The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1849-12-07

IN opposition to such measure.
The subject of education is one at all times
.of paramount Importance, and should engage
the most vigilant attention of oul legislators
cannot close this communication without
leaving my humble testimony in its favor.
Accurate information has been received
from the principal Universities and Colleges
.Of the State from which am enabled to in
form you. that at no former period have they
enjoyed so great degree Of prosperity as at
the present time.
Indiana Asbury University presents a cata-
logue Of two hundred and ninety-five stu
dents; Indiana University numbers one humid
red and ninety-sevcn. Hanover College 1873
Wabash College 149, with library of six
thousand volumes and rich geological cabi-
net; Franklin College numbers AS. making
an aggregate of9G8 of the fouth of our coun-
try who have been receiving collegiate in
struction within the past year.
Indiana Asbury University has organized
q Medical Department CT III. sity (Indianap-
oIis) with anable Faculty. The first session
OF this department commenced in November
last with fair prospect Of success.
There is Law Department attached to
the State University at Bloomington under
the charge of two able Professors, (Judges
Mcdonald & Oho.) which promises great
usefulness to those who desire instruction in
that learned profession. Franklin College
has succeeded in extinguishing heavy debt
which has hitherto crippled her energies, and
impaired her usetulness-it is now believed
that she will realize the brightest hopes of
her friends. Its believed that this unparal-
IelIed prosperity, Is doubtless attributable in a
very great degree to two prominent causes i
the ability OF our Presidents and professors to
impart thorough and profound couse Of col
legiate Instruction to the students, and to the
healthfulness Of the locations, the economy Of
living. and moral associations.
Ii is Il source of unmingied pleasure to be
able to state that the important subject of te-
male education is rapidly gaining 4 strongI
hold upon the feelings Of our people. There
are already many hourishing female institu-
tons in our State such as the Grsencastie |
Female Seminary, under the charge of Mrs. |
Larabce and other accomplished assistants, |
numbering ior the past year one hundred and |
fly students. Of watch number about ninety |
were in constant attendance.
The Bloomington Fenaie Institution under |
the superinteHdcuce OF Mrs. Emerson. as
sisted By competent aud accom- plished youngI
ladies, which also presents 4 catalogue OIL
eighty or ninety in regular attendance-Thel
Folt Wayne Female Coliege-The Centre
vile Female Seminary-The st. Marys |
Seminary. Indianap olis-and St. iIary OF the |
" ools, Nigo county, all of which are in sue
ccssiu operation, besides the Princeton ana
New Albany Female Seminaries with others
that are in process OF organization.
The time will ssoon arrive when the fair
daughters of Indiana will be enabled to
acquire within the borders oltheir own native |
State. an education which will place them in
T. -, 81,
highly favored portions of our country.
However gratifying it may be to witness
the rapid advancement of Il portion Of our
in the higher branches of the Arts
and sciences-there Is vet another subject
which attracts our attention Ivy its greater inn
portance. | allude To the subject of FREEI
Common SCHOOLS. in which the masses of the
people are more Immediately and vitality in
ieresled; it is upon them that OuG country
mainly relies for her permanent peace and
and it is to their advancement and
improvement in knowledge that our legisa-
tive action should be mainly directed.
1t is a iavorite axiom of our republican
creed, that all our citizens are politically
equal. To enable the citizen TO enjoy the
rights and privileges granted to him by our
constitution, II is necessary that he should re-
ctive at least, good elementary English ed
ucaion. if he has this, he is capable of un
dersranding the tendency and bearing of all
political questions which are brought forward
for public dscussion--he is capable of appre
ciatlng his rights and maintaining them, he
car analyzr public men and hold them 10
strict accountability.
An act was passed at the last session Of the
General Assembly the object of which was TO
increase and extend the benefits of Free Com
mon Schools, TO the children of the State
Many of the counties by vote of the people
adopted this law, and it is to be hoped that in
A very short time there will not be a county
in the State whose citizens will refuse to avail
themselves of the benefits of this measure;
doubtless there are many impcrectons in the
law " hIch will have to be remedled by time
and experience. yet ii answers as basis upon
which to rear a noble supPrstructure which |
will shed lis benign influences over all the
children of this great and growing young
State. When we contempla ate the magnitude
Of this subject in all lis varied bearings upon
the welfare of the rising generation, and upon
the perpetuity of that republican form of gov
eminent which cost the richest and best blood
of the Conscript fathers of the Revolution, ii |
seems to me that no representative OF the
people in this enlightened age will assume
upon himself the solemn and fearful response |
6iity of refusing the means of support to a |
we'll digested system of Free Common Schools, |
thereby closing the door to the diffusion of
light and knowledge.
The Temperance cause is one which is deep
" agitatlng the public mind. Whilst | can
not subscribe to all the ultra views advanced
5y some of the advocates of this great and