The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1859-01-12
GoyERNoR,s MESSAGE.


aigsAtthe commencement of your regular ses
sion year ago. transmitted to you in obed
rence TO the Constitution, full exposition of thu
general condition of the State, together will
such recommendations in respect to legislation
as the 1pubic good seemed to me to require.
In that communication | endeayored to set in
4 clear light the industrial progress the mate
rial resources and the financial strength of oul
great commonwealth. 1t seems not inappro-
priate now, fore proceeding to more special
statements and particular suggestions to sub
nit to you some general views Of ursocial con-
dition, as affected by other elements than those
to which then invited your attention.
Seventy -one years ago what is now Ohio was
an unbroken Wilderness Seventy years ago the
work ofAmerican civilization within her limits
was Just begun by the settlements at Marietta
and Cincinnati. Fifty four years ago she be-
came State Of tho American Union Her sub
sequent social progress has been a sublime tri-
umph. To-day powerful commonwealth,
numbering nearly two millions and half OF
people, exists upon her soil, with unsurpassed
energies resources, agencies of development,
and means of happiness. From the eminence
already reached we survey, with confident re-
lance upon the favor of Divine Providence and
and the inspiration Of Free Institutions, the lOt-
tier heights yet to be attained.
Prominent among the elements which deter
mine social condition, is the numerical advance
or decline ofpopulation. The rate and charac
ter of this movement in the absence Of a census,
must be gathered from the number oimarriages;
ofbirths of deaths; oiimmigrants; ofemigrants,
and of new habitations. For asccrtaining the
number Of these with reasonable certainty, suf
dioent means are supplied by State and FEEDER
al legislation. According TO the estimates OF
the Commissioner of Statistics, the marriages
in Ohio during 1858 were 24,0U0; the deaths
$4,000; the births $4,000; the natumlizations
5000 the new structures 10000. Theincreasc
by births, according to this estimate is 35,0OO
annually, and the yearly immigration from for
eign countries and other States is estimated to
.eXceedsthe yearly emigration by 200OO; giving
an aggregate increase Of $1,000 annually, or
440, 900 in eight years. The new structures,
allowing six persons for each, indicate nearly
the same rate OF progress. The population Of
Ohio in 1850 was 198O,320, and is now, ifthe
estimate, Just referred to, he correct, 9, ,420329
The foremost concern OF an intelligent and
prosperous people is Public Institution. The
mind Of every community is the motive power
of its advancement; and the measure Of its ed
ucation is practically the measure Of prediction
and of all substantial progress. in Ohio the
Constitution wisely requires the General AS
scmLly to secure thorough and efficient sys-
TEN of Common Schools throughout the State.
The honor OF the GrSt act, in tuf'lment Of the
duty thus enioined, belongs 70 the Legislature
of 1928. That Legislature re, organized com
mon school education in Chic. 1t does not at
all detract from the honor justly due to it, to
say that much has been done by previous legis-
lation and by the intelligent and Jealous labols
orthe first State Superintendent and the State
Teachers Association, 20 prepare the way for
the comprehensive and bencGcient measure then
adopted, under which the Common Schools Of
Ohio have attained their present state Of excel
lence ard usefulness.
A brief comparison between the condition of
our Common Schools the year before this enact
nent and at the present time, will illustrate, in
some degree, its happy effects.
The number ofCommon Schools in 1853 wa@
1854; in 1858, 125O0O; the number OF youths
over five years Of age and under twenty-one
enumerated in 1853 was sos, 1872; in 1858, 643,-
$40; the youth enrolled as attending school in
1868 were 258, AT; in 1858, Cos, ,343: the aver
age number in daily attendance in 1853 was
271, 196in 1853, 355, 8G3; the numbar ofteach-
ers employed if 1853 was l3,5GI; in 1853, 49,,
S73: the amount paid teachers in 1853 was
:
OF school houses in 1853 was $3.50; in 1858,
10,49T the value Of School houses in 1858 was
estimated at 1916, 420.
These figures exhibit a gratifying progress;
but they by no means furnish a complete view
of our educational condition.
There has been Il constant and rapid progress
which figures cannot measure. The character
and condition Of our school houses and school
rooms has been greatly bettcred; the standard
OF qualification for teachers advanced; the meth
DDS of teaching improved; the range and scope
Of instruction enlarged; and the results, i'll ac
QUESTION and capacity, largely augmented.
i A great educational work Is prosecuted, also,
outside of the Common Schools. The Colleges
and Female Seminaries in the State send forth
yearly numerous young mon and women TO take
up and carry forward, in its various depart
ments, the work Of moral, social and political
improvement. During the past year attend
ed the CommencemcntS Of as many Of the Col
leges as was practicable, and was gratiiicd to
observe the marked ability and proficiency
displayed by the graduates.
1t is to be regretted that the requirements for
admission and the course Of instruction vary so
greatly in these colleges and semiualies; and !
would suggest the eXpodcncy of establishing
by law some classification Of the institutions,
and some educational standards to which uni.
yersities colleges and seminarics shall be re-
qured respectively to conform, in the admission,
instruction and graduation of students, as con
sditions of incorporation.
Besides these Colleges and Sem inayies, there
are many Schools, corresponding in general
character with our Common Schools but sus-
tained by denominatonal or private resources,
in which large number Of youth receive in
struction.
regret that | haze no means Of ascertaining
the number of these various educational insti
tutions; the number of their teachers, students
or pupils; or their schemes of instruction; or
their results; and respectfully suggest the ex-
pediency Of such legislation as will secure the
collection Of this information, so essential to 81
full understanding of the condition of our popu
lation in this important respect.
twill not escape your observation that, while
the actual progress and condition of our Com
mon Schools may well crafty and encourage
the friends of popular education, there yet re-
mains work to be accomplished which impo-
ses grave responsibilities and must needs excite
earnest soictude. The whole number ofyouth
of the school age, as has been already stated, is
843 $40, while the number enrolled is 6O9,343
making the number not enrolled 234,4 ,497. The
disparity between the whole number and the
number, 455 1863, in daily Attendance, is more
stricking. The difference is 485,97. Making
every allowance for the number taught in pri-
vate or UNCONVENTIONAL schools, there must still
remain considerable number who do not at
tend any school at ALL while of those who do
not absent themselves altogether, a very large
proportion attend so irregulary or for such brief
periods that they derive little benefit from it.
Next to this absenteeism, the most serious
hindrance to the prosperity of the Common
Schools is the want of sufficient number Of
we'll qualified teachers. Not a few indeed of