditnrcs aud relieving the Treasury, ; | front these, constant demuuds, the aunouuee- i , ment of its early completion, will bo bailed with pleasure by every citiaeu. Altliough the completion of the North Branch Canal, before the close of navigation ! was rtrtainly expected, yet this expectation ' has wot teeu realized. TUo efforts of the BEDFORD. PA.. FRDAY JANUARY 11,1850. ■* ' j,re^ont Superintendent, Mr. Maffit, dur ! ing the past j oar, to mpletc and put in f successful operation thfanul deserve the highest commendation. Everything that skill, energy and industi could accomplish has been dune- The iar to be performed ! was great, and rendcreituorc difficult and j perplexing by the iinpoeet and fraudulent construction of the old irk and sonie por i tion of the new. The latsrjuantity of rocks trees, stumps,and roots peed in the bottom ! of the Canal, and the itsfcctive material ! ued in the embankuseut suffered the wa j ter to escape almost as redly as admitted, j and rendered a reconstntion of the work, ! in many places,indh.peKsly necessary- Its j successful completion, in hoped) will scou j be announced. It will appear by the eport of tbeCoin j mittee of Ways and Mefintuade to the House ' of Representatives in 18*, that the entire amount necessary to eopjcie and jut in operation the unfinished portions of this Canal was estimated at tl sum of $1,106,- i U37 00. The amount a dally expended 011 (he work since that pcrufL as appears from the Reports of the? Supifutcndent, Kngi ; neer and Canal is $1,857,- 377 52, beiug an excenof expenditures over the original estimata of $751,340 52: and the Canal tiot yet itifoera'ion. With | such facts lsifure us—sufi ovideuce of mis i management and reckles&pcnditure as the 1 history of this Canal shoe—it is uot mat ter of surprise, that the tpmiuou wealth and people are burdened wjb debt and taxa ' tion. ? hi pursuance of the o - r of the SIII of May last, providing for tfe sale of the .Main Line of the Public Work* after giving the notice required by law, 1 caused the same 1 to be exposed to public ale, at the Mer chants' Exchange, in theL'ity of Philadil | phia. No offers were uia£ and consequent -1 ly the works remain Sealed pro posals for the "sale or |ase of the Main Line," were .sub.sei|Ueiirlyj isivited, as direc ted by the seventeenth potion of the said Act, and the proposals rfreived are here with submitted to the I.edslature for their action and final dispositipj. Having Ift a former ootasioe presented my views of the propric-tj and policy" of -ale of this branch of out public improve ments, a repetition of the sentiments then i expiessed beontut unnecessary. 111 rela tion to this subject, my bpiniou lots not changed. On ihe coutraiy the cxporiertc e of the ps-t, and a careful examination of the question in its eeonopioal and political relation®. Lr „ft?l An.iti-rnn*') it. That the state should, long since, have bc-u supurate-1 from the .uanugemfeiit an I control of these works* the history of their con-tructiou and management dearly ae liioiistraKs. Public policy and public sen timent demand this seperation: and every consideration of present and future iiitor&st requires their sale. The late financial < 111- barrassmeiitsof tiie country —the imperfect character of some of the provisions of ibe bill authorizing the sale together with tbt an\inSm-nee of rival int.. -rest..-, defeat cd the recent attempt to sell. These diffi have been, or oan be, removed-, and a sad, yet effected 00 terms amply protective oi iue l ights and interests of the people and .:t tin: same time just and liberal to the purchasers. " To reduce the State debt and relieve the peep!" form taxation, are objects worthy the earnest afcd anxious consideration of the Legislature. To accomplish these objects speedily aud Ctrtaiuly, a sale of the whole or part of our public improvements becomes important and necessary. The Tcrvcaines ol the State.':ltdi r the 1 resent system 01 man agement of the pubiiu works are bu: 1 little nine than sufficient to pay t!*e inter est of her debt, and the ordinary espouses of the government. A sale nf these works, for a fair consideration, and upon t.-rms just and liberal, would constitute a in . the process of liquidation tliat would free I our Commonwealth from debt and hex peo ple from consequent taxation, la every measure calculated to produce these desira ble results, I will cheerfully eo operate with the Legislature. The currency of the State, in its relation . to banking institutions, and their increase, | is a subject that demands careful ami iotel ' figeut consideration. From the notice giv en of numerous intended applications to tlie Legislature for new banks and an increase : of banking capital, this subject will doubt | less be presented to, and strongly urged | upon your at'entioß. Bhall the number of i Ranks and the amount of banking capital ! be increased? and if 30, to what extent and ; in what localities? are questions of üb.sorb i ing pubiie interest." Without desiring to issuiue