Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1867-01-09

three. thousand of the destitute children OF
the brave men who laid down their hVes
that the nation might live, are now not only
comfortably provided for and guarded from
temptation, but are receiving an educSton
which will fit them to repay the care OF the
State.
The appropriation made Tor tins purpose,
at the last session, has been sufhclent to meet
all exnenses of the financial year just closed
And I reccommend whatever appropriation
NAV be necessary, to continue and perfect
the system under which the schools are con-
Quoted.
There can be no doubt that the appropria-
ton will be made. Were [ to select any
State interest which would more warmly
commend to your prompt attention and
liberality than another it would be this. All
Pennsylvanians are proud of it, and it lies
near the hearts of all true men.
Owing to their greater destitution and
want of information ON the part of their
relatives, the orphans of our colored soldiers
may require some special attention. Per-
haps authority to the State Superintendent,
to use, for short time, the services of an
agent, to ascertain their number and claims,
and bring them into the schools that may be
provided for them, will be sufficient The
whole number in the State is not large, of
whom few have already been temporarily
provided for
l recommend that provision be made for
the maintenance of such of our soldiers as
are in poverty, and have been so manned as to
prevent them from securing a livelihood by
their labor, by renting buildings at once, or
such other means as you may deem wise and
proper, until the arrangements proposed by
the National Government for their support
are completed. They-are probably few in
number, and it is due to the character of
the Commonwealth that they should not re-
main in, or become the inmates of, poor
houses, or pick up precarious subsistence
by begging. Patriotic and charitable citi-
zens have done much for them, but speedy
and proper relief can only be given them by
the systematic and continued benevolence of
the Commonwealth The Legislature can
alone afford immediate relief to all of this
class of our citizens, and in thus exhibiting
gratitude to heroic and faithful men, who
did so much for the country, the burden will
fall equally on all her people.
By our existing laws, juries are selected
by the sheriff and commissioners of the re-
spective counties. As these officers are gen.
orally of similar political affinities, the sys-
tenn has always been in danger of being
abused for partisan purposes. During the
abused, in many of the counties.
To secure, as far as possible, the admins
tration of equal justice hereafter, | recon-
mend that jury commissioners shall be elect
ed In each county, In the same manner as in
spectors of elections are chosen, each citl-
zen voting for one jury commissioner, and
the two persons having the highest number
of votes to be the jury commissioners of the
respective county, to perform the same
duties, in the selection of jurors, that are
now imposed upon the sheriff and county
commissioners.
1t is impossible to provide, in all respects,
for the increasing and changing interests OF
our people, by the enactment Of general
laws, but to a large extent it is practicable to
relieve the Legislature from special legisla-
ton which is demanded and occupies SO
much of its sessions. Special legislation is
generally passed without due consideration,
much of it at the close of the session, and Is
chiefly Objectionable from the partiahty with
which powers and privileges are conferred.
/ again recommend the passage OF gene
raj laws when it IS at all practicable, and IN
this connection, recommend the passage Of
a general law, regulating rallroadsnow exist
ing and the incorporation OF new companies,
so that so far as possible there may be just
uniformity in the franchises granted and
equal facilities afforded to the people Of all
sections of the Commonwealth
There are at this time, in the various
prisons, a number of persons under sentence
Of death, some Of them for many years, and
as it has become custom that an incoming
Governor should not issue a warrant of exc
cution in cases unacted on by his predeces
sor, it not unfrequently happens that IL
many cases, some Of which are recent, while
some punishment should be inflicted, that
of death may appear to the Executive to be
too severe.
| earnestly repeat my recommendation
heretofore made, that provision be made fol
the reception of such persons into the peni-
tentiaries, who may be pardoned on condi-
ton of remaining limited time therein.
[ re-appointed Hon c. r. Coburn, Super
intendent of Common Schools, on the expi-
ration of his tenn In June last, and he con
tinued at the head of that Department un-
til the lst of November, when he resigned
and [ appointed Col. j. F. Wickersham
1t is due to Mr. Coburn to say that he fiul
filed all the duties of hisOfiice faithfully and
efficiently. 1t appears from his report that
there were in the school year of 1865, SO;
school districts In the State; 13, ,l4G schools
TO- al teachers, and 725, 3l2 pupils, with al
average attendance of 4T9 600. The tota
cost Of the school system, for the entire
State, including taxes levied and State ap-
preparation, was for, the year 1866, $4,195,.
25S,57 The increase in the number o.
school districts was &c; in the number o.
schools, 222; in the number of children at
tending school, 1882; in the average at
tendance at school, Is, 945, and in the tota
cost of the system, 1851, ,020 o.. l invite
your attention to the valuable suggestion.
made in his report, and that of Colonel
Wickersham, and commend our system oi
public instruction to the continued fostering
care of the Legislature.
herewith present the reports of Col. f
Jordan, Military Agent of the State, a
Washington of S. p Bates, on military
history of our volunteers of trustees of the
Soldiers Gettysburg National cemetery; o.
the proceedings and ceremony of the return