The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-01-12

duu Iuo Special duNduJd SSS III pT6ScuiS
to the emigrant. When we consider
how little the mass of the people of
this country know in regard to the
condition and character of the interior
countries of Europe, we may form
some opinion as to how little the masses
of the people there understand about
ourselves and our State. While they
may have general knowledge of the
character of this country, it is the spe-
cific knowledge of our State which
will bring them to our borders, and
this is what we should labor to give
them.
| therefore earnestly recommend
the establishment of Bureau of EN-
igration, upon plan similar to that
adopted by several of the Western
States, providing for one or more
Agents in Europe, whose duty it shall
be to furnish to persons about to emf
CRATE to America, information of the
geography, population, wealth and re-
sources of the State, and the prospects
for health, comfort, wealth and educa-
ton, presented to those who come in
search of new homes, and of such facil-
tiles for getting here as the State may be
able to furnish Some of our. sister
States have in this way added largely
to their population and wealth, and,
while we are somewhat late in begin
ming, it will be later and worse for us
the longer it is put off. .-a. .l.d
The fact that Indiana is rapidly
growing in wealth and population,
furnishes no reason why that growth
should not be greatly accelerated by
the use of means so simple and legiti-
mate in their character, and costing
so little when compared with the
great advantages to be derived. /
had the honor to call the attention of
the Legislature to this subject at the
regular session in 1865, and beg leave
to repeat the arguments and recon-
mendations then offered
request your special attention to
that part of Mr.. Wilstach's report in
which he describes the effort made
and the difficulties attending it, to
make an exhibition of Indi-
ana productions, manufactures
and mineral resources at the
Worlds Fair" to be held in Paris
this year. The Importance of thus
presenting to the people of the "Old
World in a tangible form the great
resources of our State, requires no IL
lustTatioE.
SCHOOLS.
The School Fund of Indiana may
be estimated In round numbers at ST.
Gil ,337 Al, and is, / believe, larger
than the School Fund of any other
State. sa to
While our school system is far from
being what it ought to be, yet it is be-
ing gradually and substantially i'm
proved. The standard of qualifca-
ton for teachers has been eleva-
ted, and teaching as science, is
far better understood than for
merly. s The want of qualified
teachers, which has been one of the
chief obstacles.i in the way of the eff
cheney ofour schools, will be greatly di-
minished in few years by the Normal
! School, which was authorized by the
last General Assembly, and which |
trust will be speedily put into success
| full operation. The other great evil
consists in the fact that the schools
are kept for too short time, and this
can only be remedied by increasing
from taxation and other sources that
might be made available the annual
revenue for school purposes. [ will
enter into no argument before this
General Assembly to prove the i'm
portance of education, and that our
schools should be open to all, and
able to furnish an education sufficient
for the ordinary business of life; but
assuming that all admit this truth,
will simply say that the common
schools of Indiana can not furnish
such an education without they are
continued for longer period in each
year,
EDUCATION OF coLoRED CHILDREN.
In my message delivered to the
Legislature at the late extra session, |
presented the Importance of provid-
| ing for the education of colored child
rem in language which | beg leave
here to repeat:
The first section of article eight of
our State Constitution provides as
follows: 80 a.efE f.v-
$ knowledge and learning, generally
diffused throughout community, be-
ing essential to the preservation of
free Government, it shall be the duty
of the General Assembly to encour-
age, by all suitable means, moral, in
tellectual, scientific and agricultural
improvement; and to provide by law
for a general and uniform system of
common schools, wherein tuition shall
be without charge, and equally open
to ALL r- .EI&
The language of this provision is
very broad, and would seem, in letter
and in spirit, to embrace all the child
rem of the State without regard to
color. ~ s...-