Litchfield enquirer., 1844-05-09

Chauncey F. Cleveland, 81
Mr.. Baldwin's majority, %
The 1t. Governor and other State Officers were
elected by a similar vote.
Between 8 and 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the
Governor met the two Houses in convention, and
delivered the following
SIP IL Il CHI.
Mr. President, and Gentlemen ofHe Senate
Mr.. Speaker, and Gentlemen
ofthe House of Representatives,
In entering upon the duties assigned me by the
Constitution chief magistrate of the state, feel
deeply sensible of the distinguished honor which
the favor of my fellow citizens has conferred upon
me. And when look hack through the period Of
our past history, and bring to recollection the
names of llustrious patriots by whom the station
now occupy has been adorned in other times, whose
noble and steadfast exertlons in the of liberty
have shed an imperishable lustIe on the character
of our state and country, cannot but feel dis
trust of my ability to discharge in satisfactory
manner the duties which devolve upon me as their
successor. A consciousness, however, that those
duties have been imposed without solicitation, and
assumed with unleigned reluctance, in obedience
to the call of my fellow citizens, induces me to
cherish the hope that with your enlightened and
patriotic cooperation, united exertions may,
with the blessing of Divine Providence, be success
full in promoting the great interests of conStit
uents, confded to our care.
a salubrious climate, with soil which, if not re-
markable for its fertility, seldom refuses to the hand
of labor suitable return, state is blessed with
an enterprsing, industrious and intelligent popula
ton, deeply imbued with the great and glorious
principles Of civil and political liberty which we
inherited from our fathers, and which, for more
than two centuries, have constituted the basis Of
our institutions.
Under the influence of these cherished principles,
the laws by which cur venerable commonwealth
r. .,,Gor La,a Loo,a
as with comparatively few exceptions to secure to
our citizens the full enjoyment of their personal
rights and to the state honorable distinction for
the wisdom and stability of its general policy.
Our institutions of learning, from the primary
schools to those of the highest order for mental
culture and discipline, have, in common with the
institutions Of religion been objects of solictude to
the people Of Connecticut from the earliest period
of our history. And it is doubtless to the benign
influence they have exerted, from generation to ge-
neration, over the minds and habits of our youth,
that we are chiefly indebted for all that gives value
to our social system, or safety in its administration.
In government like oars, where suffrage is nearly
universal where privileged classes among the
electors are unknown; and where all the avenues
to distinction open alike to the children of the
poor as of the rich an intelligent and vrtuous
population is equally essential to the correct adj
mnstration of the laws, as to the wisdom of their
enactment. For however well devised may be the
laws of state to secure the rights of persons or
property from invasion, it is obvious that in COM
lnunity where every eector may be called to apply
them in the capacity of juror unless the tone Of
public sentiment is in harmony with the laws, they
will afford but feeble protection from injustice
and crime. 1t is in the schools Of New-England
that those habits of subordination and of reverence
for the laws have been formed in the minds Of her
youth, by which they have generally been charac-
terZed and distinguished wherever the tide Of en-
igraton has borne them.
The school fund of this state for which we are in
debted to the pfoVident foresight and wisdom of OUT
statesmen Of former generation, in reservins
while yet in their power, portion OF our western
lands for this noble object amounts to S2 05l,
4o3 II. The dividend distributed to the schools
during the past year has been 81 40 for each schol
between the ages of four and sixteen years
amounting ~ Coin addition to the income
of the deposite funds appropriated to this object in
the several towns.
Notwithstanding this munificent provision for the
education of our YOUTH it appears by the returns of
the last census, that there were in the state OF Con-
necticut in the year 1910, five hundred and twenty
six persons of mature age who are unable to read
and write. What proportion of this number, il any,
were natives of the state the census affords US no
means of determining.
1t is much to be desired that our system of COM
mon schools should be improved and perfected,
until by regular graduation from the primary
school to the highest seminary, the means of educa
ton which they afford shall be such, that not only
the rudments OF learning may be impaired to all of
our youth, but tina: the higher attalnments in lite
nature and science shall be within the reach of those
whose talents and inclinaions may fit them for such
pursuits. Then will our children as they grow up
together in every community, and form their char
acters in the institutions, be practically taught
that great lesson of republican equality, which,
while it holds every citizen in strict subordination
to the laws, recognizes other distinctions than
such superior intelligence and virtue confer.
1t gives me pleasure to be able to state that the
salutary influence exerted upon public schools
by the board of education and by the interchangeable
efforts of their secretary, still continues to be felt,
and has given a new impulse to the cause of educa-
ton, by bringing to the knowledge of all of our
districts tho results of the experience Of other
lightened states and countries
Relieving as l do that the prosperity Of our pub
lie schools and semnares of every grade is ident-
fed with the best interests of constituents, as
well with the glory and honor of the state, shall
cordially cooperate in any measures which Your
wisdom may devise for its promotion.
Although it cannot be expected that much new
legislation will be necessary from year to year, to
perpetuate the principles Of our free institutions,
among people who have generally been distin-
guished for the ardor and zeal which they have
manifested in their support, it seems, nevertheless
to be proper for US occasionally to review our acts
and those of our predecessors, that we may see
whether our laws such to secure to all of our
fellow citizens, the full enjoyment of every person.
al right or political franchise, which the spirit Of
the constitution accords to them.
In the fierce and violent contests which party
spirit has too often engendered to disturb the har-
mony of our constituents, and which have doubt
less been stimulated and greatly increased, by the
immense official patronage at the disposal of