Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-12-17


OF education Is obvious and urgent. The enlighten
cd, patriotic, and INDECENT combine to call upon you
as they have done upon your predecessors, to adop
some vigorous and decided system which will place
within reach of our whole white population, the
blessings Of education. In the numerous appeals il
behalf of this policy, which have within the las
three years been made from the forum and the press
1t seems to have been assumed that we the de
generate sons Of distinguished sires, and that we
must adopt some efficient system of education, tc
arrest our downward course. This is not true in
fact. On the contrary, never, since we took ouI
stand among the nations OF the earth, have ouI
daughters been fairer, or our sons more patriotic
have the blessings of morality of christianity
and of education been SO highlyappreciated, or So
extensively diffused.
In the anxious consideration which has been
given to this subject the great difficulty has been
IN agreeing upon practical and efficient SYSTEM
Few can appreciate our dfficultes--none can do
SO who are not familiar with our physical and social
condition. But, among our difficulties, | am happy
to say, lndispositon. and will add indifference are
not to be found. The prevailing wish Of our State
is to spread the lights of science into our remotcst
glens. and into the humbles habiatons Of the peo-
pie. That this will be done there cannot be a
doubt: how and when, it is in your wisdom to de-
eide. l, however, would recommend that poll be
opened on the day Of your next annual election, to
Jest the sense OF each county upon the District
School system that majority of the voters of
each county, voting at said election. shall decide
upon the adoption or the rejection of the system 1;
that if it be rejected by particular county, then the
districts into which such county may be divided
shall severally vote upon It's adoption within their
respective dstrcts-the system to be adopted in
each district giving majority Of its resident voters
therefor. In these suggestions my purpose is to
compel each county to vote upon this systematic
best, by far, which have examined-and when
rejected IN particular counties, to give such districts
thereof rs may desire it all the advantages contem-
plated by the system.
The last Annual Reports from our Asylums for
the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind. were laid before
your immediate predecessors, and embrace all the
material knowledge have their condition From
all that have seen and heard, am satisfied that
our munificent appropriations to these benevolent
establishments have been, so far, most judiciousy
invested. by giving to the suggestions of those
who supervise them careful considerations and
continuing to them your fostering aid, they WILL in
addition TO the incaculabe blessings that they will
secure to the afflicted, soon become noble monu-
ments or our philanthropy, upon which every Vir-
ginian may look with pride and pleasure.
About the first of last September visited our
MILITARY Institute, and found the Cadets in camp.
The buildings in their military dress, the white
tents pitched upon elevated slope and admirably
arranged, the corps under arms in neat and appro-
pirate dress, and, as approached them, dcployng in
10 hne Tor my reception, made upon most agree
able impression, and assured me that the high char
acter already awarded to this School had been fully
earned. A further examination of my ynnng fell
ow-citiZens in their quarters and of the other de-
partments OF the institution, which also made,
satisfied me that it had more than met the highest
expectations of its warmest friends and that it de-
served and ought TO receive, the favor OF the Gen
eral Assembly. You will receive herewith the an
nual report of the Board of Visitors, and its accom-
Panylng documents, for the year 1916. ask for it
your attentive consideration, and earnestly recon-
mend to you its various suggestions.
The Penltentiary calls for your attention. The
usual Annual Reports in relation thereto accompany
this Message. That this establishment, with We
ry large capital, and two hundred and twenty six
conyicts kept at ''hard labor and fed upon coarse
diet, should not pay profit, satisfies me that the
system is inherently wrong, that there is some
thing very defective in It's administration.
The first reform that would suggest, is in the
manner OF stating the accounts of the institution
who now knows its actual pecuniary condition {
IL draws about fifteen thousand dollars year from
the Ireasury-the appropriation for the Public
Guard is most strangely charged with the expense
OF Its civic guard. 1t furnishes annual supplies ie
to the Lunatic Asylums, and to those of the Deal
and Dumb and of the Blind-and performs con.
siderable amount OF work on the public edifces and
grounds, Of which are regulated by contract O,
adjusted at the Trcasury-In this connection.
submit herewith statement (markcd y exhibiting
various items of expenditure, receipts, SC, for and
on account OF the Penltentiary, from the year 1916
TO October OF the present year, and also the capital
invested in the erection of the Penitentiary up tc
1876: is table full of interesting statistics, and
calculated to enlighten this subject
recommend that stock account be kept which
snail include the cost OF all buildings and fixtures
tools, manufactures, and all materials on hand at its
commencement that all expenses, of every de-
scriptlon, including salaries, subsistence criminal
charges, and civic or interior guard, shall be paid
by the Superintendent, by drafts on the Storekeep-
er, and BIZ included in said accountable whole 10
be credited by the sales-exhibting i'm that form the
whole condition of the institution for each and every
year. And then, that which is difficult of compre-
hension would be easily understood, and the actual
results would be annually ascertained.
The next change | would recommend, is in the
mode OF purchasing supplies for the institution
Let them be purchasedby the Superintendent, as
the law now permits, but require him to buy them
In large quantities, in the cheapest convenient mar
kets, upon cash terms. by sight drafts upon the
Storekeeper. The capital is ample for this mode o
making the purchases, and it is obviously the bes
one Tor the interest of the institution.
In these suggestions, mean no reflection upor
the Storekeeper, or any officer of the institution
My purpose is to increase the responsibility of each
by separating distinctly their particular duties, ant
TO ,nluse more vgor and activity into its operations
lie pententlary is system which contemplate
the reformation Of offenders. This should not b.
forgotten in our legislation. 1t not unfrequentl,
happens that man of excellent character, in mo
il'eht OF excitement, commits crime for which HI
IS maze TO suffer the penalty of the law. Boys
700, WIN Characters informed become inmates q
this institution and such are thrown in da;lv an,
close association with negro convicts and the vles
and most degraded Tnalefacors. subjected in all re-
specis to the same treatment and discipline. TIL
consequences are obvious. Many Of the better ar
degraded to the level of the worse class of convits
and only few, of a firmer and higher STYLE :