Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-11
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LEGISLATURE OF NEW YORK

J. al Sht WV.
At12 o'clock, Lieutenant Governor Tracy announced
that the huur had arrived to which it stood adjourned
the Clerk then proceeded to call the roll and a quorum
answered to their names.
The new members preseat were then sworn IN by The
Lieutenant Governor.
Committees we're appointed to wait upon the Cover
nor and Assembly and inform them that the Senate was
ready 10 proceed to business.
The Governor then transmitted his annual message,
which was read, when the Senate adjourned.
In A.sEasLY.-The House was called to order by
Philip Reynolds, ir., the late Clerk.
The several members in attendance appeared before
John A. Dix, Esq, Secretary of State, and were quail
fed.
Aner which the House proceeded to ballot for Speak
er. when
Luther Bradish, Esq was declared duly elected.
EXTRACTS
From Governor Marcus Message to the Senate and
Assembly Of Ee0 York.
FELLOW. CITIZENS In anticipation of the income To
be derived from the moneys belonging to the United
States, deposited with this State, q recommendation was
submitted to the last Legislature TO apply it exclusively
10 the purposes of Education. This income was then
estimated at $500 900 annually, during the time the de:
posite should remain with the State. The plan proposed
for the appropriation of this sum was, TO increase the
annual distribution TO the common schools TO twice Inc
present sum, thereby making it 1920 900; TO devote a
liberal portion of il to the academies, IN such q manner
rs not only to increase the amount annually distributed
to them, but to augment the Literature fund. and To add
the remainder to the capital OF the Common Sch"oi luna
j e PeUeEdt piOpoaitiOho W
cause Of education, appears to have been coincident with
public opinion, and | do not doubt that 1t will receive your
sanction. There was, however, some diversity OF opinion
in relation to combining the application OF II exclusively to
the objects before enumerated. Claims 10 a share OF II
were urged in behalf of our colleges, particularly such
among them as have not participated at all, or but slightly.
in the bounty of the State. These higher institutions OF
learning are a part of our system Of education, and their
influence upon those below them in grade, but OF more ge-
neral interest and extensive usefulness, certainly entitle
them to your fostering care. Wishing to be considered as
repeating to you in substance the recommendations on this
subject submitted 10 your immediate predecessors, re-
spectfully refer you to my last annual message for the
reasons which still induce me 10 urge their adoption
The last instalment Of the deposite money having been
deferred, the income will be ne-fourth less than the rs.
timated amount. Though | should regret to see the
least departure from The generally approved suggestion
of appropriating this income exclusively to the purposes
of education, yet it is not improbable that some useful
notifications may be made in the details of the PLAN
There are, undoubtedly, other objects connected directly
with education, besides those already specified, 10
which pecuniary assistance may be extended with
great advantage. Elementary instruction is only The
first stage in the progress Of education, and but little
is accomplished if there be no advance beyond it
To make ample provision for conducting all the
children in the State through this stage, should
undoubtedly continue TO be, as it hitherto has been,
the first and main object of the Legislature-yet
all that public sentiment demands and The public
good requires, will not be achieved until needtul
facilities are furnished to n career Of self instruction -
District Libraries are we'll calculated 10 exert a beneficial
infiaence in this respect. 1t is to be regretted that the
opportunity offered 10 The school districts for establish.
ing them, has not baen embraced with a zeal comIuensu.
rate to their importance. Few Of the districts, com.
pared with the whole number in the State, have mani
tested a willingness TO levy the small sum authorized by
law for the purpose Of establishing them. In view OF
their unquestIonab'e usefulness, would respectfully re-
commend that some further measures be adopted for in.
Producing them more generally into the districts. The
law now authorizes the inhabitants of each district, al
their option, TO raise, the first year, SEQ for establishing
a library, and ten dollars in each subsequent year for en-.
larging it. Two modes present themselves for advunc.
ing this laudable object. One is, 10 make the assessment
Of the tax compulsory and the other to devote a small
amount of the fund now at your disposal to each district
which shall raise by taxation an equal amount for the
establishment of a district library. / recommen nd 10 your
favorable consideration the latter mode, under a belief
that it would meet with more general appreciation than
a compulsory assessment, and enlist on interest in behalf
of those establishments that will not only ensure the ui'
timute introduction Of them into the several school dis
,ricts, but increase their usefulness.
Our common school system still labors under embar'
rassments arising from an inadequate supply Of we'll
qualified teachers. Our colleges and acndsmies have
heretofore been relied on 10 supply to a considerable ex'
tent, this deficiency; but it has been quite evident fol
some time, that further provision ought to be mnde by
legislative authority, to satisfy the public wants in this
respect.
The departments for educating common school. teach
ers, erected under the patronage Of the State in eight
of the academies, have been in operation about twr
yeare, and the last reports from them present favorable
results. The number Of students attending them is
steadily increasing; they are resorted to as sources fol
supplying the demand for teachers, and the services o
those instructed in them are on that occasion considered
more valuable, and readily command a higher rate Of
compensation.
Bot no success that can attend those already establish.
ed, will make them competent to supply, in any consi.
dersble degree, the demand for teachers; it has, there
fore, been proposed TO increase the number Of such de
partments in each senate district OF the State, by devo
ting to that purpose a portion Of the income TO he deriv'
ed from the deposite Of the public moneys. 1t is vel
worthy your consideration, whether still better results
might not be obtained by county normal schools, esta'
blished and maintained on principles analogous to those
on which our system of common schools is founded. Il
The people were fully sensible how much the usefulness
of our common schools would be increased by being
generally furnished with competent instructors, it is
presumed they would cheerfully contribute the means
required TO secure this advantage. Though there are
conceded difficulties in the way Of procuring an adequate
supply of these instructors, yet the cause OF education
is 30 deeply interested IN hsving it done to the utmos,
practicable extent, that you will doubtless regard it al
an object every way deserving Of your consideration.
The whole number of organized school districts 10 The
State, on the 3lst of December, 1886. was ten thousand
three hundred and ~forly-fve, from nine thousand seven
hundred and eighteen Of which, reports were made "a
the commissioners of the common schools, and by the
latter to the superintendent The acmber of children
between Eve and sixteen years Of age residing on thoi
day in the districts which have reported, was 1--WE hun
dred and thirty six thousand eight hundred and eighty.
two, and the whole number of all ages instructed during
the year 1896, was FIVE hundred and twenty.four thou
sand one hundred and eighty eight
Tho amount of pablo money distributed 10 the dis
tricts during the year by the commissioners of common
schools, (~iuciuding Sl00, 600 derived from the Common
School Fund, and 1898 81 from local and town funds
was 1886 ,s95 10. This amount, together with the sum
of $436.346 46, paid by the inhabitan,s of the districts,
has been applied 10 the payment Of the wages of teachers,
making an aggregate Of $77224I Sc expended for that
purpose. OF this amount, however, a few thousand dol.
lars were appropriated in the city of New York to re.
pairing aud finishing school houses.
The average period, during which schools were kept
in the year 1885, in the districts, from which reports
have been received, was seven months.
The number Of academies subject to the visitation Of
The regents of the University Of the State, is now larger
than It has been at any tiRe heretofore. There were
more than 5000 students instructed in those that made