Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-12-14
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
GeRtlsmen ofthe Senate,
and House ofRe,r,,sntatius,

laws " eAS SIatSJyOu arc dBdlu dSSeinOi6u
TO exercise the high functions of legisla-
ton for the benefit of your common con
sttuents. The year which has elapsed
since the meeting of the last GeneralAs-
sembly, has been marked by blessings
from the great Giver of all good, which
cannot fail to awaken in our bosoms the
liVeliest gratitude, aud call forth, in behalf
Of the whole commonwealth, humble and
sincere acknowledgements of the contnu
ed favor and benefcence of Divine Prov.
idence. The earth has yielded its ac-
cuslomed fruits, the labor of the agricul.
turist has been rewarded with plenty, and
usual health has been tho lot Of every
portion Of the State.
The peaceful relations of the Union
| with all foreign powers remain undisturb-
ed. If any eXception:existed,to 10 the pros
Pect of continued peace, i: was TO be
found in the arrest Of foreigner, under
the laws Of neighborng State. The
cause, however, inadequate in itself to
produce any serious effect, seemed, nev-
ertheless, for a while, to threaten rup-
ture with Great Britain. Happily, how
ever, for both countries, all irritation q
rising from that event hasIbeen removed,
by the quiet and peaceful operation of
law.
1t is in times Of profound tranquility,
when the people are undistnrbed by the
tumulty of war, that the duties of enlight-
ened patriotism invite us to the grateful
task of giving depth and permanency to
our free institutions. 1t Is only at such
periods, that a commonwealth can hope to
deliberate calmly and successfully upon
systems of polity, calculated to stimulate
industry, by giving it legal assurance that
it shall be protected in the enjoyment Of
its acquisitions; 10 strengthen the general
morality, by laws which shall tend 10 sup
press vice 81 crime in all their forms-to
give energy and independence of charac-
ter to all classes, by measures which will
promote, as far as practicable, equality oI
condition, and thus estabIisho ra
tonal liberty for ourselves, and give
hopoot its continuance for ages tC
come.
OfmeRsures which contribute to those
ends, education, comprehendng morals a
well as intellectual instruction, is of tho
first importance. Under a Constitution
like ours, which imparts 10 every citizet
the same civil rights, education must ev
er remain subject Of vital interest, in re
ference 10 the general welfare of th,
State. If we are to trust the lessons O
history, we are brought TO the conclusion
that Government 10, and always has beer
the most efficient of all the causes whicl
operate in forming the character an,
shaping the destinies of nations. Wher,
the right OF suffrage is SO unrestricted a
with US, government is necessarily tht
offspring Of allitho people, and will re
fleet the moral and Intellectual fea
lures Of its parent, with unysrying fdeli
ty.
If the speculations OF the most pro
found thinkers had left us in doubt upol
this interesting subject the familiar histo
ry OF the last century alone, has furnish
ed numerous and melancholy proofs, tha
no people, TO whom moral and intlelecm
al culture have been denied, are apa
BILE of achieving or enjoying the blessing,
OF rational liberty, founded upon any sys
tenn which tolerGtes popular agency, il
the conduct OF public affairs. So pro
foundly impressed with this great truth
were the fTamers of our constitution, thai
they did not leave it to the judgments ol
The future 10 decide. They did not al.
low the subject ofeducation to remain in
that class, which might be in after times
adopted or rejected upon tho doubtful
test Of expediency They incorporated
it into the Constitution. In the Sd sec.
ton Of the Sih article ogthe Constitution.
is expressly declared, that "reIigion.
morality and knowledge, being essential
ly necessary TO good Government and the
happiness Of mankind, schools aud the
means Of instruction shall forever be en-
couraged by Legislative provision, not in.
consistent with the rights ofconscience. !"
In the schools, the encouragement Of
which is thus enjoined.asia proper sub
Ject ofleglslative provision, ills apparent
that the makers ofthe Constitution iuten-
ded 10 combine moral with intellectual
instruction. All experience and ebserv.
alton ofman's nature, have shown that
merely intellectual improvement, is but a
small advance in the accomplishment of
proper civilization. Without morals.
civilization only displays energy, and that
the more fearful in its powers and purpo
Ses, as 1t wants tho restraining and sof
tenng influences which alone give it
direction to objects Of utility or benevo-
lence.
The obiectin view, when our present
system of common schools was establish
ed by law, was doubtless the same EN-.
braced by the provisions of the Constitu.
tlon. AS the habits and opinions of our
population touching the subject were ex. |
ceedingly diverse. the system worked its
way TO favor in the public mind, under
luSDiCeS bV no means favnrahla IT:.L