The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1852-01-15

reformation. 1t is wanting in proper checks
ana the enforcement of proper responsibility !;
TO secure which it'll respectfully urged upon the
Legislature to make such change as Will author
/ ize the election Of one Canal Commissioner by
/ the people for term Of three years, to whom
. shall be entrusted the whole supervision Of the
system, and the selection by the Legislature of
! an Engineer to serve for similar term to
whom shall be, committed the duty of making
the necessary examinations and estimates of the
I propriety and cost of construction and repair of
the public works. That commissioner or
agent for payments shall be selected by the In
/ ternal Improvement Commissioners, to be charged
with the disbursement of the public funds an
nually appropriated to these purposes. Officers
thus selected, owing their appointment to differ
! ent powers in the Government, would, from that
fact and the nature Of their dnties act as checks
upon each other, bring responsibility directly to
each department of the system, and secure
more active and energetic discharge of duty.
( 1t cannot be doubted that the revenues derived
I from the public works ought TO be very greatly
. increased. These improvements should now
bring clear revenue TO the Treasury. In other
States, canals and railways have rarely failed to
. become sources of such revenue within twenty
years from the period of their construction while
with Us, from causes heretofore suggested for
Legislative action, snd still within Legislative
control, the result has been widely different.
Our system Of public education is far from
that perfection which is desirable. The defects
appear to arise from insuficiency of funds, and
the want of proper teachers. 1t is manifest
.f,,-I
supply the demand for their services, cannot be
had, unless some practical plan is ADOPTED as
part Of tho Common School system, to create
professional teachers. The ability to iupart
knowledge to others, particularly to young minds,
Is to be obtained only after long and patient
study, assisted by all the facilities which science
and learning can afford. The future greatness
and happiness of the country depend so much
upon the enlightenment of the public mind, that
the statesman and patriot cannot devote his
time, energies, and talents, to a more worthy
object, than its attainment.
The recent agricultural exhibition was so
numerously attended and so creditable to our
people, in the display of works of skill and home
industry, as well of agricultural implements
and stock, that am convinced great public good
must result from it. The urgent requests of a
former Message, believed to be of value and i'm
portance to this great interest it is hoped will
meet favorable action at your hands. These
exhibitions should be repeated in other parts of
the State, and cherished as the best means of
difusing practical and scientific knowledge of
agriculture. The establishment Of State So
ciety for Western Pennsylvania, would be highly
advantageous to the people of that portion, de-
prived as they are, by the difficulty Of transpor-
tation, of full participation in the benefits of
the present Society.
: Contracts have been made for the publication
= of the Colonial Records, and of the maps and
. other documents connected with the GEOLOGICAL
Survey Of the State. An interesting report from
the gentleman charged with the arrangement for
publication Of the Pennsylvania Archives. ac-
companies this Message l invite to it and to
these important and interesting papers your
favorable action. The supervision of the publi-
cation Of these papers should be entrusted to
the gentleman who has arranged them The
labor performed has greatly exceeded the amount
contemplated by the Legislature, and hence de-
mands additional compensation.
The Insane Asylum, as well as the other
charitable institutions in which the State is di-
rectly interested, in a prosperous condition
The kindly regards Of the Assembly are solicited
for these institutions.
1t is a pleasant reflection now, and will be O
grateful reminiscence hereafter, that to the pro
motion of all these interests, the administration
of public affairs, while under my control, ha:
faithfully directed its labors. 1t is to be regret
ted that more was not accomplished, but it i:
still encouraging to know that so much of prac
teal good has been done.
In the enactment of the revenue laws of thC
National Government, much injury has resulted
to many of the industrial interests of this State
Their alteration in such as will protec
those interests, all must earnestly desire
have former occasions most fully expressed
my views this subject, and have urged upo1
the Legislature the propriety of such action a
would influence favorably the National Congress
The great manufacturing, mining, and agricul
tural interests of Pennsylvania require and de
mand change of the present system of tarif
laws. The i'll success attending former efforts
furnishes no excuse for omission again to cal
attention to the subject. In the confederacy 0
States, we hold important position. Penn
sylvania from the numbers of her population
: and their acknowledged patriotism, has a righ
TO demand for her industry that kindly legisla