The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-01-11
The Legislature.

Wednesday. The election Of speaker "1s
nroceeded with. Mr. Gilbert T. Read Of
Kalamazoo. received "a votes, and Edward
g. Morton. Of Monroe, 10; scattering, 2.
For clerk-N. 3. Jones received 70 votes (
and NJ. " Reynolds q.
For Eagross5lg Clerk-William a Hall
10 votes, and II. d. Post Y.
For superintendent W. swift 20
votes, and H. t. Linabury %.
The officers elect we're sworn in and the
Senate informed the House that it was
ready Tor business.
In the Senate, the members were sworn
IN. and T.H.Glenn, the elected Secretary oil
the Senate. J. c. Rockaleliow, chosen ser
geant-at-Arms. and II. W. Fuller, Engross-
Ing Clerk, were also sworn 10.
GOV. BLAIR's MESSAGE.
On Thursday morning, Gov. Blair read
his annual Message to both Houses. Il Ills
five columns, and discusses the affairs OF the
State in many important particulars. Inc
financial condition is represented as favor
able. and is attributed 70 the policy adopted
at his incoming four years since This
policy consists in paying of the public deD'
as rapidly as possible by means Of the sink
ing Fund, and OF creating no new ooliga-
tons except in great emergencies and uni
formly LAYING taxes sufficient 10 meet ap-
propriations We fully approve this poAcy
and the state or nation that always adheres
toit will never become bankrupt, or have
its credit permanently and seriously I'M
paired. II is the same policy which liliam
Pitt. in the terrible struggle Of England
with Napoleon, successfully inaugurated,
Int which his successors had not the moral
courage TO carry out in the face Of popular
clamor.
Gov. Blair touches on the subject Of edu-
cation. and believes that while the pccuDi-
ary means furnished for the common schools
is ample. we do not accomplish all that
ought to be accomplished. We have long
been OF this opinion, and hope attention Will
be given to mis- subject. We are not pre-
pared TO advise any specific measures, but
five had the six years experience OF the
I~to c-P,.i--s~-a-.-si ~ ST. -- ~~-lS -
eest some things about schools and school
houses which would be some advance on
old practices. In education, as IN every
other branch of human action, each i'm
provement will spring originally from one
mind; and from that one 1t will spread
among the many Hence, if a school dis
trict were totally cut Off from connection
with mankind, it might never make any adj
vances in educating the young; viii II
the isolation be partial, progress will be
tardy. and the old methods may 5eiOilOwed
for generations, while, in districts better
Informed, great improvements may at the
same time be in full operation What Is
needed is some mode by which a knowledge
Of the last new methods Of instruction may
be simultaneously impaired to all districts,
and put in operation in all alike.
The message II Gov. Blair is a good one,
and we would notice some other topics, but
our limits forbid. In retiring from his
present situation, the Governor will take
with him the respect and esteem OF his iel-
low citizens The various labor5 and eXi-
gencies peculiar 10 his position during
the past four years ehas net with courage,
industry, perseverance and patriotism; and
perhaps il may not be too much TO say that
nthe State had been searched over, we
might not have found the man that in every
desirable respect would have been his su-
perior for that station.
GOV. CRAPO's MESSAGE.
On Thursday afternoon. Governor Grape
delivered his Message to both Houses. 1t
occupied an hour and halfin the delivery,
and is a valuable State paper. II has the
most full and correct accounts of the
statistics of the immense material interests
Of the State that we have ever seen put to-
gether in any document. We were pleased
TO hear him express a full and positive APP
proval of the financial policy Of his prede
cessOr and his desire for its continuance.
His ideas on the subject of pardons grant
ed by the executives OF states fully meet our
approval. The granting Of pardons is
sometimes desirable in peculiar cases but
the extent TO which they have been granted
IN many States is a Encouragement to the
prosecution Of crime, and has a bad effect
upon q community. The proportion Of par
dons granted to the whole number Of sen
fences is greater than is generally supposed
II is stated that a recent Governor Of New
York had two thousand applications Tor
pardons in two years, and the number OF
criminals liberated annually by the Cover
nors Of thirty-six States might probably be
counted by thousands. The Senate were so
well impressed with the Message that they
ordered 200 extra copies for special distri-
button in the Eastern States.
ELECTION OF Z. 5. SENATOR.
On Thursday forenoon each House voted
separately for L. :. Senator. In the Senate
Mr.. Howard received IS votes and G. V. "
Lothrop :. In the House, Mr. Howard re-
ceived 20 votes; Mr.. Lothrop - At half
past twelve the Houses met in joint con-
vention, the choice Of each was announced
by its presiding officer. and Mr.. Towards
election was then declared by the President
OF the Senate.
Mr.. Howard LEFT on Friday MOI aing for
Washington. The customary Senatorial
supper was omitted, and. as we think. with
propriety. 1t is an Institution Of doubtful
utility; is quite expensive to somebody,
and it never gives full satisfaction 70 every
body
THE SENATE.
The Senate at this session present very
favorable appearance. The members are
generally above the average size and height
OF men, and there Is no member who can
be called small man. They are generally
in the full maturity Of life. The oldest look
ing member. is Or. J. B. Walker. Of the
Slst District. and the youngest looking Is
JohnB. Crawforth Of the Sixth. The Lieu
tenant Governor preSides with ease and
without ostentation. and the proceedings so
rar have been Of the most grave and or
derry Character. About 4 third part Of tie
members have had previous experience In
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