Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-02-16

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equipments for the whole hcd1 " - ..;l;,;.
OF the United States II prevides E,r.hn. ~.
all the arms procured in yirtpe of that Aat
shall be transmitted at the several s,a,o. III
territories, in proportion to the number If Tho
effective militia lH each state and ferr;tori;
TO be distributed TO the militia under sucb
rules and regulations as shall BY law be pre.
scrlbed. Under this act, Maine has annuallv
received the amount of arms and equipments
apporloned to her, and has now in her Arse
nails, at Portland and Bangor, over twelve
thousand stands of arms with the usual eonip-
ments and appendage. Bv the Act of August
10, 1913, provision was made for their dis-
tributon to the militia. That act was repealed
April 26, 1852, and since that time none have
been distributed, although numerous aplica-
lon therefore have been made bv volunteer
companies organized in the mode required bv
law, which constitute I'm fact our only eGcctirc
militia. fni .dma1 naH rrif.-
submit to- You whether the State II NOT IN
honor and justice bound to appropriate this
property to the uses contemplated by the law
under which she received it whether pruden.
tial considerations do not call tor its distribu-
ton, as 1T may be required, among the duly
organized volunteer Militia 10 whom alone we
can look for prompt and efficient aid, should
occasion require, In the suppression Of ihsur-
rectlon, the protection OF persons and property
from laWlSss outrage, and in the executions Of
the laws Of land: whether it is not for her pecu-
mary interest SO to do, rather than to expend
money in pefserving it from deterioration, in
keeping her Arsenals in repair, and in the
payment of salaries to the individuals en-
plOyed to take charge of them. aann
Our constitution, Recognizing the truth that
Il general diffusion of the advantages Of educa-
lion is essential 10 The preservation Of tIf9
rights and liberties of the people, c0nIers au-
thority and impulses upon the Legislature the
duty Of requiring that suitable provision shall
be made .ior the support and maintenance Of
public schools, and Of encouraging and eRdow
ing from time 10 time, as the circumstances Of
the people may aulhorizs, academies, colleges,
and seminaries Of learning within the State ~
Laws providing for The support Of public
schools were alnoug the earliest Of our enact
ments, and commendable degree Of lberaIity
has been manifested BY successive legislatures
ia the endowment Of our higher Summaries of
learning. The duty imposed. has been, in
this particular, faithfully performed. Rui lhs
question has arisen from time 10 time, whether
something further is not required whether
the circumstances of The people do not author
ize that something further should be done 10
give more thorough and earnest efficiency To
those semiaaries of humber pretens0ns, bus
of far higher importance rs the people al large
our public schOUls. With this object in
view, the Legislature in eighteen hundred and
fOrty-six established Board Of Education, and
n ight-en hundred and forty-sevrii, Teachers
Institutes Whether subsequent Legislature
acted wisely in abolishing both, it does not be-
come me 10 decide. But so strong are my
convictions that the substitute provided By The
Legislature is totally inadequate e the attain
ment Of The object in view, that do not hesi-
tate 10 recommend tile repeal of the Act crea-
ting il. refer TO the Act ostablishng the
office of Commissioner of Commln Schools for
each county in the State, aPt troVed April 26s
1852
| would nrt be understood as entertaining
the opinion that there is no necessity for
general supcrinlendencc and supervision Of our
public schools, or that they would not derive
essential benefit, directly ur indirectly, from
The elTnrIs of earnest devoted laborcrs in the
cause of popular education. But Tie superin-
y Icndence Of skiIliul, competent teachers, rather
than Of committees or commissioners is the
great want. Supply This want, and you give
All additional motive power to the mlghtiesI
engine which human ingenuity has ever de-
vsed or employed for The advancement Of
mental and moral freedom. ..--.
should be happy 10 lay bcfre you at this
lime, the information contemplated by a
Resolve passed at tie last session, having ref
erence TO the education Of teachers for the
common schuols, but circumstances beyond my
control prevents The authority conferred by
that Resolve having expired by limitation.
suggest to ynn the eXpediency of passing
similar one, should nothing definite upon the
subject be accomplished at the present session,
From tho interest heretofore manifested and
more recent indications Of public sentiment,
infer that yonr attention will be called to this
subject, and bespeak for il your favorable
consideration.
In my first official communication 10 the
Legislature, | recommended the appropriations
Of a sum Of money salIicieut to complete ihe
agricultural and geological survey Of the State,
commenced some years since, but, in my esti-
maton premaiurely suspended. old SO in
Inc belief that the pecuniary interests Of ths
Stale would be promoted thereby. The bare
fact that in a large manrliy of the States com
posing the Union, similar surveys have been
completed, are now In progress, constitutes
of itself alone good reason why Maine strUuH
not be behind her sister states IN the attempt
to discover and develOpe her natural resources.
But the further fact, as established by official
reports, that the result of thuse surveys has
been without exception, the discovery Uf
sources Of wealth before unknown, furnishes .
still stronger reasoR for the prosecution of the
work in this State. No reasonable doubt can
be entertained that il will, sooner or later, be
resumed aud completed. Tire longer il is de-
layed, tie longer will So much Of the natuT1l
wealth Of the State as would be brought 80
light by it, remain unpruductive. a careful
review Of The reasons which induced me 10
recommend this measure 10 The favorable cum
sideration Of your predecessors, has strengths
encd nv conviction Of its importance, and am
constrained by sense Of duty TO renew the
recommendation.
The Consular Convention Of the 23d Of Feb.
last, between the United States and France,
contains a stipulation on the part Of the United
States, that Tie President shall recommend 10
those of the Union by whuse existing laws
aliens are not permitted 10 hold real estate, tha
passage Of such laws as may be necessary foF
the purpose Of comforting that right. | have
10 inform YOU that in accordance with The Siipu~
aton adverled To- the President has comnu-
nicated 10 the Executive of this State, his
recommendation that if French subjects are nos
allowed 10 hold real estate in Maine under
existing laws, that right may be conferred
upon them.
The embarrassments which have attended
the ofcanizaiion Of the State government az