The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-01-27

have not participated in the issues here
tofore made, the Secretary Of War, in
his annunl report Of 1851, brought the
subject to the u:tentiORrAof~ Congress,
and recommended that authority be
given the Department to increase their
supply, or at all events to issue in ad-
vance their quota for several years.
The recommendation has not yet been
acted upon; and as the public arms
which are lying idle in the dcpots, are
much needed to encouI age the forma-
ton of local militia upon our exposed
frontier, it would be well for the Lcgis-
iativc Assembly, by memorial to Con
gress, to second the recommendation OF
the Secretary The importance to us
ola well-orga nized wcll-equipped militia
force is obvious; and | hope it will be
the pleasure of the Legislature t. afford
every facility and encouragement to the
perfection of this arm of service.
The report Of the superintendc Of
common schools will detail the practical
operations Of our school system, and
will probably suggest some amendments
to be made to the existing school laws
| doubt not that they will be such as
will commend themselves to your con-
sideraii1u.
The interests Of OUR common and
public schools are especially entrusted
to tlc Legislature, and among Tie vari-
Gus duties which devolve upon you, 10
one more Justly demands your attention
Il general system Of public instruction.
ail-searching and pervading, is daily at
tested in the lives Of men, whom cduca-
ton has lifted from DISQUALIFICATION
turning the sods Of the valley to become
the ornament Of letters, the pride oil
science, the defence Of religion, and tilo
pillars of state. Intelligence generally
diiiuscd is the very basis Of our form oil
government, and The school house is the
ark Of our safety. The mnniiicent gi;i
by Congress Of two sections Of land in
each township for the support of schools,
If properly husbanded and judiciousIy
managed, will place the schools Of Min
ncsota upon most liberia! and firm
foundation.
The report Of the librarian, will cx-
hib.t the state o! the Territorial library
Including duplicates, some three hund-
red volumes have been added during the
past year ID the collection Of books
The narrow accommodations furnished
by the building temporarily rented for
the library, render the early completion
OF the capitol, III which more spacious
room viii be provided, highly desirable
renew the recommend iion made In
Il former message, for the appropriation
annually OF 1t moderate sum. to be cx-
pended in the purchase of books. and
10 keep up the series Of United States
and State Reports. The Territory, also
has an interesting collection OF maps
and charts, and may DC expected each
year to receive many more. These re-
qurc to he placed in a shape t. be easy
OF examination and reference.
i The cxpcdiency of providing for the
more general circulation, by sale or
otherwise, of the Revised Statutes and
Annual Session Laws, is submitted t.
YOUR consideration. At present provis-
lpn IS ont made for the .d>tributon OF
these volumes among certain civil Off
GERS.
/ \ modification is also much needed of
that feature of the criminal code, which
requires that persons convicted OF CAP
ltal crime, shall be kept in solitary con-
, lincment for the period of one year licr
conviction. When the several counties
of the Territory shall possess secure
places of confinement, it NAV be well IN
rccur to tins provision; but at present
Il Is unsafe, lncOnvenient and expensive.
Complaints are frequent OF the insult
l.ciency Of the compensation allowed by
law to assessors in the unorra.iized
counties. If upon examination, these
Complaints shni appear to be well
founded, | recommend that further pro-
vision be made for the rccompensc Of
these officers.
1t is represented that the day desis-
mated by law for holding general cleo
tons in the several precincts of the
Territory. is fixed at season of the
year sIghiy announcement to the citizens
Of Pembina county. AS the Inhabitants
of this county are mostly absent in the
autumn upon their anaua! buffalo hunts,
it would seem Just: 50 far as they arc
concerned, to designate different dav
for holding elections.
The Legislature viii doubtless see
the necessity of preparing at the present
session, Il code of regulations for the
government Of tae Territorial prison,
and providing for the appointment. of
porintcndent, or warden of The same
At present. the whole subject is without
any regulation whatever, by public au-
thorlty; and no authority but that of
the Legislature is competent to estab
lish proper cnactmcnts. / am not pre-
pared to suggest what provisions it NAV
be just 10 adopt. These i, will be
your business TO consider and arrange
1t may be well, in cases Of offences of
great enormity, to allow the use of the