The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-01-11


Total. ................ .s363, COZ rs
With the increased ability of our people
to pay, believe it is not too much to hope
that the receipts of taxes for the fiscal year
ending December 2lst, 1861, will be suAi-
Gent to pay every Indebtedness of the State
excepting her funded debt.
In conclusion of this subject, and as
general exposition of our aims and respon-
sibilities, would repeat to you gentlemen,
remarks first addressed to your predeces-
SOrs ...t
1T will not be expected of us, that in
single twelve month, we shall discharge
every indebtedness incurred in the past,
and provide for every want of the future,
while economising the expenses of the
present. We can at most institute system
of retrenchment and encourage a policy OF
economy, by which, if persisted in for few
years, the state shall be disencumbered of
her floating debt, her annual expenses kept
within her annual resources, and while the
burdens of taxation upon her people shall
be materially lightened, her treasury shall
yet have something for those great public
charities, in behalf of the deaf and dumb,
the blind and insane, which it will be her
enlightened policy, at the proper time, to
establish and foster."
1nitiatory steps were taken by the last
Legislature for thorough organization of
the Department of Public Instruction.
Recognizing the intimate relation between
an efficient primary school and an ultimate
ly great and successful University, the
Legislature entrusted the whole general
supervision of the educational affairs of the
state to the Chancellor of the University of
Minnesota.
From the report submitted to you it will
be seen that Immediately after the passage
Of the act creating that officer state super.
intendant of Public Instruction-he entered
upon the duties of bis office. Owing to the
incompleteness of existing school laws, while
every effort has been made by the superin.
tendent, the local officers have failed to
render the reports so necessary to learn the
workings OF the common school system.
The increasing correspondence of the
department will render necessary an appro,
priation for a clerk for the ensuing year;
compensation ought also to be made for the
services of the superintendent for the last
year, and suitable provision should be had
for the same in future.
The recommendation of the report in re.
lation to revision of the school code, text.
books and other subjects, should engage
your earliest attention, so that, if possible,
the new code, if one be determined upon,
may be ready for distribution by the adj
journment CT the Legislature.
The Normal School established at Wi.
mona, from the report, appear to have more
than met the sanguine expectations of its
friends. An enlightened public policy die
tates that an Institution whose object is to
train men and women for the noble avoca.
ton of teachers in the public schools of the
state, should receive the fostering care of the
commonwealth.
The last Legislature created State Uni
versity to succeed the territorial institution
of learning, which bad been in existence for
several years previous to the admission of
Minnesota into the Union. The Regents
have been surrounded with difficulties grow.
ing out of the pecuniary embarrassments of
the territorial institutes, and the confused
and irregular mode in which its accounts
have been kept. The full settlement of az
fairs Of the old institution is made the sub.
ject Of the first annual report of the Regents
of the State University, M