New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-04
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

G1O deptL wax uhkee lts tDeth seem lDOrduate Inc
very considerable share OF it devoted 10 rhetorical
comrOopIlsees respecting National aud State pros
pey hereditary devotion 70 the principles OF civil
ard religious freedom the necessity Tor economy in
public Affairs the historical eminence of our Ju-
dietary tie official purity and stern devotion Of our
public men &C. is much lees mischieyous than the
residue that it unfortunate that the Governor
bad not completed bis performance 10 character, aud
detained il at some celebration OF National ami
versary or from the platform Of some College CON-
Increment We have had longer and shorter Annual
Messages from the Executive Chamber Ofour STATE but
no other barren Of valuable suggestions trivial
and twaddlDg in its treatment Of the subjects VII ereOn
public sentiment is divided while legislative action is
invoked, nor eyincing more trucuent spirit TO-
ward one bali Of the community grearer reaiiness
to profit by mean appeals to popular ignorance and
prejudice where party favor is thus TO be secured or
party interests promoted.
We can but glance hastily at few Of the salient
points OF this Message,
Proportions looking to the multiplication Of Offices
always have been and we presume always will be pop
ular so we probably waste breath in opposing the
proposed creation of State Department of School SD
pernendence separate from that of Secregry of State
as most inyidious Disagreement by the gentle
man Just elected Secretary Of State, who should
a. least be tried before he is condemned aud whose
ofice-nomnally and practically the second
Executive post in our State-would be virtually
reduced to a CIPHER by the abstraction there
from of the School Department 1t is perfectly
notorious at present that the duties of New
York Secretary of STATE relate mainly to
Common School System and ii we do not elect Sec
retares fit to discharge those duties it is not likely
that We should elect fit Superinendents after the pro-
posed separation of the Offices This change proposed
would certainly involve increased expenditure. and
would. by diminishing the dignity and importance OF
eitler Office, tend give second rate officers
instead Of frstrate We suspect that the Interests
combined in its favor too strong to be successfully
resisted but we wish to be remembered as standing
in determined hostility to the proposed separation.
We are likewise opposed to what the Governor d
lutes into " establishing State Scholarships in our
"beher institutions Of learning for the purpose Of edu
eating young men for principals OF union and high
schools with the consequent comforting of " the adj
yantoges OF the endowment upon the meritorious
@pupils of tie different Counties or Assembly Dis
trcts" Who will guarantee that these meritorious
principals of union and high schools after the State
shall have provided them with costly education for
that express purpose Who does not know that the
selection of these meritOrious young men, will be
controlled by influence and favor that the chill
dren of Of rontical or social influence
will enjoy great advantages, in securing these
sci olarships, over those Of the obscure aud
pOwerless We protest at the outset against
THE attempt to extend over whole State the opc
ration Of the vicious and antrepubican principle
embodied in our Citys Free Academy, and we ask the
Legislature TO inquire into the express nature AMI
practical working OF this institution before they buckle
a corresponding load upon their constituents generally
Were the cost Of this Free Academy expended in Sci
entfc Lectures Apparatus Cabinets and Libraries TO
which all the youth OF our City without discrimination
as to capacity allowed free access, its
benefits would be ten times greater and s arstOcrstc
incidents unknown. Let US have the largest possible
provision for Popular Education but let not all be taxed
for any thing less than the benefit of all.
Weheartiy concur in all that the Governor suggests
in favor of liberal appropriations for the education and
care of the imbece, Lunatic, Deaf, Dumb aud Blind
These, by Of their sad infrmtes legitimate
objects Of public charity, and should be treated accord
ipgly; but aOrdng extra facilities for education ID
those believed to possess than average capacity
Is following IN the beaten track which leads TO the ex
slation of the few aud the degradation of the many
What the Governor suggests respecting Emigration
is vague but looks the right way. We trust the Leg
lature will make it practical.
We wish the Governor had lifted at least corner of
the curtain which shrOuds the management of our State
Prisons He gives the number of their inmates and
hints that their earnings or rather that portion thereof
which gets into the States Golfers have fallen of By
reason Of sickness; he even ntimates hope that the
Clinton Prison will be less burdensome in the future
than it has beer in the past but statement Of the
actual expenses aud earnings Of State Prisons for
the past year is permitted to escape him. There i,
something under that white heap which will haze 70
come out and it smost unfortunate that the People
cid nos lastFaH choose Prison Inspector capable OF
thoroughly exposing it.
The Governor hints that our present system of Prison
Discipline is very defective, but does not say wherein
LOT give the Legislature any clue to the proper cor
receive But he broadly intimates that our present
Prison 0ficers have not those mental and moral
qualities Of the highest order which their duties
demand, that they poorly paid and that the treat
ment of their Offices the spells of victory of every
change Of political aseendancy, source of enormous
evils Our charitable Institutions be urges are free
from this evil and are far better managed in eonse-
quence. But why should not the Governor rise for
once to the comprehension Of principle aud recognize
the truth that all merely executive subordinate posts
in the public service should be rescued from the de-
trueve influences Of party spirit and partisan preja
dices that il is The system Of political rewards and
punishmcpts that should be oyerthroWn and NOT this