The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-01-10

ing demard tor competent teachers, are ad-
ditional evidence ofihe favor with which the
people regard our educational interest,"
The recent organization ola Teachers In
stitute, and the later organization OF a State
Teachers Association, with its associated
lectures, hail as omens Of good; and pre-
dict that benefi. ial aud far reaching inhu
cnces will flow out from these institutions.
During the past two years, the steady in
crease of The number of students in our
several Colleges, and the manifestations on
The part Of those " no have charge of ihsse
Institutions, of an active sympathy with all
The sensational movements of the State.
hare afforded additional and gratifying syi.
denctsof the sound state OF popular opinion
on the subject of edueation
II 10 the duty Of the State TO extend to all
the general educational enterprises of her
citizens, the ceuntenance and encourage
ment Of liberal policy; and, in the main.
tenance Of such a poicy,to exempt from tax
alton at least those funds that have been
bestowed by private munif cence, for the
moral and intellectual training o. the youth
If the State.
The afflrs of the State University, At
Bloomington, require some prompt and de-
sembly. In the early part oi the year 1854,
the main college building. and the very val
liable Library that it contained were decs
troyed by FIRE. The Trustees Immediately
adopted energetic and economical means to
repair the damages; and anew and commodi.
Gus edifice, designed for the principal de-
partment of the University, is now nearly
completed.
You are aware that for. some years the
affairs OF dissatisfaction have been cmbarress-
ed by the progress OF law suit, which
involved about sixty thousand dollars Of it's
funds, and which grew out OF a controversy
between the State and the Vincennes Uni
versity. The sait has been decided against
the State; but no decision has been made in
any controversy wherein the State Univers-
i.y was party; and it IS believed the judy
ment of the Court cannot, without further
legislative action, be carried into eff CT by
any transfer of the funds in question, to the
Vincennes University.
Having no doubt of the power of the State
to adjust this difficulty, Gin which the rights
and liabilities oi the parties arose under the
old constitution,) by any means at her CON-
mand or on time, earnestly recommend the
adoption of measures for the early settlement
OF this controversy, in sosae way that will
not Deprive the State University of its present
re ources. The suit, to which reference
has been ,asde, was instituted under the au.
thority of an act of the Legislature; and
whatever opinions may be entertained as to
the results OF futnre litigation on the part Of
the State University, the interests of the
people OF ib, State, Of Institution, and of the
om.nunity in which it is located, require an
early and final settlemen mt of ihe question.
A statement of the condition of the funds
of the State University will be placed before
you, in the report of a.e Trustees. These
officers, i'm the course Of the past year, OBJ
tanned loan Of six thousand dollars from
the Sinking Fund; and they should be
invested with authority 10 mos tgage a part oil
the college Ian is to secure payment Of this
loan. The whole subject OF the sale of the
lands granted by Congress and amounting
TO about twenty-four thousand acres, is
respectfully submitted foe the considerable
and action ofthe General Assembly.
In the late revision Of the Statues of
Indiana, the laws on the subject Of the Sab
bath, were ii seems unintentionally overlook.
ed and annulled by general repeating clau-
ses. The observance OF this day, as day OF
rest from, the common secular concerns OF
lie, 10 not only areligious duty, but 10 is a
political! and social interest, which no en-.
lightened people may disregard 18th impu-
nifty. From the past, and IRON the present,
many sad examples rise up before US, to
warn us OF the inevitable decline of strength
and virtue, and prosperity. in nations and
States where the Legislature and the people
have looked with indifference or the prola-
nation of the Sabbath.
With respect, 10 this subject, the present
General Assembly WILL doubtless. take iato
consideration the propriety of re-enacting
those laws hich up to recent period, and
through all changes, have stood among our
Statutes since the foundation of the State
Government.
The law of 1853. on the suffice of the
traffic in intoxicating liquors, has been rem
dered in operative bv decision of the Su-
preme Court of the State; and an unusual
degree of excitement has prevailed among
the people, in relation to the laws that should
be passed by the General Assembly, for the
purpose of restraining the desolating evils Of
intemperance. The necessity of restraining
these evils by The force of law has been ac-
knowledged by our legislation, from the
eanization of the Government TO the pre-
sent time; and in the course of the past ear,
this subject, involving the happiness and
prosperity ofcur race. and rising far above
all party considerations, was forced in some
measure, to assn ne the nature OF political
issue.
Some of the best citizens of the State
entertain serious doubts, not only as to the
cons itutionsli ty, but as to the expedency Of
adopting stringent legal u cans for the sup
preston of intemperance; anditis neither
prudent nor just to assume from this fact,
that such msn are among the foes Of tenn
perance. All experience shows thst very
stringent penal laws against privileges and
habits long INDUCED in.are calculated 10 pro