The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-25
philadelphia Correspondence.
PnLApGLrnIA. March q. 1871


PnLADELPHIA, March %, 1871
The Hon. John Banks has been nominated as the
Wing candidate for Governor. The Convention on
he first ballot nominated him with but six dissenting
votes, cast for Harmar Denny Two-thirds Of the
big press in the State previous TO the assembling
pr the Convention, had adopted Judge Banks their
avontc canddatean indication Of strong popularity.
de IS from the western part of the State but is now
Judge in Reading, that he is well known in all
parts of the State. He is plain substantial man, Of
good talents and estimabe character. A change in
our State administration is essential the best inte
rests Of the Commonwea The same blind par
san ianataclsm has influenced our State Government
as that which led the National Administration into so
many errors and abuses. This is more particularly
exhibited in the management of the public works.
The expenditures upon them have been augmented to
such degree, that committee Of the Legislature is
now engaged in examination into their causes
Their report will exhibit the evils of party spirit in
such light as il is to be hoped will influence the LIE
gisature hereafter to bring the State works more i'm
mediacly under their own supervison. The Governor
now has the appointment of all the Canal Commis
sioners So evident are the abuses liable to from
this exclusive appointment in the Executive that Mr.
Brown, Loco-Foco Senator, has brought in bill to
vest the appointment Of two Commissioners in the Lee
gisature and one in the Governor There are too
many supernumerares on the State works. Several
hundred workmen were thrown upon the Columbia
Railroad in the last election TO carry the L. F. Senator
' in Montgomery county, but this act incensed the
voters much that it produced his defeat Every man
on the State works obliged to vote the Van Blu
Xren ckpt M all al ha al
who was unfrendy to the dominant party. Both par
ties have used the State works engines to advance
their interests and as long as they remain in the
possession Of the State they will be public burdens
and causes of increasing debt from their prostitution
to party purposes. great reform is needed in our
State affairs, which frequent Gubernatoral cleo
tons by no means tend to produce compromise is
called for between the antagonist parties to the
property honor and character of the Commonwealth.
There is one cause in whose prosperity all
joce and that is the Of Education Pennsylva-
mia has now wiped out the blot Of ignorance from her
escutcheon. The Common School system is extend
ing its benefits to all parts Of the State, and is esab
lishcd on the irmest basis. There are now 254, 90S
children in the Common Schools Of the State, and
49,, 4l0 pupils in all the Literary Institutions of the
State. Ten years ago there not 10000 children
in free schools. Gov. Wolf fixed the foundation of
this SYSTEM and Joseph Ritne raised the supersruc-
ture, assisted by Messrs Stevens, Beck Burrowes,
Penrose and others They deserve a civic crown
In New York the system has attained an unexampled
degree of perfection At the close of 1889 there were
592, 1854 children in the State, and 572993 were in
the Common Schools. No country in the world exhi-
bits such diffusion Of education, except it be the
Kingdom of Prussia where every parent is obliged
send his child to common school, under legal
penalty is 10 be regretted that The Southern States
far behind the age in The matter Of Education.
The semi-barbaric morals which exist in Mississippi
and Arkansas would not be tolerated by educated
community.
The appointments Of Messrs. Hayes and Meredith
are judicious. We hope that the Administration will
show the regard to character and capacity that
has evinced in this instance The sense Of the
immunity is to be consulted no less than the interests Of
an applicant Were the leading men of this section,
young and old as well known to the Administration
as the community here, the appointments would not
be confined to the applicants alone Among the Fo-
reign Ministers who, is to be hoped will not be
moved is Henry Wheaton the Minister to Prussia
Mr.. Wheaton appointed by Mr. Adams to Den
mark, and spared even in the unreenting pro-
scrption of the iron rule Of Jackson Mr. Wheaton
is honor the country To well tested abilities
a Diplomat he adds the learning of scholar and the
refinement of polished gentleman. The country
have abcr representative at the court OF the Ere
dericks An advantageous change might be made
among the Secretaries Of Legation No decisive
ton yet on the bank bill at Harrisburg.
Yours, gT