Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-01-12


The General Assembly might do much to
improve our common schools and 10 pro-
mote tho cause of education, by providing for
suitable libraries in every school district, such
as would be adapted to the capacities and
tastes Of youth.
In MASSACHUSETTS every school is furnished
by the State with Webster's Dictionary, as
the standard work Of forthography and prouun-
ciation. The same is recommended by
committee Of the New York Legislature for
the Empire State.
1t is admitted to be the most valuable work
of the kind extant by the learned men both
here and in Europe; and its general use in
our schools would break down all provincial
ism, so to speak, and produce uniformity and
elegance in the use of our language. Words
would then be used by every one. in the same
sense, in which they are defined by that able
lexicographer.
Much might also be done by the General
! Assembly to encourage literary associations
lyceums and clubs, in our cities and towns.
Il wouH certainly have a tendency to prev
ent dissipation by the deselti of places ten
ding to immoralities, and cause young men TO
store their minds with useful knowledge and
elevate themselves in their own self-dignity
and self-respect.
Again would say, let the masses be edu-
Gated. Send in formation and the means Of
o1i oIo
able to provide it, and your jails will become
tenantless, and your pepitentiary greatly di-
minish in its occupants. The songs of riot
and debaucnery will be seldom heard in your
streets, and your Executive will escape the
constant annoyance Of parents, wives and chill
dren, for. some ignorant and disgraced, but
still cherished object, who has forfeited his
liberty to satisfy the claims of justice.
My predecessor, in his last annual message,
among other things recommended thorough
revision ofthe schoollaws. Herenlarks: "The
laww hich now profeses toregulate this system
has been in force for many years. 1t has un-
dergone many alterations is printed in many
different volumes of the Statutes, and is thus
made difficult to be found, and still more un-
derstood by the great majority of persons
whose duty it processes to roint cut"
I fully concur with him in opinion, and the
entire subject is earnestly and respectfully
recommended to the early and deliberate con-
sideration of the General Assembly, with the
full conviction, that the people Of Ohio will
cheerfully submit to any reasonable burthens
that may be imposed, in aid Of the schools,
believing as they justly do, that it would
relieve them from other burthens, in meas /.
ure, which are now levied to secure the
faithful and prompt administrator of penal
laws. .....
Another subject of very great consideration
and regard in every humane aud sensitive
community is that of suitable accommoda-
ton for the insane, blind, deaf and dumb
The constitution declares that institutions
for these unfortunate classes in society shall
always be fostered and supported by the State.
Of the management of these institution, the
past year, there is no complaint. They have
been conducted with, ability, integrity and
skill. For full particulars. must, refer you
to the several reports which I have caused
to belaid before you. and recommend them to
your consideration, and the institutions to your
liberal support. Neither is believed, by any
means, to be adequate for the accommodation
of all that common justice requires should be-
come its inmates. Accommodations for the
insane are woefulfy deficient i! 1t is certain
that but small portion of those equally enti-
tied, can be received into the Lunatic Asy.
lum for want of room. : For this cause
alone, numerous applications, and not unfre-
quently attended with distressing circumstan-
ces, are rejected. 1t is believed by those
who have paid attention to the subject, thai
insanity has increased over previously existing
periods, within the last few years the reason
for this increase. does not appear to be vel
ascerained, but wien it is shown, by the
most incontroyertib1e statistical tables, that &C
large a proportion Of those who are received
at an early stage of the deisease, at the Asy-
Iums, provided with suitable accommodations
and treated with kindness and care, are en-.
tirely restored, every feeling of humanity
and, certainly, obligations Of duty to this un'
.sartnnate class of our people, should prompt
US to early action in their behalf-they should
be supported at the expense OF the State
and it is worthy, at least, Of serioss enquiry
!, whether any one should be turned out, as
incurable for confinement in private dun
geous, or the annoyance Of friends. There
may be hope while there is life. This is
proved by the reports of every institution fol
the insane, Of long and respectable standing
throughout the Union. But if care CT i'm
provemens is wholly out'of the question. the
maniac is, nevertheless, human being, and
the community is under moral duty, as far as
practicable, to relieve the evils of his condi.
ton.
Experience, i, is said, has shown, ,ha
large numbers of the insane should Lot bs
confined together, not even upon the same