Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-01-13
THE RAF TsmANos JOURNAL,

tion full of encouragement and hope for the
greater perfection and usefulness of the sys-
tenn. Large and enthusiastic meetings of the
friends OF education have been held, in many
OF the districts, TO promote the establishment
of y ormal schools, as contemplated by the
act; and liberal sums of money have been
subscribed to secure this desirable object. y
noble work has been commenced, and sustain
ed by individual enterprise and liberalify-en-
couraged by the State, and yindlcated by its
own intrinsic merit, it must go on until State
Normal Schools, in number and efficiency,
equal TO the supply of well-trained teachers,
shall become the just pride and boast OF
Pennsylvania.
The organic structure of our system is as
perfect, perhaps, as human legislation can
make it but it needs the competent and thor
oughly trained teacher 10 give it greater vital
ity and efficiency. and secure the full accom-
plishment of the purposes Of this creation.
The teacher, the properly educated, the well
trained, the scientific teacher, is the great want
of the system. We need the teaching mind,
not the automatOn movements of mere physi
cal organization or antquated routine, to di
( rect and control the intellectual energies Of
the youth OF the Commonwealth. We require
mind. educated mind, in schools, that
knowledge may be communicated, not only eff
fectivcly and practically, but that in training
the young, they may be taught to think-and
how to think-to investigate, and know for
themselves, and thus be fitted and prepared
for the high and responsible duties OF the
man and the citizen.
This deficiency can only be supplied by
State Normal schools for the education of
teachers. To them we must look. The future
is full OF hope. Much has already been done
to provide for their establishment and support.
In connection with honorable individual effort,
more Legislative encouragement may be
quired. 1t should be given chcerfully and
promptly. No subject of greater interest can
claim your attention: no one appeals with
more reason and truth, TO duty and patriotism.
Teachers institutes, auxiliary to Normal
/ schools should be aided By the State. Through
! their agency, sustained by the noble and self
denying efforts Of the teachers themselves,
much good has been accomplished in educat-
ing and training teachers, and in dignifying a
| profession too long undervaucd by those most
deeply interested in their useful labors.
In the great work Of popular education, there
should be no retrogradc movement in Penn
! syivania-no yielding to the impotent clamor
Of ignorance. seliishncss or prejudice, in their
attempts to stay its progress. These, one and
! all, may dcnounce and condemn, but virtue.
patriotism, truth, bid you onward. Let the
system be maintained in its unity ard useful
ness; let it be improved and perfected in its
details; but let no act Of yours impair its
strength, or m the beauty and harmony Of
its proportions.
Based as our institutions are on The will of
| the pcOplc-dependeHt for preservation on
/ their virtue and teIligcncc-knowled- with
rs should occupy the high position to which
! ii is so pre-cminently entitled. knowledge
! founded upon the pure principles OF eternal
| truth, Is the crowning glory Of the citizen
/ the safeguard and defence of the State. Ed
| ucation, full aud free to ali. is the boon we
| ask for the children of the CommOnwealth--it
| is the duty, paramount to all others, the State
owes TO her citizens. The aid OF the Common
wealth should be libcrally bestowed. The
subject, in all its relations is warmly collmen-
ded to the generous care and patronage of the
| Legislature.
| Legislation, whilst properly encouraging the
| development of the material wealth of the
State, should recognize the still higher obli-
CATION to improve the social, intellectual and
moral condition of the people. The amelio-
ration OF human suffering, the reformation of
the erring, and the correction OF youthful vi
ciouSncss, are objects that deserve the atten-
tion OF the philanthropist and statesman. To
secure these results, the educational, charita-
bic and rcformatory institutions of the Com
monwealth should be foStered aud encouraged
10y liberal legislation.
TThc several charitable and benevolent in
/ siiiutions Of the State are recommended to
! further encouragement and aid
| THE Militia system is very imperfect aud
| requires revision. Volunteer companies should
/ be better encouragcd.l
| The new Arsenal at Philadelphia is COM
| plated
| [Amonument to the citizen soldiers of Penn
! syivania who died in the service of their coun-
! try in the Mexican war, is recommended.
The State Geological Report will soon be
! finished and published
| TCndcr the late amendments TO the State
| Constitution. the Legisl tture will be required
at the present session, to apportion the city Of
| Philadelphia into single Senatorial and Rep
resentatiye distrcts.l
! Not the least in importance amongst the
| recommendations of the message, is the cree
/ ton Of Governors House. This comes with
/ great propricty from the present Executive.
| Being about to retire from office, it cannot be
| charged that he is actuated in the recOmmen-
! dation by any selfish motives. It is measure
/ OF eminent prOprety. and we hope the Legis-
! latuye will concur IN the views of the Govern
! or: and carry out his sHggestion.I
In my last annual communication to the
! General Assembly, my sentiments were fully
! expressed in reference to reform in the nat
uralization laws, and the admission Of appli-
! cants to the rights of cItzenShip-to the pre-
! scryGtion or The purity Of elections, by the
prevention and punishment Of fraudulent and
! illegal voting, and the enactment of judicious
! registry ldw-to freedom as the great centre
/ truth Of American repubicanism-the great
/ law of American natiOnality-to the rights of
/ the States, as Independent Sovcreignties, and
! the power and duty of thcGencralGovernment
/ to prevent the extension of the institution of
/ slavery TO the free territories of the Union
! TO the wrongs OF Kansas, as exhibited in the
| violation of the doctrine of popular sovereign
/ ty by TIE General Government, in its attempts,
! by the military power Of the country and
otherwise, to defeat the viii of the majority
in that territory; wrongs still existing and
aggravated Icy recent outrages on the rights
I and privileges of that people and approved