a general and uncompromising hostility to all Ranks, or to ar. increase of banking capital, 1 cannot discover the necessity that requires, or the • circuiusuaqges that would justify tho ineor | porn tion of all that may be demanded frou: ; the Legislature. The incorporation of new, i or die rechartttr of old uml solvent Batiks, ■ when tndispetisibly necrssary and clearly i demanded by the-actual, business wants of ; the community in which they may be loca ted, should not be refused; under uo other circumstances should their incorporation be permitted,- Tiie necessity for increasing the number of Ranks should be determined more by the actual wants Of legitimate trade, thah by the number of applications and the wiW fancies of stock jobbers and spoeulators.4-% The sudden and unnecessary -expansion 4f I the currency should be avoided, and what ever touds to, produce such a result ought to be discountenanced and prevented. In the | creation of Banks the true interests of the | State ar.d people should be a just and honest discrimination, as to num ber, locality, and the demands of trade, be hxercised by their representatives. Public sentiment dteda not demand, nor do public #r private interests require the* creation of, u uterou* Banks, In tho present condition of the finance.' and in aid of the revenue* of the State (>a addition to the taxes now imposed by Jaw) a reasonable premium should be required to be paid by ail Banks er Saving institu tions that may hereafter be chartered or re chartered by the Legi-laturf, As appropriate to this subject, and inti mately connected with it, 1 cannot forbear to express mv disapprobation ot a practice, that has heretofore obtained to some extent, of using the names of members of the Legis- i lature as corporators in bills pending be- ' fore them for the incorporation of Banks and Atlier companies, Fuch a practice is pernicious, and cannot be too strongly con demned. it perils tfle independence of the Legislature—exposes hiut to unjust suspic ions, and stamps with selfishness, at least, his legislative action in the premises. Le gislation should be free, even from the ap pearance cf improper motive; and every undue and corrupting influence, inside or outside the Legislative Halls, should be resisted and condemned. It is a cause of more than ordinary con gratulation that Agriculture, the first as it is the noblest pursuit ofuraii, has, in its pro gress of devehipeineut, vindicated its own importance, and assumed, in public esteem, the honorable position to which it is so justly entitled. Constituting a< it does the substratum of OUT great mechanical, manu facturing and commercial interests, it shawl I ever be regarded as ihe chief source ot State and .National prosperity. First in necessi ty it is the highest in usefulness of all the departments of tabor ; sustaining and pro moting i:i their varied and multiplied rela tion* all the other industrial interests of the country. Our financial and couimer-iil prosperity is largely dependent upon the success of Agricultural industry. An interest so important should receive the encouragement of all classes of society. No loag.-r a mere art —an exertion of physi cal strength, it has reached the dignity of a science : and to its progress and improve ment the people and tlnir representatives should cheerfully ccntribute. state and County Agricultural Societies have done much to ijoujoty this cause : and through their agency much valuable information has beeh collected and diffused. Much yet re mains to be done. More information is de manded. More efficiency iri the collection and diffusion of useful knowledge is required. To secure this result,the establishment, of an Aericuitucal Bureau, in connection with some of the Departments of Mate, would largely ooutribute. The importance of such a bureau, properly organized, as an aid to the advancement of Agricultural knowledge and the success of Agricultural iudustrv, cannot he easily over estimated. The suO jeot is earnestly 'torn mended to your atten tion. By an act of the last session an institu tion designated as tlio "Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania*' was incorporated. The charter was accepted by the trustei s and the institution duly organized. An eligible site for the L'oilego has been se cured in Centre county ; and two hundred acres (if valuable and highly cultivated land donated to tho trustees: for the use of the institution, by Gen. James Irvin, of that county. The citizens of the county, with a liberality htgidy commendable, have pledged and secured to the trustees, tur the use of ihe College, ten thousand dollars in addi tion to tlie land donated. This liberality shows that the farmers of Pennsylvania folly appreciate the importance of such an institution and will support and sustain it. The course of instruction will be thorough and practical. Scientific ami practical agriculture, with the usual branches of academic education, will' be taught, and the effort will fce to make gooU farmers