The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-01-12
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Z Fsl7osc Citizens of he Senate

GOVERNORS MESSAGE. |
Z Eslloso Citizens Of sse Senate
and of the House Of Representatives:
At the commencement of our regular
session, a year ago. I transmitted TO you
In obedience to the Constitution, full ex-
position of the general condition of the
. State, together with such recommendations
: ID respect to legislation, as the public good
seemed to me to require.
In that communication I endeavored TO
set in clear light the Industrial progress.
the material resources. and the financial
strength Of our great commonwealth. It
seems not Inappropriate, now, before pro-
ceding to more special statements and par
ticuiar suggestions, to submit to you some
general views sof our social condition, as
affected by other elements than those to
which I then invited your attention
Seventy one years ago what is now Ohio
was an unbroken wilderness. Seventy
years ago the work Of American civiliza-
tion within her limits was Just begun by
che settlements a. Marietta aud Cincinnati.
Flfty-fuur years ago she became a State
= of the American Union. Her subsequent
social progress has been sublime triumph.
To-day powerful commonwealth, mum
bering near two millions and a half Of peo-
pie, exists upon her soil, with unsurpassed
energies, resources, agencies of develope-
meut, and means Of happiness. From the
eminence already reached We survey with
confident reliance upon the fuvor of Divine
Providence aud the Inspiration of Free
Institutions, the lof:ier heights yet to be
attained. - 81
& Prominent among the elements which
determine social condition, is the numeri-
cal advance or decline of population.
The rate and character of this movement,
in the absence of census, must be gath
cred from the number Of marriages; of
sibirths; of deaths; of immigrants; Of emf
grants, and of new habitations Fer as
.acertaining the number of these with reas-
asonable certainty, sufficient means are sup
Piled by State and Federal legislation
According to the estimates Of the Com
4 missioner of Statistics, the marriages in
.eOhio during S5S were $4,000; the deaths
$4,000, the births $4,000; the naturali-
cations, 5000; the new structures TO-.
900. The increase by births, according
Teto this estimate. is $4,000 annually, and
< the yearly immigration from foreign coun-
tries and other States is estimated to ex.
ceed the yearly emigration by 10000;
giving an aggregate increase of $4,000
: annually, or 100000 in eight years Tht
new structures allowing six persons fo
each, Indicate nearly the same rate of pro
gress. The population of Ohio in 1851
! WAS 1.980,3 ,329, and is now, if the esti
mate, just referred to be correct, 1920,
329. ss s. tae sf
ssts The foremost concern of an intelligen
and prosperous people is Public 1nstruc
tion. The mind Of every community j
the motive power of its advancement; AM
the measure Of its education is practical
: ~ the measure of production and of al
y Substantial progress. In Ohio the Con
D stitution wisely requires the GeReral AS
sembly to secure a thorough aud eliicien
system of Common Schools throughou
the State. The honor of the first act, i
= fuIillment Of the duty thus erjoined, be
longs to the Legislature of 1923. Tha
Legislature re-organized common schot
education in Ohio ltdoes not at a
sH.detract from the honor justly due to it, t
e.say that much has been done by previor
Legislation and by the intelligent and yea
,iGoas lsbors OF the firsi State Shperintent
.ent aud the State Teachers Associatio,
ei-to prepare the way for the comprehen.iy
easand beaefcient measure then adopted, III
der which Che Common Schools yf Obi
= have attained their present state of exec
.lence and usefulness t ht
-s9T "A brief comparison between the cond
tion of our Common Schools the yea
before this enactment and at the preser
time, will illustrate, in some degree, i
happy effects. lss9i siss7"79 ~
al The number of Common Schools
al853 was 1884; in 1858 49, 500; Ii
la the humber of youths over Ave years of az
and under twenty one enumerated in 5
oswas 8O6s7s2; in 1858, S43.S40: ii
1youtIl)enrolled as attending school in l85
r we're 35S.4l7; iu 1853, 6o9,343: ii
average number in daily attendance
ilS5S was 271 ,l96; in 1858 355 ,863; tt
number of teachers employed in 1853 WI
hi13. 1854; in 1853, 1878: the amour
paid teachers in 1858 Was $500, I45, ,O(
HiinalS58, $l,915,832: the number of scho,
-1thoasesin l853was 6, $50; in 1858, 10
cdAg7sethe value Of, school houses in 1876
- was estimated at -, ,00o, 900; in s5S,
70 9$3,6465420. ssdss seg % bad i.as 4sen
q These figures exhibit . gratifying pr
gress; but they by no means furnish
complete view of our educational cond
tion. aite 2E ~ VI
;si1 There has been constant and rap
progress which figures cannot measure. :
gifThs character and condition of our scho
edhsuses and school rooms has been great
z bsttered; the standard Of qualification Fl
= tsachers advanced; the methods of teacl
!, ing1improved; the range and scope Of ii
10 struotion enlarged and the results, in q