The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-01-18

IN -
760 s2S.67. Tho number of youths onume.
rated IN tho State is so2 844 Number in .
attendance at tho Schools, 6S5177 !
These facts satisfactorily show that our
school system is rapidly demonstrating its
uxcelences. Tho steady increase in tho
number OF children in attendance upon the
schools. the improvement in the qualification
of toachors, tho number and character of
tho high schools Of tho State, and the great
improvement in tho architecture Of the
school houses, arc indicative OF a pervading
educational interest among the people.
do not doom il necessary to recommend
any essential modification of tho school law.
Tho small appropriation which the Commits
sionor recommends for tho encouragement
of Institutes in tho moro srarseIy settled
counties would, doubt not, be productive
of good.
Connected with the subject of education
l invite your attention to tho report for this
year, of the Commissioners of the State
Library. iu which they mako some suggos-
tions which arc entitled to your consdera.
iion.
The State Libraiv has now been institu-
tod for forty-thrCo years. Tho entire OK.
pendturcs for its increase and preservation
including salaries to November 10, 1860,
have been S58 542S7. Tho whole number
of registered books is 22.793.
Tho people of Ohio having provided lib.
eral instruction for all the youth of the
State, il seems not only appropriate but i'm
! pcrativo, that who tho common school
| furnishes that instruction necessary to
| fair knowledge of the methods and means
of intellectual service, an Institution should
bo fostcrud which is capable Of collecting
! mn hn lin
proved for the practical application of those
methods and means. ...
Libraries arc not merely respectable owl
dences OF intelligence, nor arc they only
places of deposit for public records. They
! arc workshops Wherein the highest achieve
nents of tho human mind are prepared for
or wrought out. Tho Ohio S a'e Library
has become in respectable degree, work
| shop for writers of books Of historic value
and it would DO sonrco of just prido to
! the people of the Sfnte IL i: were so sup
| piled with books Is would afford an oppor.
tunity for any citizen to execute whatever
intellectual engagements his tastes or h9
business might require
Such appropriations as the finances of
| the State permit, for tho flushing of the
| Library Hall and for tho increase aud pres
ervation of the Library by means OF access
ions and by n catalogue, are respectfully
recommended.
| The suggestions OF the Library Commits
sionors respecting exchanges Of Ohio laws.
reports and documents, with sister S atps
aud with governments and societies of Eu.
rope, deserve consideration. Tho Librarian
has given particular attention to that branch
of his duty, and ought not 10 DO deprived
| of any reasonable means of promoting such
| exchanges. Interchange of laws and public
documents encourages that Intercourse of
nations which most eminontly contributes
to thorough acquaintance with tho charao.
tcristics of their people This the Federal
! Government literally recognized when it
| authorized tho free transmission of a., public
! records between tho States, and in that
spirit We may encourage thorough intor.
change, ns woll with foreign nations as
within tho Union. Many of tho most vaIua-
| bic accessions made to tho Library within
the last five years, have boenby means of an
| International exchange.
| The benevolent institutions of the State
continue to make ample returns for the
patronage thoy have received. ! tako great
! pleasure in referring you to tho reports of
! those entrusted with their administration
showing their operations during tho past
! year, and thOir present condition. Accom-
! panying these Reports. you will DO gratitied
10 find tho first Annual Report of the IIamil.
ton County Lunatic Asylum, which promises
to be one Of tho most valuable and success
ful institutions in its kind in the country
No provision having been made by law for
printing this Report, transmit it to the
Senate in manuscript.
! IL will be soen by reference to carefully
prepared tablo of institutions for tho Insane
in the United States, in connection with
tho subject of rccoverics of unatics. forming
a part of the very valuable Report of the
Superintendent of the Central Lunutic
Asylum, that that Institution has for many
years maintained position in advance Of
all similar institutions of tho United Safes,
in the proportion of its recoveries upon the
number of pationts committed to lis caro-
This fact is attributed by tho Superintcnd-
ent in no smaIl-degree to tho policy of the
State in requiring y its inmates to DO main
tanned at tho expense of tho State, and all
chronic and incurabIe cases to givo place,
when necessary, to those that arc recent and
hopeful.
Whilst this is gratifying evidence of tho
wisdom of our Safe policy in respect to
the administrations of our Asylums for the
| Insnno, does not tho fact that tho chronic
and incurablc cases must give place to those
that are recent and more hopeful, suggest
tho duty of the State to mako some suitable
provision for the custody and care of the
! incurabe insane1 Would not tho erection
| and maintenance of an asylum for so benefi
cent purpose bo in accordance with the
humane spirit of our Co~slitution, md the
benevolent sentiments of the people
| beg leave to call your particular atton.
ton to tho accompanying Report of the
Trustees of tho Medical College of Ohio
Tho finances of that institution arc seriously
embarrassed. and legislation is asked for by
tho Trustees, to enable them to relieve tho
college from its difficulties.
! II gives mo much pleasure to call your
attention to the Report of tho Directors and
Warden of tho Penitentiary. The manage
ment of the Institution during the past year
has boon highly satisfactory. Tho law re.
warding the good conduct of tho convicts,
by shortening their terms of sentence, has
been attended with encouraging results upon
the discipline of the institution. Uuder its
stimulating influence tho prisoners, for tho
most part, cheerfully perform tho tasks as
signed to them, and faithfully discharge all
the dutos to the Institution.
The number of convicts in tho Peuiton.
tiary on the first day of November last was
932; of whom 379 were received during the
year In the same period 2s3 wero dis