The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-22
GOV. MILLER'S
INAUGURAL MESSAGE.
Delivered tds the Legislature, Wednes-
day, Jan. l3, 1864.

Gentlemen Of the Sersffe and House OF Repfeseas
.atires:
With profound gratitude to the Father
of all Merces, for innumerable State and
National blessings, during period of i'm
minent peril and under sense Of Geep
and abiding obligation toe the people of
Minnesota, | this day assume the duties
of that position to which they have assign
ed me.
My able and patriotic predecessor in his
Annual Message of the eleventh inst, has
presented such comprehensive view of
the condition and resources of the State,
that shall, as nearly as practicable, con-
fine myself to brief enunciatiOn of the
general policy which deem essential to
her future prosperity.
COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM.
One of the leading objects of your lesis-
lation should be the improvement and sue
cess of our Common School System. The
postpOnement Of this duty may be attend
ed with serious detriment to the present
as well as coming generations, and to the
reputation of our State.
In view of the other official responsible
ties of the Superintendent of Public In
struction, that officer has performed his
duty with a zeal and fidelity worthy of all
commentator, and toe much weight can
not be given to the many valuable sugges-
tons contained in his annual report.
STATE SUPERINTENDENT.
But in my judgement the necessities of
this department demand the organization
of an Independent bureau of Public In
struction. We require State Superin-
tendent, whose time and labor shall be
exclusively devoted to the great trust COM
mitted to our care; and whose integrity,
experience, and executive and administra-
tive capacity shall commend him for the
position. He should be authorized to de-
eide the minor controversies pertaining to
the system, without appeal or costs; and
those of greater magnitude subject to ju-
dicial revision.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.
The efficiency of our instructors, and
the success of our schools, demand a thor
ough local or county superintendency.
These officers should be held amenable to,
and be examined by the State Superin-
tendent, and they should in turn be au-
thorized to examine, grade, and issue re-
quisite certificates of qualification to the
teachers of their respective counties Or dis
tricts.
NORMAL SCHOOLS.
The importance of Normal Schools to
provide men and women for the noble avO-
cation of teachers, can scarcely be over
estimated; and | earnestly recommend
this class of institutions to your favorable
consideration.
STATE UNIVERSITY.
feel it my duty also to invoke your
prompt action in eXtricating the State
University from its present embarrassment,
if practicable, and to place it in such
position as will ensure the accomplishment
of the noble object for which it was ere
ated. And such encouragement as is COM
patble with our limited resources, should
also be given to the Agricultural College,
and to such other higher institutions of
learning as may be requisite to meet the
wants of the rising generation.
OUR LAND INTERESTS.
As intimately connected with the adj
vancement of our educational system, as
we'll as the general prosperity of the State,
the great land interests of Minnesota re-
quire your viglant supervision. Our prede.
cessors have wisely provided strin gent en-
actments for the safe keeping of the mil
lions of acres devoted to public instruction,
and the evidences of their wisdom are
already discernble in the accommodating
revenue, which bids fair at no distant pc
riod to furnish the means for strengthen
ing and nvigorating the most distant
schools within our borders
SWAMP LANDS.
The importance of fixed, uniform and
equitable policy, which shall regulate the
disposition of our swamp lands, is daily
becoming more apparent. With prudent
management the proceeds of these several
millions of acres will pay the public debt,
promote immigration, erect State prison,
and endOw Normal schools; and will build
up those great humane institutions, asy-
lums for the blind, deaf, dumb and insane,
which are at once the glory and necessity
OF modern civilization" We are evidently
drifting upon that alternative which shall
secure the early appropriation of these
lands to the above and kindred objects, Or
result in their inequitable distribution to
. corporations, important to or prosperity,
but secondary to the great interests in
volved.
+ Along the track of legislation in neigh
boring States, We everywhere discover the
wreck of similar gratuites; and if, with
these warnings, we pursue an equally
reckless course, we shall deserve the con-
domination both of our contemporaries and
of the generations that will succeed u.s.
OUR RAILROAD SYSTEM.
The healthy progress of our railroad
system iustifes the belief that during the
present year some two hundred miles of
these great arteries of trade will be COM
pleted and in operation, within the State ;
and that, at no distant day. Lake Supe-
rior and the Mississippi River, St. Paul
and the British possessions, the Falls of
st. Anthony and the State of Iowa, and
the Minnesota Valley and Winona, will
be indissolubly connected by these chan
nels of intercourse and commercial pros
perity.
The low stage of water in our navi-
gable streams during the past season has
demonstrated the importance of an early