Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-01-12

presented to. anu strongly urged upon your
attention. Shall the number of banks, and
the amount of banking capital be increased
and il so, to what extent, and in what locali-
ties are questions OF absorbing public ill.,
terest.
Without desiring to assume gener raj and
uncompromising hostility to all banks. or to
an increase of banking capital, | cannot dis
cover the necessity that requires. or the cir
cumstances that would justify, the incorpora-
tion of all that may be demanded from the
Legislature. The incorporation of new. or
recharter of old and solvent banks. when in.
dispensably necessary and clearly demanded
| by the actual business wants of the comniu-
nity in which they may be located, should not
| be refused: and no other circumstances
should their incorporation be permitted.
| The necessity for increasing the number Of
banks should be determined more 10y the ac-
tual wants of legitimate trade, than by the
| number of applications and the wild iancies
of stock jobbers and spectators. The sud
den ana unnecessary expansion of the curren-
cy should be avoided, and whatever tends TO
produce such result ought TO be discoun-
tenanced and prevented. In the creation uf
banks the true interests Of the State and
! people should be consulted; and Il Just and
| honest discrimination, as to number locality
and the demands of trade. he exercised by
their representatives. Public sentiment does
not demand, nor do public or private interests
require, the creation Of numerous banks.
After careful examination Of the subject.
| it is my clear conviction that the system is
now prepared for and requires increased eff
cheney in its general upervison-increased
qualification in its teachers, and increased
means Of support.
The experiment of the County Supcrin;
tendency, wherever faithfully carried out, has
not disappointed the expectations of the ad-
vocatcs Of that measure. The improved con-
diton Of the schools. and the greater efficiency
OF the system, clearly establish the pruprieiy
and utility of such supervision. The official
visits of an officer Of the school department
to some of the counties Of the State, in con-
nec,ion with the County Superintendency.
have demonstrated that the voice Of public
authority to sustain, and the presence of an
official agent to encourage. have largely con-
tributed TO excite and maintain the deep in
tcrest now felt by the public in our educational
progress and improvement.
The most marked Improvement recently
effected in the system, has been in IFS corps
of teachers. With almost Unparalleled dis
interestedne,s and devotion tothe noble cause
in which they are engaged. the common
school teachers of the State have, in almost
every county. been using all the means and
appliances within their power Tor srIt-ini-
pruvcinent. These efforts. 81 crcditablr Ia
them, have been highly beneficial in their re-.
suits, and clearly prove the necessity, and
point with unerrlng certainty to the estab-
lshment Of State Normal Schools. Teach.
ers' meetings for a day have given place to
institutes for II week and those again to nu.
merous Normal meetings, continuing from
L., ,,,t IL
progression, it has become more apparent
that permanent Institutions, with their pro
per professors ard appliances, which nothing
but the power of the State can provide. are
demanded by and would meet tie wants o
the system and the occasion.
In conceding this boon to cur children
through their teachers, We are encouraged 10y
the example ot other countries and the cX.
perience Of the past. 1t is a remarkable fact
that no State in uur Union nor nation OF The
old world, has perfected its system OF public
instruction, without schouls for the proics
sional training Of teachers, established unt
supported by the public authority and means
and it is no less remarkable ard still more
encouraging. that no such institution has eve
yet been abandoned. From Prussia, who's,
experience in this regard is that Of u centur!
and Il quarter, to that Of our young sisteI
Michigan, whose existence is as OF ycsteday
the Normal school has been tried lhroughou
} Chrstendom with unvarying success.
: 1t is time also that the teaching mint
! should resume its true place in the schools
, In the communication of knowledge, to u
l effective. mind, in sympathetic contact. mus
1 act upon mind, and with living, sppuking en
: ergy, leave lis impress there. The Grea
! Master himself thus trained the school whic
: was to reform world. But now the Boa
: has too much intruded itself between tn
t tpac er and the taught The teacher has to
S much become the mere exponent Of the print
: ed page, and the mind of the learner the in
e pressed copy of the text. In thus saying
: the value and Importance Of books, as n mean
) of knowledge, are not intended. to be uycl
. looked or d, Scribrd but the uses Of our hes
: agencies have their limits; and when We hn'
J the book usurping the place Of the teacher
: 10 the injury of the mind of our youth, "
} should restore each 10 its proper position
, require from each the performance Of IFS ~
! prol,rnte functions. and thus confer upon bot
e the full measure of their usefulness
As an expedent to supply the place of ref
e ular Normal schools till established. and as
valuable auxiliary to them when in operatio
\ the Teachers Institute would be Of unque
!, tionable value. 1t would bring together III
" teacnerS Ol county unVtf lhe ntsI lnUuei
e ces. for consultation and Improvement, an
= exhibit them before their fellow citizens
s. their proper professional character. A pu
It ton of the means of the State. or OF the n
= spec.ye counties, applicable to cducaton
n improvement. could not be more protiiah
/, applied than to the encouragement of Il
y me"ting of at least one such institute. annuu
If ". in each comfy. An experiment of th
v. kind recently made in the county of Cheste
S, is said 10 have been eminrntly successful, al
j, strongly indicative OF the wisdom OF the me
q sure.
J. Legislation, in relation TO all questions
a moral aud social reform. should he careful
s, and wisely considt red and maturcd. On
n subject, within the constitutional authori
q. of the Legislature, are the people SO sem
n tive; and no one more deeply interests eve
50 class and condition OF society. Sumptua
re laws, us general rule, are OF doubtful e
p pedency, and as abridgments OF the liber
A. and privileges Of the citizen. can only be ju
U. tilted on the ground Of necessity. Whll
rk this is admitted, it cannot be denied that I
is evils resulting from intemperance, create
al necessity for regulating and restraining
's- legislative acts, the traffic and sale of into!
IL eating liquors. TO what extent this trat
ct should be restrained by positive law. mu
: depend on the will of the people, determin
X by considerations OF their own moral. physiI
al and social welfare. Whatever may be
he own opinion, or that Of the Legislature