good scholars and good citizens. Whilst individual liberality and energy have done much and will do more fur this institution, an approbation by the State, in such sum as the Legislature may deem pro per, would not oniy aid and encourage this laudable enterprise, bat would be an honor able and just recognition of the important interests ivoived. The laws now in operation, iemulating manufacturing and otlter improvement com panies, are in some of their provisions too severely restrictive, and should be modified. Legislation on these subjects has heretofore tended to restrain the investment of capital —check industry, and curb the energy of the people in the prosecution of those enter prise*. that aid the develops moot ot our im mense resources, and contribute so largely to the wealth and prosperity of tint State, Liberal and judicious legislation—encour aging individual enterprise—inviting the investment of capital and stimulating the Various departments of manufacturing and mechanical industry, would greatly pro mote the interest* of the people —increase our reveuues, an J give the Common wealth that prominence and position in the sister hood of States, to which the character oi her citizens aud her illimitable natural re sources justly entitle her. To this subject your attention is invited. The report of the Superintendent of Com mon School will exhibit to you their cotuli tirti and the general oper tins of thesysiem iltroughout the Commonwealth during the past year To the valnabe an 1u- *i'u 1 sag gastinu.s oj the Report I would earnestly ask the attention of tho Legislature The. operation and results of the system, as detailed are highly interesting. Qui educational system is slowly, but surely cohtjuering tlu prejudices and gaining the confidence ®f the people. Coder the foster ing care of libera! and eulightened legi>la t'uu its ultimate triumph is certain. When tho system was first introduced it was sup posedth it it could be perfected and fopcee ntc genera! and vigorous operation by tlu mere willjof tlie legislature. Experience has proves, that in this, as in every Other great social and moral reform, time and htat eunsent which arises from a radical change in the popuhu mind, were required. This slow process of the acclamation of the new system to our social auil mora! atmosphere, has been in operation fur nearly twenty years; ami it is now evident the period for another effective interposition of legislative aid and authority in favor of our noble sys tem of common schools, has arrived, In whatever form this obviously proper and necessary interposition imiy present itself, il calculated to promote the great purpose in view it shall receive my elieer/uj^st^pgp-*, After a careful examination of thesubject it is my clear conviction that the system is now prepared for and requires increased ef ficiency in its general supervision—increased qualification in its teachers, and increased means of support. The experiment of the County Snperin tendeucy wherever faithfully carried out has not disappointed the expectations of the ad vocates of that measure. The improved condition of the schools, and the greater efficiency of the system, clearly establish the propriety and utility of such super vision. The official visits of an officer of the school depart nun t to some of the coun ties of the State in couuexiou with the County Superintcndancy, have demonstrated that the voice of public authority to sustain, and the presence of an official agent to encourage have largely contributed to excite and main tain the deep interest now felt by the pub lic iu our educational progress and improve ment. The most markeJ improvement recently effected in the system, has been in its corps of teachers. With almost unparalled dis interestedness and devotion to the noble cause iu which they arc engaged, the common school teachers of the State, have, in almost every county, Leeu using all the tuoaus and appliances within their power for self-im provement. In conceding this boon to our children through their teachurs, we are encouraged by the example of oilier countries, and the experience of the past, it is a remarkable fact, that no State of cur futon, Uor nation of the Old World, has perfected its system of public instruction, without sohools for the professional training of teachers, eslabt.sh od and supported by the publie authority and.means: and it is no less retuarkabh , and still more encouraging, that uo such in stitution has ever yet been abandoned.— trout Trus-sia, whoso experience in this re gard is that of a century and a quarter, to that of <-ur young i.