Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1856-01-11


else may distinguish your present session, il
Is hazarding little to predict. that more hon
CT and benefit viii result from the perfection
Of the Conmon School system Of education,
than from any other exercise o. your leeis-
latise powers.
The public schools OF Philadelphia are
deserving Of special notice and approval.
In their various gfadatiegs, from The primary
up to the High School, they are models
worthy mutation; and their management and
efficiency reflect great credit upon those 10
whom haye been committed their supervision
and control. Ii is to be regretted that these
schools, so crditablc to our great commereill
and literary emporium, aud 20 honorable to
ohr commonwealth, should find nc place ii
The annual report of the Superintendent of
Common Schools As at present organized
these schools are independent of ihc State
superintcudcney, and DO not report to the
| school department of the Commonwealth. h.
As every thing thar relates to the operation
Of the Comnon School System, and the
condition of The public schools in the State,
is importan; and interesting, the statistics
of those schools should be furnished to the
State Superintendent, tha; the same might
be embodied in the annual report of the
department. 4 modification of existing
laws on this subject, SO far % to require the
controllers Of the public schools Of Phila-
delphia to report 10 the school department.
the number, grade aud condition Of their
| schools, the number of pupils. and geaer-
| ally such Information IN relation to their
! government as may be deemed useful 10 the
cause Of education. Is respectfully recon-
+ nendcd.
] 70 improve the social, intellectual and
moral condition Of the people, reclaim the
etring, and ameliorate human suffering, are
objects that commend themselves 10 the
consideration Of the philanthropist and the
( stateslnYn. Our educational, charitable
and refqsmatory institutions ars justly the
pride Of the State, honorable alike to the
wisdom that devised and the liheraiity tia.
founded and sustains them. Theg have
strong claims upon the bounty OF tks peo-
pie, aud cordially recommend them to
your care and the libcrality Of tue Com
monweaith
The State Lunatic Hospital, at Harris
burg, in It's objects and results, merits our
highest appreciation. The Just expeeta-
tions Of It's projectors and founders have
not been disappointed Kindness and love
With their soflcniag and subduing inauence
constitute tie rule of its gayernmeat. -
Many of It's former unfortunate inmates
!:ave been restored to reason, to friends
and home, and the enjoyments Of social
life. Those that remain require our syn,-
pathy and aid They should BOT be with
held. The report of the directors Wal ex,
hibit, IN detail, the operations Of the insti-
tntioh
The necessity and Importance OF provi-
ding additional accommodation for the in
sane of Western Pennsylvania have been
strongly pressed spon my attention. The
present Accommodations are clearly insult
feient, and these have been provided ptinci
paAy By the contributions of benevolent cit
izcns- IL is urged that TIE rapid advance
of onr population, the gloomy increase Of
the Insane, and the inadequaeY Of the pres
ent asy,ums far their c.lre aud his anaaen,er,f.
render ii i'nperatiyely necessary that ehec-
tive AID should be given 10 that portion of
the State fer tho establishment of a new
! and entirely distinct WeStora Insane Hos
pital, as . home to those Of our fellow citi-
zens whose only allie ,iaiion is to be found in
their own ignorance of the frightful malady
with which they are burdened The SUBJ
icet IS wnrtby of calm and dispass ionate in
quify. | viii cheerfaliy cooperate Will,
the Legislature in all proper efforts to ac-
conlplish this object.
SbopfI 49,, a,ol;,,o - -. -
iect, sould then recommend that an ade-
quatc appropriation be made to the Western
pennsylvania Hospital, for the purpose OF
: extending Its accommodations for the care
of the insane, as distinct as may be pracii-
cable from the other class of patients and
inmates, The charter of this institution
is liberal IN its provisions and conlprehcn-
sive in the objects liable to be brought nm
/, der its care, embracing the insane as we'll
as. the sick, helpless and infirm. -
In this connection would commend to
yorr attention the Pennsylyania Training
School fo- Idioric and Feeble Minded Chill
iren. The mid of the Commonwealth has
heretofore been extended to this institution.
l. Is a noble charity, and anpeals TO the
best feelings of the heart. II deserves to
share the bounty Of the State.
The House Of Refugein Philadelphia, and
the Western House Of Refuge near Pitts
burg, are institutions of great excellence
having for their object the reclaiming of
hayward and errins youth, the employment
+ of the idle, the Instruction of the ignorant,
the reformation of the racious and depraved
and the relief Of the wretehed- They arc
schools, mol pr;sons-homes. not places of
punishment, they area refuge to the nealec-
ted and eutcas; children and youth of our
Commonwealth. The suecess of the past is
sure guarantee OF their future usefulness.
They should receive your all and encoar-
agement.
The "Blind" and the ssneaf and Dumb
: Asylums,n in Philadelphia, invite our SYM
nathv, and ask to sLare the bcnef,ctions Of
: the Gommonwealth. They should not he
disappointed. The blind in their darkness
4 -ihc dumb, in their silence will cherish
| the gift, and bless the generous donor.
The legislation, ia relation, to all ques-
fions IF moral ald social reform, should be
I carefully and wisely consd red and natur-
/ ed. On no subject within the constitutional