Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1868-01-22

would be at the rate of $2oo, 900 per annuil
in gold, or, at the present value Of golt
5000, 900 in currency. Besides, the fund
would not become "deprcciatcd and anavail
able" by long continuance in the 'Trcasur,
A law for this purpose could be passed
specifying the method by which the unneed
ed money Of the Treasury may bc loaned
authorizing and empowering the Stat
Treasurer, and such others as you may dcsie
nate, to execute or carry out its provisions
Your attention is also invited to the fac
that the salary Of the State Treasurer, no,
only seventeen hundred, dollars, is entirel
disproportioned to the duties and responsi
bilities Of that officer, and that the amour
Of the bond, eight thousand dollars, givel
by him to the State, is equivalent to no Sc
curity at all, under the present system o
placing unconditionally, the entire funds o
the State in his hands. The only security i
the incorruptible honesty and integrity o
the Treasurer. Suppose that when there i
in his keeping millions Of dollars tho incum
bent Of that Office should be tempted to be
come defaultcr? How easily could he Sc
cure to his bondsmen the amount for whiea
they would legally be liable to the State ani
appropriate the balance to himself? Fol
years, it seems to me, the Treasury Of the
State has stood, as it were, upon volcano.
Examples all around us show the fallibility
Of man, and how frequently and easily he
lis swervcd from the path Of rcctitude and
honor. Even many Of those in the most
elevated positions aud enjoying the highest
confidence Of the public, are often found to
yield to tho temptations that surround them.
The desire for the rapid accumulation Of
wealth nc thousands of schemes present.
cd to excite the cupidity Of human nature,
and the lOoseness Of public morals, engcn-
dcred by the escape Of the guilty from pun.
ishment, have SO demoralized public senti-
ment that it may be considered wonder
almost niracle-that Pennsylvania has SO
long escaped from the calamity that might
at any time have happened, Of that may
hereafter happen, by the robbery of her
Treasury, and render the suspension Of the
payment Of the interest upon the State debt.
for time, inevitable.
EDUCATION.
The report Of the Superintendent Of the
Common Schools exhibits full view Of our
excellent system of public instruction, which
is widely diffusing its blessings by securing
Il sound and substantial education to all the
children Of the State. A brief summary
will give an idea Of the immense proper
tions it has attained, and the vast amount
Of usefulness Of which il is capable.
Your attention is particularly invited to
the want Of uniformity and constant change
Of books in the public schools. These are
matters Of serious Inconvenience and need
less expense to the poor, and might easily
be remedicd by judicions legislation.
The chief aim of our system of common
schools is to place the advantages Of an cdu-
cation within the reach of all the children
of the Commonwealth and when it is con.
'idcred that intelligence and virtue are the
principle safeguards Of our free institutions,
his system earnestly claims the fostering
.are aud wise guidance Of the Legislature.
The graded schools have largely increased
Turing the past year. The system establish.
ID by the State was designed, not only to
urnish instruction to our youth in the clc-
nents Of knowledge, but where practicable,
o impart to them all education in the high.
branches Of learning. Tho multiplication
f grammar and high schools should, there.
ore, receive every encouragement, for they |
ire necessary to perfect the system and on
ble the State to avail itself Of that talent
Shich is born in the cottages Of the poor
Iuite as frequently as in the palaces Of the
ich.
Fourteen colleges and thirty.two acadc.
MES have made reports to the School De.
'artmcnt during the past year. Such insti.
utions supply great public want, as the
onlnon school system is not competent to
'erform the whole work. Of popular educa.
ion. A State requires men Of generous
ulturc in all the walks Of life, as well as in
he profession OF teaching, and the perfec-
ion af the system of bublic school instruc.
ion is one Of the wisest and noLlest oh.
ncts Of legislation. All Of the different in
litutions Of learning would 10 strengthened
nd their usefulness increased by bringing
hem together in closer union, which pos
IDLY can be best accomplished by the crea.
on Of a general Department Of Education.
Serious complaints have been made con,
srniug the neglect Of the education Of the
hildren in the aims and poor houses Of some
the counties Of the State. Thcyare per-
lifted to grow up In idleness and ignorance,
nd when sent upon the, world to earn a
wing are better prepared to receive lessons
{ vice than those Of usefulness. The direc-
'rs OF these institutions should be compel.
d, by law, SO send such children to the
,mmon schools, or provide proper schools
II them, and It should be made the duty of
,mmon school superintcndents to supervise