The daily gazette., 1877-01-02

commencement Of TIE last session Of the
Gensraf Assembly, with the reasons in-
Although numerous applications have
been made to me for the exercise of the
pardonbng power have been constrained
by sense Of public duty to deny them all
save in two instances. In most cases
these appeals to Executive clemency to
disturb the judgments Of the Courts at
ter n fair jury trial are founded upon no
other groands than consideration for the
wounded feelings Of the suffering rela-
| tives of the condemned. 10 yield 20 sucil
considerations would save much pain to
the Executive, but would be Of bad pub
4 lie example and extremely prejudicial to
the public safety. ana hence / have
\ deemed it obligatory upon me, when ap-
piled to in such cases, to act steadfastly
In accordance with the sentiments ex-
Ipressed upon the occasion Of my inaugn-
f 1sH ''ogH al CHARITIES. trs4'n'i-lss1o am
/ BY general statutes, wise provision has
been made for the care and education of
the INDECENT deaf and dumb and of the
/ INDECENT blind, and also for the support
l and training of the destitute imbeeile
children of the State. 10 ,tiE9 gouge pf
4 Contracts have been made with the di-
Irectors Of institutions which are espe-
cially devoted 60 the instruction OF these
afflicted persons, and limited number
Of beneficiaries from this state are now
that their individual cases admit of, from
the most improved mode of treatment
administered by skillful and experienced
Instructors in their respective depart
ments. .,san.r nd5 g1ulS .lvaf ar--
The number now maintained in the
various institutions by the bounty Of the
State is as follows ld dt~ 'i2' j. iac
In the Pennsylyan:a Institution for 1.-THE
In the coiumbia instiitattiioini,' iwashine..
toni for the Deaf and Dumb. ........... 2
In the Pennsylvania Institute for instruc-
In Gm the p PennsSiVania ns Training School for
Feeble minded Children. .............. 2
J Total. j.
The Annual. Report of the Principals of
these institutions will be laid before you,-
containing full information of the details
Of their management. Taere Is also am
the INDECENT insane. The cost of main
tanning the few benefciaries from our
State is small when compared with the
beneficent results accomplished, and it
may be doubted whether an equal amount
| of the public money could be appropria-
ted to q better purpose than in thus al
leviating the Affections and improving
the condition OF these stricken fellow be-
ings. .. ,...--....
FREE SCHOOLS. '' y
I take pleasure in transmitting to you
herewith the Annual Report of the State
Superintendent of Free Schools, and COM
mend it to your attention. 1t presents
an interesting statement Of the condition
: of the schools in the several counties,
showing particularly the practical work
ing of the amendments to the school law,
adopted by the General Assembly of
: 1875, and suggesting some further i'm
iprovements in detail. The adoption of
the school law of 1875, and the generally
cordial acqniesence of our people in the
. notifications therein made OF the OLD
sys.em, shows a marked advance in the
popu,er estimate OF common school edC-
cation and an increasing readiness to in.
cur the sacrifices required in order TO
bring to perfection this great interest,"
1t is true that there still remains defects
to be corrected, and much room for i'm
, provement; yet we may find not only a
legitimate qualification but also much
> encouragement to further efforts by con-
: templating the steady progress thus far
made, and to this let me invite brief
3 attention.
Popular education has from the begin
ming engaged the earnest attention OF our
people. 1t was one of those fundamental
3 interests with which in framing the State
I Constitution of 1892, the people specially
I charged the Legislature. Among other
objects of prime Importance, the General
Assembly was directed to provide for by
q law "fOr establishing schools and promo
ting arts and sciences" Nor,was the Leg
lslature OF that day negligent of the duty
thus imposed by the Constitution. AL
i though our people were exhausted and
Impoverished by the revolutionar strug
gle just ended, still as early asy1796 u
E school fund was created such as thelim-
: tied resources of the State allowed.
An act was passed setting apart the
r fees on all marriage and tavern licen-
? ses, together with any gift or bequests
! offered by the beneVolence of the
people, and solemnly pledging the fund
thus created as the act expresses it, Ito
!, the establishment of schools in the
several districts of the respective
: counties of the State for the purpose
| of instructing the children of the in
3 thabitants thereof in the English Ian
A guage,.. arithmetic and such other
a branches of knowledge as are most
useful and necessary in completing a
good English education" That was.
: as il may seem to us now, a day of
small things yet with steadiness OF
{ purpose under great discourangements
: which we cannot too much honor, the
e investment of these small sums was
, faithfully made from year to year
Q until at length q fluid was accu
mulated, yielding an income adequate
to commence the work of more gen.
eral education. To th;s end the first
8 effort was made in 1917, in which year
a and for several years afterwards, an
$ annual appropriation was made by the
9 Legislature of $1,000 to each of the
: : counties, to be disbursed by tIhstees
: appointed in the several hundreds OF
! the county, to aid in the schooling OF
: poor children. 1t is not surprising
j. that provision which invited free.
9 spirited and Independent people TO
: have their children schooled as pau
n N 20 v,r1uad m fa;l,,ro parhono tho hos