-ter Michigan, whose ex istence is * ot yesterday, the normal school has been tried throughout Christendom with uuvvifyiug success. This result is in full harmony with the laws of uiiud ami human society, Teaching is a high aud liotiorahle profession; and no profession ha- more arduous and complex dnties tp preform—no one greater responsi bilities to meet—.and no one operates on, or with such valuable and interesting material. The most thorough preparation is therefore requisite; and as the duties to be performed are not only responsible, but deiiuaie, and may affect the social, jxditical, uiorai or religious feelings and rights of ibe citizen, no source is so safe, no authority for their discharge so 1 roe f<-om suspicion or Lias, as the State. Teagbeis trained by the State, and representing the vitality of ita repub licanism, will be the firm support aud sure guarutiU e of its republican equality. It i.s time also that the teaching luind should resume its true place iu the schools, la the oouiuiuajcati >n of knovrledge, to be effective, miad, in sympathetic contract, must act upon mind, and with living, speak ing energy, leave its impress there. The (drear Master l himself thus trained the School which was to reform a world. Jiut now the OooJi lias <>o mueU intruded itself between the teacher and the taught. The teacher has too uiuoh beoome the mere expoucuf ot the printed page, aud the mind of the iear nor the impressed copy of of the text. In thus say tug, the value and imporuuee of books, as a means of knowledge, are not in tended to be overlooked or iocried; but the uses of our best agencies luvc their limit-, ami when we find the book Usurping the place of the teacher, to the injury of the teacher to the injury of the tniud of our youth, we should restore each to its proper position—require from eacli the performance of its appropriate functions, and thus con fer upon both the full Measure of their use fulness. As an expedient to supply the place of regular Norma! schools till established, and as a valuable auxiliary to them when in op eration, the Teachers' Institute would be of unquestionable value. It would bring to gether the teachers of a eouuty under the best iuflticuees, for consultation and im provement, and exhibit thciu before ("ueir felknv citizen* itr their proper professional character. *A portion of the means of the State, or of the respective counties, applica ble to educational improvement,could net be more profitably applied, tlnln to the encour agement of the meeting of at least one such institute, auuualy, in each county. An ex periment of this kind, recently made in the county of Chester, is sai l to have been eminently successful, and strongly indica tive of the wisdom ot the measure. If,in addition to these or similar measures tin Legislature should feel warranted—and tli, iiiWurhas all the sanction this execu tive document can give it—to make a large addition to the annus! State appropriation to oo;uuion schools, I believe th that portion of the State for tho establishment of a new and entirely distinct Western Insane Hos pital, ns x home to those of our fellow citi zens wl.o-e only alleviation is to be found in tueir own ignorance of the frightful malady with which they are burdened. . The sub ject is worthy of calm and dispassionate in quiry. I will cheerfully co-operate with the Legislature in all proper efforts to ac complish this ohjept. Should you decline to act upon this sub ject, 1 would then recommend that an ade quate appropriation be made to the Western Pennsylvania Hospital, fur the purpose uf extending its accommodations for the care of the insane, as distinct as may be practi cable from the other cla-s of patient? ami inmates. The charter of this institution is liberal in its provisions and comprehen sive in 'he objects liable to he brought un der its care, embracing the insane as well as the sick, helpless and infirm. In tliis connection I would commend to yonr attention the Pennsylvania Training School fo- Tdioiie and Feeble-Minded Chil dren. The aid of the Commonwealth has heretofore been extended to this institution. It is a noble charity, and anpeals to tho best feeling? of the heart. It deserves to share the bounty of the f*fate. The House of Refuge in Philadelphia, and tho Western House of Refuge near Pitts burg, are institutions of ereat oxcelence. having frir their object the reclaiming of wayward and erring youth, the employment of the idle, tho instruction of the ignorant,, the reformation of the various and depraved and the relief of the wretched. They are schools, not pr'sous—homes, not places of punishment; they area refuge to tho neglec t'-l and outcast children and youth of our Commonwealth. Tho success of the past is a sure guarantee of their future usefulness. They should receive your aid and encour agement. Tho "Wind" and the "Poaf and Dumb Asylums," in Philadelphia, invite our sym pathy, and ask to share the benefactions of toe Commonwealth. They should not ho disappointed. Tin; blind, in their darkness —:tn dumb, in their silence—will cherish the eift. and bless the generous donor. The legislation, in relation, to all ques tions of moral and social reform, should be carefully and wisely consul jredand matur ed. On no subject within the.constitutional authority of the Legislature, aro the people so sonsative: an l no one more deeply inter ests every class aud condition of society.—