Litchfield enquirer., 1847-05-13

 taEen. a false humanity, which turns up nm inc community, a convicted malefac> tor.
 The number of convicts, on the 3 st of l947, was l50; on the Slst oi March, ls46, l73. The average number for three years, ending March lsr ls45, was POI.
 The whole income off prison, during the past year, has been $l5,57O 2O, while the expenditure of the establishment have to $l2,098 OS, leaving surplus of $3,472 l2. l concur entirely in the recommendation of my immediate prede- cessor, tha, this fund, derived from the la bor of the guilty. should be applied to the relief ot the unfortunate the Insane' the deaf, the dumb and the blind.
 l recommend those unfortunate classes of our fellow citizens 10 your consIdera- ton, believing as l do, that they have strong aud continuing claims upcn us, and that we shall not carry out the wishes of our constituents, if these claims are neglected. :. The Bnnl s of the State, are. 1t is be, lieved, in a prosperous condition Anu that they answer the legitimate objects If their creation, in furnishing 10 1he community reasonable facilities tor 'na transaction of business, and d souno cur l rencv. That they may continue 10 d" SO, it is undoubtedly proper. the V's,to' iai mower exercised over ,hem by the Legs in,ure, should continue 10 be exercised, :, and SO exercised, as cffectually to guard inc public against loss on the one nan" A. not unnecessarily 10 interfere with the
 relat;ons between lhe Banks and lnelr debtors on the other.
 In a government resting on the virtue and intelligencs of its citizens, where worth and talents arc duly appreciated, and where the avenues to distinction are open 10 all alike-the cause oi Of educaN ton should ever be regarded as an ooJect { of paramount importance. It ls' aRa eVS CT has been so regarded by the PeoP'e oI this state. And early, in the very 'htan, cv of our existence as Stale. were lad dccp, and broad, those foundations of morality, intelligence and religion, upon which has been reared the structure of eur prosperity. And although there are many things in which we may not com pare favorably, with many of our sislef States, yet there are others, ln wh'ch we may indulge an honest State pride; m 'he structures which have been reared, anu the provision which has been made Tor the comfort, relief and instruction ot those unfortunate classes of our fellow men, to which have jus alluded in our Nellg'. gious Institutions, our Scmlnaries of Learning. and our Common Schools; ln our School Fund, that proud monument of the wisdom and foresight of,hose who have gone before us, now disbursing thro' the State annually tho sun Of $l25,OOO' and spreading the light of intelligence O. yer thousands of youthful minds. need no, say that we shall be wanting in our duties 10 the State, and its highest interests, if we neglect 10 guard and protect and cherish these favored insiltu> iions-or five are either ccld or ind'tter> cnt to the early training of those who a'o to bs the future men of the State, and ups on whom are soon to devolvc it's govern 1 meht and it's desliries.
 Your attention will be particularly call ed to the School Fund, and its influence upon the cause of education. You VIII | inquire whether ii has accompliSned a'i which it ought 10 have accomPl'sned ]; whether il haA elevated the standard or instruction in our Common Schools. as u should have been elevated; whether lt has made these schools what they ought to have been made; md whether that su- pervision has been exercised. II those ln- ouiries should lead you 10 the conclusion' that there are defects in the present sys- tem, which require to be retnedied, you will doubtless apply the remedy. :,
 In our sister Slatcs of New York and chusctts, Normal Schools or Semi naries fer the express purpose oi trainihg teachers, have been established, and It $ believed, with the most beneficial results. l fear we are far behind these States m our efforts 10 disseminate information on the subject, and 10 give an impulse 10 me cause of education in our Common Schools. Believing, as do, that the pros per:tv of these schools is identified wI'h inc honor and prosperity cf the Stato' shall most cordially cooperate 'n any measures calculated to advance lne'r 'n- ,eres,s. The Report of the Super'n1ena- ent will be laid before you, showing me condition of the Commen Schoois. res gret that l did not receive the document in time to notice it as could have wished. The Report Of the Commissioner ot the School Fund will also be laid before you, from which it will appear that during the ? IS, year, the Fund has divided Sl25,7 lO 1 ti5, among e6,697 children, between the ages of 4 and l6 years; being $l 40 on each child enumerated. have no reason to doubt. that under inc superinicndence of this faithful and experienced officer, the fund has been ably and judiciously managed. The es> ,imation in which his services have bee n
 held by the people of the State, is shown
 from the fact. that he has been retained
 in the office fora tong period. and through all the fluctuations of parties.
 But it should be remembered that this
 Fund amounts 10 more than s2,OOOOOO ;
 no inconsiderable portien Of which Is
 vested in bonds and mortgages; na"y ot
 them due from citizens of other States n
 the Union. It must therefore 'e obvious,
 ,ha. .he management of this Fund de>
 mands increasing vigilance and care: and
 that n mos, weigh,y responsibility rests
 upon the Commissioner. IL isalso "pPa.
 rent that the whole business connected
 with the Fund, cannot be transacted by
 him in person, but must, 10 Ornc extent,