The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1850-12-09

u
sionefs and in the Treas sons AAil6
ury set apart Ion the pay HGgf .saits
ment of the foreign and $3.50 ai
domestic debt as it be- uia. 1t
comes due Il m mai $3.50, ,0o0 90
Total amount paid and in si 3t asglt
| hand appropriated to the aF 'a
payment ofthe State debt 1dN 3Gil
within the past five years $2,023,92l 36
4 Thus it will be seen by the operation of our
present financial system, and the increasing
wealth of the State, our public debt will ST.
lently but steadily diminish, and in a few
years be extinguished. sg1,
History and experience will attest the fact,
that where science, general knowledge and
moral cultivation are most universally diffu-
sed among the people, there liberty is the
most cherished, the rights of persons and
property are the most safe. Virtue and reli-
gion, and whatever else can adorn society
and render mankind prosperous and happy,
are held most sacred. To extend and secure
to coming generations the benefits of liberty
and well regulated free institutions, it is
necessary for the statesman to look with ear
nest care to the means of instruction for
the youth of The country; for by them he may
shape the destinies of the State and the nation
for good or forevil through succeeding ages.
An efficient system Of common schools,
thoroughly executed, is the only means Of at
tanning this desirable object. Under our
present law on this subject much has been
done, but the law is imperfect The law
which now processes to regulate this system
has been in force many years. 1t has under
gone many alterations, is printed in many
different volumes of the statutes, and is thus
made difficult to be found, and still more
difficult to be understood by the great major
| ity OF persons whose duty it processes to
point out. That portion which relates to
forming and altering districts from two or
more townships, and the portion providing
for fixing cities and leyying taxes for building
and repairing school houses, and the support
ing of schools beyond the means supplied by
the various school funds, is obscure and of
uncertain import-tbe cause of much serious
complaint and trouble, and begets much dis
! like to the whole system. h9 t"
Iwoula recommend to your consideration
the propneiy uf uia lhorc-rs lhoc-... revision Of all
the statutes on the subject SO as 10 make
them plain TO all, and efftctual to the ac-
complishment of the objects desired. n.
On the 2Slh day ofSeptember, 1850, Con-
gress passed law granting TO each State,
for specified purpose, the swamp or over
flowed lands within It's bordrrs Still belong
ing 10 the General Governm Mt, which will
be made lhr subject Of a special massage
The difficulties in relation TO the West
rrn Resev school lands have been, duriu2
the season. setl d,and engrossed lists ob
tanned from ihe Drpr,m'ut Of The Wholr
fnumber Of acr claimed These lands ,hava
been brought into market in pursuance Of
the law, and have met with rapid sale max
ing an addition 10 thai school fund.-, and al
forling the pleasing prospect Of a consider.
BILE increase TO the population, improve
ment and wealth Of the counties in which
they are situated. .rss
The several Benevolent Institutions have
been conducted through the seoson, il is be.
Feved, in manner generally satisfactory 10
all concerned, and with such succrss as do' S
great credit to the State, and confirms the
wisdom and well-directed benevolence of
the Legislature, in their establishment.
II has for several years been manifest that
the Lunatic Asylum, even at the present
size, was insufficient TO supply the wants of
The people of the State. The Directors and
Superinte ndent Of the Asylum have in three
succe ssive annual reports, called the atten-
tion Of the Legislature to This subject, and
recommended tina; the incipient step be ia.
ken for the erection of one or more like in
stitu;ions, in differnt parts Of thr State.
The following quotation, from their last
report, will show the opinion of those to
whom the oversight of the lsiitution has
been inIrusted by the General Assembly:
"The Directors of the Asylum have
more than once, heretofore, adverted TO the
coming necessity of making further, provis-
ions Tor the insane Of the State; by the erec-
tion OF two additional asylums--one in the
northern and the other in the southern part
of the State" ~
Bya report Of the Superintendent, made
January l8, l849. in answer to call of thu
Senate Tor information on that subject, il
Iappears that the number of applicants for
admission then pending, which had been
postponed Tor want of room, was one hundred
and forty-fve. This NUMBER must be far loo
small 10 com prehend all there are in thr
State who need the aid which it wasintend-
ed by the institution to bestow. This can
not re remrdied without turning at large all
the incurable, and probably not even then.
as the number Of this class is much less
than the number Of insane in the State who
are out. Then, but few Of those incurs bic
can be discharged with any safety to them 81
selves or the public. But why turn away (?
They can be supported there cheaper, and.
more comfortably for themselves and their
friends, than they can b. anywhere else. -,
4 The average number IN the Institution du-
ring the year ending Nov. Is, l649, was
three hundred aud tluenty-thrSe, while 10 the
pre- vious wear, one hundred and forty-fye!
|applications for admission had been post
ponrd for want oiroom in ih' Institution
How long shall citizen OF Ohio, who ap-
plies to the State Beaevnlent Institutions
or admission of d husband or wife leihrr,
or mother, a son ora danght-r be turnedf
away with the bran-cruShing answer,--
lTher is not roonf2 af- lr,c.s,s 4.
In the yeat l848, the Legislature Of Mis- 4
sachusttts appointed acommittee SO con
slider the whole subject connected with in5i
sanity In the commonwealth" That com,
mi,tee, after careful examination OF the
whole matter, reported the whole number
| Of the insane in that State to b. fifteen han
drxd and tioeIpe that in the five Institutions
for this purpose Ii; the State, IN IN il sstis-