The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-01-15

/ AhOAltdLIOlios III q DtAblINSli GONGiii-
ment education is a sure basis Of pow
er and public prosperity. BY it the
I people are taught to discern and esti-
mate the value of their own rights; to
distinguish between oppression and
/ the exercise Of lawful authority; to
/ discriminate between liberty aud licen-
/ tiousness to preserve an inviolable
respect for the laws, and exercise "eter-
nal vigilance" against any encroach-
ments upon them. 1t is admitted that
/ a thoroughly educated people alone
/ can be permanently free. BY educa-
| tiOnal culture patriotism is expanded,
! and the principles, manners and senti-
/ ments Of the whole people are aSSimi-
/ lated. Many of the sources of jealousy
| and prejudice are diminished, social
/ harmony largely increased, and the
/ structure Of our free and happy.system
/ Of government cemented, strengthen
/ ed and adorned.
Soldiers Orphans Schools.
In his report, the Superintendent of
| Soldiers Orphans Schools, exhib-
/ its the total expenditure for their sup
/ port from December /, 1867 tn May 81.
1868, to be $236, $40 rs; total nImber
| of pupils in the schools 8, 431; average
cost per pupil 500 06I for six months
and the average weekly expenses per
/ pupil 3 Co.,. The fiscal year of these
| schools, like thatOf fthe common schools,
/ terminates by law on the last day Of
May ofeach year. The present report
/ of the superintendent, therefore en-
/ braces only six months, and reports will
be made up to 3lst of May, annually,
| hereafter. The Special appropriation
of FEBRUARY -, 1868, made in accord
ance with an estimate Of the Superin-
tendent, presented in my last annual
message, exceeded the actual expenses
SG,004 II.
Notwithstanding every possible effort
has been, and will continue to be made,
10 econOmize in the expenses of the pre-
sent year, and to keep them as far as
| possible within the appropriation made
by the last Legislature, it will readily
be observed that there will be a deficit
for the year ending May 81, 1869, the
/ amount Of which will be carefully as
certained and presented to the Legisla-
ture prior to the close of the present
session.
The schools are all in good condition
and improving, and their usefulness is
daily becoming more manifest. They
are among the most philanthropic in
stitutions of the age, and reflect high
honor on the patriotism of the Legi3-
| lature by which they have been so lib
orally endowed and upon our people
/ by whom they are sustained. The
children who are the recipients oft their
| benefits are the offspring of brave men
/ who voluntarily endangered their lives
in the cause of their country in the
| most trying hour Of its existence, and
who, glowing with patriotic ardor,
/ fought as bravely and heroically as
/ the n0bleSt men il the worlds history.
/ Thousands Of them who left their
/ homes in the bloom Of health and with
the brightest hopes Of manhood, now
sleep in death, leaving the widows and
little ones to the care Of the country in
whose service they fell, and which
promised them its protection. Their
children are the wards Of this great
Commonwealth; and too much praise
cannot be awarded its people for the
munificent and tender manner in
which they have thus far, through
their representatives, discharge | the
sacred and delicate trust.
Agricultural college,
Before the General Government APP
propriated public lands to the several
States for the purpose Of agricultural
and military education and the me-
chanic arts, and prior to the time when
Pennsylvania endowed the AgriCultu-
raj College with her share Of these
lands it was dependent wholly upon in
dividual influence, without any other
means for its support than its own
earnings. History proves that semi
naries of learning cannot be efficiently
sustained by their own internal reS0ur-
ce5. The education of youth in the
higher branches of knowledge seems to
require the aid Of philanthrOpic con-
tributi0nS. This institution had not
these benefits to any adequate extent,
and though the board of trustees be-
slowed upon it the most anxious care,
their zeal and labor, combined with
those of its friends, were not equal to
a contest with the want of means
Hence the school did not command the
confidence Of farmers who were able to
educate their sons, and who could not
forget that the character of the college
attached to the character Of its gradu-
ateS and that its failure would enter
into the estimate which the world
would place upon the education It be-
slowed. This feature has now been re-
moved. The people, through their /
Legislature, have endowed this institu- /
ton with the interest upon fund Of |
1918, 800 90, Invested in the United |
States and Pennsylvania State six per /
cent bOndsl payable to it Semi-annual- /
to So, ,462 rs. The residue of the fund, /
$43, $50 30, has been appropriated, un- /
der the law by the board Oftrustees, to /
the purchase Of three model and expe- /
rimental farms one at the college, in /
Centre county, for $1,000 90, one in I
Chester county for Sl7,7 90, and one +
in Indiana county for SIS, 1876 80. The /
board has also recently re-0rganized I
the faculty and remOdled the course of /
studies, so as to adapt them to the /
wants of the agricultural community. /
This new order of things goes into OPP I
peratiOn at the commencement of the !
next session and it is earnestly hoped /
will be a success. There is no profess !
ion, trade or calling in life, where the |
value acknowledge and the ii9hts Of sci !
ence, and the practical application of /
both, are so potent for profitable re- /
suits as in their adaptation to agricul- /
tural pursuits. And in this truly prac-
teal age ii is well worthy Of the con- /
sideratiOn of parents, whether they
should not avail themselves of the bon /
elits Of this Institution, now SO goner-
ously endowed by the State.
Military.
From the report of the Adiutant
General you will learn the condition
of the Military Department. The in
activity in military affairs after the
cessation of hostilities and upon the re-
turn to peace, has in great measure
been dispeIed and an active martial
spirit now prevails throughout the
State more particularly in PhiladeI-
phia, where by special legislative en-