Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-01-04


sessnent OF the tax compulsory and the other to
vote small amount of the fund now at your disposal
each district which shall raise by taxation an equa
amount Tor the establishment of district library re
commend TO your favorable consideration the la,te
mode, under belief that it would meet with more pe
herai appreciation than compulsory and en-
st an interest IN behalf OF those establishments that wi
ony insure the ultimate introduction of them into tb
several school districts, but increase their usefulness
our common school system still labors under embar
easements arising from inadequate supply of wei
quallhed teachers. Our colleges and academies hav.
heretofore been relied on 10 supply 10 considera bla
extent this deficiency but il has been quite evident fo
some tlme that further provision ought to be made b,
legislative authority, to satisfy the public in this
respect.
The departments for educating common school teach
ers erected under the patronage of the State in eight
the academies have been in operation about two wears
ana the last reports from the present favorable results
Inc ndmoer OF students attending them is steadily in
creasing they resorted sources for supplying
the demand for teachers and the services or those in
struced IN them are on that account considered more
valuable, and readily command higher rate Of compen.
saon.
Butno success that attend those already establish
ed VIII make them competent supply in anv consi.
defabe degree the demand for teachers il has there.
fore been proposed to increase the number OF such de-
partments IN each district of the State by deyot
ing 10 tnat purpose portion OF the income be derived
IRON the deposlte OF the public moneys Ii is well wor
thy OF your consideration, whether still better results
might not be obtained by county normal schools esab
iished and maintained principles analogous to those
on which our system of schools is founded
III the people were fully sensible how much the
usefulness of common schools would be in
creased by being generally furnished with competent
instructors 1t is presumed they would cheeruly contr
1ate the means required to secure this advantage
Though there conceded difficulties in the way of
procuring an adequate supply Of these instructors vet
the cause OF education is deeply interested in having
done TO the utmost practicable extent that you will
your consideration.
The whole number of organized school districts in
the State on the 3lst OF December 1885, was ten
thousand three hundred and forty-fve, from nine
thousand seven hundred and eighteen of which re-
ports were made 10 the commissioners of the common
schools, and by the latter TO the Superintendent
The number of children between five and sixteen
years OF age residing on that day in the districts which
nave reported, was five hundred and thirty six thou
sand eight hundred and eighty-two and the whole
number OF all ages instructed during the year 1885,
was five hundred and twentyfou thousand one hun
dred and lightweight.
The amount of public money distributed to the dis
tricts during the year by the commissioners of com.
mon schools Glcludng 100000 derived from the
Common School Fund and Sl9 332 81 from local
and town funds,) was $685. 95 TO- This amount to-
gsther with the sum of S436, 346 46 paid by the in
habitants ofth districts has been applied to the pay
ment of the wages of teachers making an aggregate
Of S772,24l So expended for that purpose. or this
amount, however, few thousand dollars were APP
rropriated in the city at Now York repairing and
finishing school houses.
The average period, during which schools were
Kept n ah SsP Of sSecf IS the visitation
of the Regents ofhe University OF this State, now
larger than has been at any time heretofore There
were more than six thousand students instructed IN
those that made returns to the Regents last year
Of these about four thousand five hundred were cas-
steal students, and such as were devotlng Their at
tenon 10 the higher branches Of English education.
II appears by the returns that the number OF students
attending the academies is increasing, and exceed
last year that of any former perled.
The amount Of permanent capital invested IN lots
and buildings, in llbranes and ph,lssoPhcal apPaIa
tus for the academies that reported to the Regents last
year. was nearly 500 600; and the amount paid Tor
salaries and compensation OF teachers exceeded
$4,000
For several years past the nature and character Of
our currency, and connected with il, our banking
institutiens and credit SYSTEM have occupied large
space in the executive messages to the legislature
still entertain the opinions therein expressed slight
ly modified by subsequent reflection ana experencei
and should not on this OCCASION revert TO these
subjects were for the interest that recent
events have gwen 10 them.
hold il to be the imperative duty of the Legsla-
guard the public against the evils OF spurious
or vta,ed currency. Ours has been composed mostly
of paper issues Of State banks. Such institutions
having been very generally regarded not only as use
ul but as indispensable TO our prosperity, II was the
object Of past legislative to prevent the abuses lnci
dent 10 them, and to increase their usefulness The
law creating the Safety Fund is the fruit of this wise
policy. Its provisions admirably calculated 10
couneract the perverse tendencies Of self interest In
the management oil banks, 10 CHECK tnelr exccssts,
and sustain sound circulating medium. This law
has hitherto received justly deserved the gene
raj appreciation of the people, and trust serious
intention is any where entertained OF Withdrawing
from our banks its sauary influence and supervisor
While the Legislature has been engaged in giving to
these institutions the attributes of 2ermanency and
usefulness an increasing unlrendness has been ex-
hibted towards them principally on account OF their
exclusive privileges. Monopolies are undoubtedly
incompatible with that equality of civil rights, which
il the great object Of free government to secure 10
all it's citizens Although the banks OF this State are
not strictly monopolies, yet they possess privileges
withheld from individuals and IN consequence thereof
have hitherto shared and will probably continue to
share in the odousness with which monopolIes are
Justly regarded. To obviac this objecsn, il is de-
sirabe TO discoatinse the present mode OF granting
charters and to open the business OF banking TO n
fall and free competition under such general restrc-
/ ITEMS and regulations "a necessary 10 ensure TO
the pubhc at large a sound currency. This can be
DONE either by passing general banking Law, or by
an entire repeal Of the restraining act Doubts have
been entertained as to the constitutional competency
/ of the Legislature TO pass a General Banking law,
! comforting corporate powers Without entering into
the argument on this question: will only say, that
am inclined to the opnon that the Legislature have
the power 10 pass such law; but the spirit Of the
| Constitution requires that II should be passed as q
two thirds bill. Ii is proper that should also say
that this opinion s entertained with much dlfiidence,
and is not expressed without duly considering the
respectful deference Justly due 10 the high authority
hAxn arar man tasAl