Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1842-01-19


directed by law. There has been no legisla-
live action on this subject, so tar as regards
the offices OF Surveyor General, Secretary OF
the Land Office. and Auditor General, since
the adoption OF that instrument. As the COM
missions of the present inCumbents will expire
on the 10th of May next, would seem to be
suitable time for providing by law TOR he
tenure OF those cfiLers. They, with the Sec
retary Of the Ccmmonm ealtb, constitute what
is usually demon mated e:cabnet, and the
Executive IS ahswerable 10 public opinion Tor
the manner in which they perform their du-
ties; vet under the existing laws be possesses
no powe' uf removing them, even for the most
papable GerelCtion Of duty, during the time
for which they are commissioned. respect
fully commend this subject TO your attention,
and that those officers be placed, as to tenure,
on The same footing as the constitution has
placed that of the Secretary of the Common
wealth.
So far as respects the office of Attorney
General, it seems proper that the tenure
should remain as i is. II is in truth common
| law office-the incumbent is the legal adviser
of the Governor and heads OF department,
and is the legal hand by which the Executive
functions are pei formed.
| The duty will probably devolve on YOU to
make prov ision for the election OF representa-
tives % represent this State in the Congress
shall have decided OH the apportonment &C
cordipg 10 the last census, 40 time shall be lost
to lay the same before you.
| The re port of the Superintendent of common
schools will put you in possession OF the stale
and condition of our colleges, academies, female
seminares and schools. The general evil, OF
which we have just cause to complain. is the
| incompete0cy of many OF those employed as
| teachers. The compensation to them is gener-
- llNr ma
nv Of them can earn as teachers, IT the posses
! sion of knowledge and the capacity to impaftlt,
/ be requisite for those entrusted with the moral
| and mental training of the rising geDeraton.-
! Upon this, and upon all other subjects connect
1 ed with the important work of education, must
refer YOU to the report and documents which the
superintendent will furnish, and shall only re-
mark, that will most cheertully cooperate IN
any and all measures. which shall place the
means of acquiring sound and practical edu-
cation within the reach of all the children Of
the Commonw ealth--elevate the character, and
! improve the qualifications of our teachers. and
enlarge the usefulness, and increase the bene-
fits to be derived from cur colleges, academies
and seminaries. A sound education, under
proper moral and religious traiuing, is the best
legacy a parent can bequeath 10 his child, and
the best provision patriot can make to secure
the perUanence of republlcanism in lis purity.
! O our system OF COIllnOH SCuOOlS, dlOue, Cdu
we look as the means Of imparting this educa-
ton: and on this system at last, as the corner
stone, must we rest our free institutions, and
our best hopes, to see them descend mistaken,
to those who come after US.
The duties of the Superintendent of Public
Schools have become onerouS, as to occupy
almost the eutre attention of the incumbent,
and to leave him but little time to devote to the
other duties Of Secretary Of the Commonwealth.
| respectfully recommend this subject to your
consideration. and whether regard to the pub
lie interest does not require separation OF the
duties ofSuperintendent, from that of Secreta-
ry Of the Commonwealth.
| cannot but repeat what / said in my first
annual message, that we are in need OF proper
system of school books, to be used in our schools
and which should be composed by competent
persons for the instruction ofthe youths of Penn
svlvana; such course as would tend proper
| " to- impress our youth with due regard for
our own Commonwealth and endear her to their
hearts. Her position, wealth and intelligence;
the admirable and free system of our laws; her
Iunwavering patriotism and devotion 10 repub-
lican principles; her distinguished philanthropy
and benevolence, enttle her, in pre-emineut
degree, to the love and vcnecation of her chill
dren, who should be early taught to estimate her
great characteristics.
! The twenty-thrd section OF the hrs; arucle
of the constitution of this Commonwea th pro-
videS that "every bill that shall have passed
both Houses shall be presented 10 the Gov
ernor. If he approve he shall sign it, but if
he shall not approve, he shall return it, with
his objections to tue house in which it ori-
enated, who shall enter the objections at large
upon the journals, and proceed to consider it.
The section then proceeds to provide, that such
| BILL so returned, shall not become law, unless
two-thrds of each house, shall, on call of the
yeas and nays, agree to pass the BILL This pro-
vision was inserted in our constitution of 1890
! and retained in that Of 1885, from 4 conviction
Of It's use, as we'll as necessity. 1t was lnten-
ded for the protection of the people against has
ty, improvident, aad improper legislation. The
constitution, While it gives to the two houses
the right to prepare, to amend, and pass the
several bills, still makes the Executive an ac-
tive constituent part of the Legislative power.
This concurrence, inaacts of legislation, is re-
quired to be expressed in an appreciation of the
act proposed. When he conscientiously be-
lieves that the proposed measure is wrong, he
would be reprehensible, were he to give an APP
probation he does not feel. Deriving his power
and authority directly from the people of the
whole State, his interposition of the veto power
may be essentially necessary. to preserve the