The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-01-23

These are plain and simple facts; but,
plain and simple as they are, none more i'm
poTtant could be brought to your attention.
lou viii weigh them, and weigh them well;
and after doing so, will determine which is
the best course to pursue, or wisest policy
to adopt; whether you will establish Blu
reau of Foreign Immigration, or send
Commissioners abroad, or whether you will
do both. You will determine whether you
viii employ means which have added so
largely to the population and wealth of the
older Western States, and which, if Judi
ciously employed by US. viii add SO largely
to oar population and wealth I am SO
convinced of the necessity Of prompt, sys-
tematic and thorough action, that 1 would
gladly cooperate with you in any practical
measure you may adopt.
need not press upon you the necessity
of watching closely and guarding strictly
the railroad interests of the State. To this
end you will familiarize yourselves with the
act Of Congress, approved March Sd, 1868.
That act makes liberal grants of lands to
aid in the construction of certain railroads
and telegraphs, and makes these lands sub
ject toyour disposal, for the purposes there
il mentioned. Nor need impress upon
You the Importance of the subject to the
State. a glance at the map viii demon
strate that. If, with the liberal grants oil
the General Government, the lines of roads
specified IN the act shall be built. Kansas
will possess large railway facilities.
The time given to build these roads is ten
years from the passage of the act. If not
built within that period the lands granted
viii revert to the United States. Sill less
need l impress upon sou extreme caution,
as well IS local forbearance, in selecting the
lines of railways. The law under which
this grant of lands was made, indicates their
general course but it does no more. The
power IS left with you, mainly. to mark out
their tracks and this should be done
promptly, because the lands are now with
drawn from public sale, and if not used for
railroads, double injury will result TO the
State; for, in that event, the country
through which these lines are intended TO
pass, will have neither settlements nor rail-
roads.
Of the great Pacific Railroad 7 expressed
very fully 10 you my views n my first mes
sage. These views are confirmed every day
by facts familiar to all, aud by the National
necessity. That road will be built, and
built soon. 4 large amount of work has
been done already in grading, and large
quantities of iron, with engines, cars, &c,
were in transit when DELAYED by the late
storm and severe weather. The prospect
soon the pioneer who has endured all the
bardships and struggles of early Kansas
life, will reap a rich reward for his labors and
sacrifices, in the enjoyment of the blessings
of ripe civilization.
However much the subject of education
is discussed, it cannot be discussed too
much or too earnestly. As it Is second to
no ether in importance, 50 it should be sec
ond TO none In your consideration. There
is no misleading or eabdUing an intelligent
people Had the body of the citizens of the
slave States been educated, had they pos
sessed 1.-THE of the knowledge, and of that
experience which knowledge creates, so
characteristic of New England, this bloody
and fraLricidal rebellion never would have
decimated their population, or desolated
their homes. We must remember that the
constitution itself is only means for our
common protection. That which imparts
TO it efficiency, that which gives to it an
all penetrating Yigor. is the instructed spir-
it of the people. Without that, the laws
will be passive instruments, or the mere
machinery by which despots fetter mind
and invade human right. We owe it, then,
to ourselves and to our posteTitv, as our
FIRST and highest duty to $ pread the means
of education before the youth of our State,
to make parents feel it necessity, to cause
the public to demand it as duty ard a
right.
I an happy to say that the report of the
Superintendent of Public instruction
(Which is herewith submitted) J, is in every
way encouraging. Reports have been re-
ceiyed from thirty-two counties. There are
seven hundred and FIVE organized school
districts, Of which FIVE hundred and six
reported to the County Superintendents.
The whole number of children reported for
the year 1862, was IS, $40, Of whom H.
0l0 attended public and private schools.
For the year 1868, the whole number re-
ported is 96. 1874. of whom Is sos attended
school, an actual increase over the proceed
ing year of sixty-two per cent.
When we consider the local excitements
that war has occasioned, 1t is wonderful that
so much has been accomplished. This
shows how deep-rooted the cause of educa-
ton Is in the hearts of the people. There
is, there can be no more encouraging sign;
no token which promises more for the fu-
tuIe. You will, then, consider it your du-
ty to encourage. if able. the higher insti-
tutions of learning; but, whatever may
happen, You viii deem it necessity as well
as duty, to foster and protect free schools,
those universal colleges for the people.
call your attention to the report there
with transmitted). of the Commissioners
appointed TO locate the State Normal School
an institution closely identified with, and
necessary to the perfection of common
schools.
The last Legislature located the Arr;cul.