The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-01-14
THE
GOVERNORS MESSAGE
FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE SENATE
AND OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESEN.
TATlVES.-


TATIVES.-
At tho commencement Of your regular
session year ago, l transmitted to YOU in
obedience to the Constitution, full exposi-
tion of tho general condition of the State,
together with such recommendations in res-
pect TO legislation, as tho public good seem
cd TO me TO require.
/ In that communication / endoavored Ia
set in a cloar light tho industrial progress
tho material resources and the financial
strength Of our great commonwealth. II
seems not inappropriate, now, before pro
cecding to more special statements and par.
ticular suggestions, to submit TO you some
general views of our social condition, as af
fected by other elements than those to which
1hen invited your attention.
SOCIAL CONDITION.
Seventy ono years ago what is now Ohio
was an unbrokcn wilderness. Seventy Neait
ago tho work of American civilization with
in her limits was just begun bv tho sottle
meuts u; Marietta and Cincinnati Fifty.
four years ago she became State o! the
American Union. Her subsequent soca
progress has been a sublime triumph. To.
day powerful commonwealth. numbering
nearly two millions and II half of people, OK
lists upon her soil, with unsurpassed energies
resources, agencies Of development, and
means of happiness. From tho cminenct
already reached we survey, with confident
reliance upon the favor of Divine Providence
and tho inspiration of Free Institutions, the
loftior heights yet to bo attained.
Prominent among the elements which de.
tormino social condition, is tho numerical
advance or decline Of population. Tho rate
"a oil pf M in . In uh
sonce of u census, muit be gathered from
the number of marringcs, of bii tbs, of deaths,
of immigrants of omgrants and Of now hab.
itations. For ascertaining tho number OF
thCso with reasonable certainty, sufficient
means arc supplied by State aud Federal
I'lcg gislatiun. According to the estimates OF
tho Commissioner OF Statistics, the mar
riagos in Ohio during 1853 were 81 900; the
deaths $4,000; tho births $4,000; the nat
uralzations 5000 ; tho now structures 10 600
Tho increase by births, according TO this cs-
innate, is 30 900 annually, and tho yearly
immigration from foreign countries and
other States is estimated to exceed tho year.
~ emigration by 10000; giving an aegrc.
cato increase Of 81. 600 annually, or 44O OOO
in eight years. Tho new structures, allow.
ing six pursous for each, Indicate nearly the
same ratio Of progress. Tho population oil
Ohio in 1850 was l $50 500, aud is now, il
tho estimate, just referred to, bo correct
, 2420 329.
; The foremost concern of an Intelligent
and prosperous people is Public Instruction
Tho mind of every community is tho mo.
two power of its advancement aud the
measure of its education is practically the
measure of production and of all subst an
tial progress. In Ohio, tho Constitution
wisely requires tho General Assembly to SO
euro q thorough and efficient system OF
Common Schools throughout tho State.
Tho honor of tho first act in fulLiiment o.
; duty thus enjoincd, belongs to the Leglsla
. turo of 1852 3. That Legislature rcorgan
| izud Common Schoo! Education in Ohio. |
does not at all detract from tho honor justl,
duo to it, to say that much had been don'
/. byprevioas legislation and tho intelligent anC
Jealous labors of the first State Superinten
dent and the State teachers Association, Il
prepare tho way for tho comprehensive an,
bcncfcout measures thon adopted under
which tho Common Schools of Ohio hav,
attained their proseut state Of cxcellonc'
4 and usefulness.
A brief comparison between tho condition
of our Common Schools tho year before thi
enactment and ut tho present time. will il
lustrute, in some degree its happy effects.
EDUCATIONAL.
. Tho number of Common Schools in 1856
WAS S, ,9S4 in 1883, IL. 500; the number u
youths over five years of ago and undo
, twenty. one enumerated in 1883 was SOC. 49,
in 1858, 843, $40 ; tho youth enrolled ns at
tending school in 1853, 35S,4 III; in 1855
COS. .343; the average number in daily at
tendance in 1853 was 27l .l96 in lS5S,355
SG3 tho number of teachers employed i
1853 was 1864 in 1858, 1873; ih
= amount paid teachers in 1853 was $500, las
90; in 1858, ~ 1918 S32; tho number {
school houses in 1853 was $3.50; in 1851
lO.497; tho vuluo of school houses in lS5
was estimated at $3,000,0ooi in 1858, /
S3.S4G,420.
= These figures exhibit q gratifying pr
grcss; but they by no means furnish con
plete view of our educational condition.
There has been constant and rapid pr
cress which figures cannot measure. 1T
character and condition Of our school hous
= and school rooms has been greatly bettere'
tho standard Of qualification for teachers n
yaucud tho methods of teaching improye'
II the range and scope of instruction enlarged
and the results, in acquisition and capacit
= largely augmented
A great educational work is prosecute
, also. outside of tho Common Schools. III
~, u" Colleges and Fumao SeMinaries in tho Sta
send forth yearly numerous young men al
women to take up aud carry forward, in
various departments, tho work of moral, 6
cial and political improvement. During Il
past wear attended tho Commencement
of as many of tho Colleges MS was practic
- bio. and was gratifed to observe tho mar
l. ed ability and proficiency displayed by Il
=, graduates.
Y Itis to be regretted that tho requirement
i for admission and tho course of lnstructit
:" vary SO greatly in these colleges and semi
aries: and would suggest the cxpodien'
- of establishing by law some classification
,,s' these institutions and some education
standards to which universities, colleges al
seminaries shall be required respectively
- conform, in the admission, instruction al
L; L; graduation of students, as conditions OF /
corporation.
Besides these colleges and seminaric
- there are many schools, corresponding
) general character with our common schoo
G but sustained by denominational or priva
20 resources, in which Il large number OF you
u receive instruction.
regret that have no means of ascertai
- ING tho number of these various education
&c institutions, tho number OF their teacher
students or pupils; or their schemes of i
Y struction; or their results and respectfu
= ly suggest the expediency OF such lcglslatit
,1EN Naa inf