Litchfield enquirer., 1831-05-12


 the whole sum expended for the same pur- pose, from the year 1890 to the year 1880. in- elusive, amounts to the sum Of seven hundred and nine:y-fve thousand, six hundred and seventy.six dollars and sixty cents. The number of scholars returned tn the year 1880, between the ages Of four and sixteen years, was eighty-Rve thousand and ninety. The dividend was ninety cents on the scholar with a reasonable expectation shat it will soon increase to one dollar. A proper inquiry at this time will be. whether this large amount has been applied in the best manner, and has produced the greatest POssi- blc benefit to the rising generation. That it has not produced that result Is Ob viOus to all who have observed the indifrr- ence with which the application is made, and the subject of education is regarded. The l importance of instruc'ing every child in the State, so far, as to enable him to transact the ordinary business of life, is readily conceded. l But higher destiny awaits him. To nak. him safe member of the community he must be initiated into the principles of On- Govern ment, and qualified to decide the most inn pOrtant question that was ever submitted tO | the consideration of any man, OF community, the support and preservation of free repre- sentative Government.
 To be enabled to do this, he must under stand the necessity of surrendering some nat ural rights, to secure civil ones. be able to dis tinguish between Liberty and Licentiousness. and to comprehend the general principles of our political institutions; the authority given { to the State and the United States Govern
 ments, and the power still remaining with the people, not delegated tO either: the impUr- tance of preserving the integrity of the Union {; and that the power possessed by both Gov ernments, emanated from the same fountain, the PeOple-fOr whose benefit they were in- stituted, and on whose intelligence and moral rectitude they depend.
 The interest of the fund already set apart, by provision of the Constitution of this State. for the support of Common Schools, together with tax of one cent on the dollar of the assessment list, collected and paid for the benefit of the Districts, and to arouse the people to a sense of the impol tance of the subject. will be adequate to the object when the Laws now in force, are faithfully carried into operation.
 The general apathy. the deficient q,,alifica. tons of instructors, and the neglect of parents and guardians, to sustain them in regulating and governing their schools, are the causes of much of the evil, that hangs 30 injuriously upon our system OfcOmmon school education. Tritling as may appear the humble effort to mould the infant mind, the consequences are vast as Eternity. Write legibly upon this blank good or evil, and it will seldom or never be obliterated.
 Provision is made by the statute, for the appointment of overseers of schools, whose duty 1t IS to superintend and direct the gener- al instruction of the scholars. This board has usually directed their instruction in letters, and morals, and the first rudiments of reli- glOn. 4 would recommend that a school nNNh hNNx Ahn s.~t., ~R nsn lcaI institutions, be prepared. and ordered to be read by the higher classes in our district schools; and that competent knowledge of the system be required, certificate of which would be more satisfactory than the present legal requirements, to entitle applicants to the privilege of electors.
 Our Colleges are in want of funds. Their present high standing is preserved by the character of their respective Faculties; and the prudence and careful management of the l Trustees. Unless the fostering hand of Gov ernmeEt is extended for their relief, they must ! languish.
 At the last session of the Legislature, res- olutiOn was passed, directing an enlargement of the State Prison, which was rendered ne cessary by the increased number oftenants of that establishment, 10 continue the system of separate confinement during the night season and to carry the original plan into com. Piete operation, by cOnfning the fsn..ls cons I victs in the night-cells, and to give them em- pioyment during the day, under the immedi- ate direction of Matron; which would ren- der their imprisonment less burdensOme to the State. and mnre cnnduci,e tO thorough reformation of character, likewise rendering their confinement more comfortable and salu- tary.
 The Commissioners appointed to superin. tend the work, have executed the trust with great judgment and fidelity. They have ex- tended the main building, west eighty feet- erected ninety cells. sixty -four for males, and thirty-twO for females-built kitchen-l rooms for the convicts in which to labor through the day-a room for Female Hos Pital, and accommodations for the Matron.
 They have built new yard wall. which will enable the prisoners to exercise in open air, without any danger of escape. who are constantly under the inspection of the Centi. neI who previously guarded the male conv jets both yards being under the observation Of the same watchman.
 The whole number of prisoners, ,on the first day Of April last. was one hundred and eighty tw0-Of which Number. sixteen were females.
 The ordinary operations of the prison con ''nue highly prosperous. In the year ending on the Slst day of March last. the net gain, alter paying every expense of feeding, cloth !ng. and guarding. and for medicine and med irai attendance, was seven thousand eight hundred and twenty -four dollars. Four thous. ana dollars of which was paid into the State treasury, on the S1st day of March last