Year: 1859

mature Ieuectlon am led TO prefer that
devised by the Act Of May 20, 1865, enti-
tied AN Act to provide for the due train
ing OF teachers for the Common Schools of
the State IT places, in relation to the
state, the teacher on the same footing
with the members of such of the Other
learned professions as have been recor-
nized 10y public authority; and it is to be
regretted that the prostration of business.
and scarcity Of money, that so soon fol.
lowed the passage Of the act had the eff
feet OF checking many laudable efforts "a,
mt ITS provisions into operation. Under
these circumstances, does it not become
the duty OF the state to afford such aid. or
at least hold out such inducomentsas as shall
enable this measure to be fairly tested


The passage ofa law guaranteeing the
payment of moderate sum to one Teach
ers' School in each of the districts created
by the act Of 1857, would no doubt cause
a sufficient number to establish the effici-
cncy and reliability Of the plan to be com
plcted in few years the money not to
be paid till the schools were in full and a...-
proved operation. 1t is not probable that
this grant would cause any considerable
drait on the treasury but. even if the
whole twelve schools should ultimately be
established the boon would neitherbe ont
of proportion to that which has been cons
cedcd to other literary institutions. nor
the number Of graduates beyoqdthe wants
OF the community. Up to the present
time, Pennsylvania has appropriated a.
bout s6OO,OU in aid of her colleges and
academies, and this mainly in the hope of
obtaining from them teachers for the com
mon schools. Though the benefits of this
munlhccnc" have been, in other respects,
quite equal to the amount given il will
be asserted by no one that the avowed OBJ.
Jcct has been to any considerable extent
elected. 1t would therefore appear to be
time that the aid Of the State should be
brought directly TO bear in favor of the
great Object so long contemplated.


have thus briefly laid before you the
condition of our noble educational system.
1t will afford Inc sincere pleasure to con-
cur IN the adoption of these, or my other
measures, for its perfection, that the wiss
dom OF the legislature may devise.


In this country, tie want of a school
which shall combine the elements of learn
ing and agricultural labor, and thus adapt
ltsellto the education of the farmer, has
been most seriously felt: for. whilst our
many colleges well hll the measure of use,
iulncss in their appropriate sphere of in
ilncnce, II must hC conceded that the
training they impart is badly adapted to
the art OF practical agriculture. In Penn
syvania that the interest is so important
as to demand at all times our anxious at
leniion, and active support. The Farm
cr's High School of PENNSYLVANIA" lately
projected and planned 10y few public
spirited individuals, and which has re-
celycd, TO some extent, the patronage of
the State, and the contributions of a mum.
Der Of our patriotic citizens, is destined to .
afford place whore young men may he
educated at an expense commensurate
with their means, and to a condition quail
flying them for the pursuit fthe business
otthe farm. Here, whilst daily occupation
will train the body to the ability to labor,
and give the student the enviable feeling
that he contributes to his own support and
education, it will instruct and enlarge his
mind, that it may give force and effect to
all his future efforts. The design of the
institution is to afford a school where
boys may be thoroughly educated in all
the branches Of natural science, and, at
the same time, be Injured to the performs
ance of labor; so that az tFeir graduation
they mag return to their parents abund-
antly prepared to join the domestic circle,
to give a right direction to the business of
agriculture, and act well their part in ev-
cry department Of life. An object so
lrought wich usefulness is entitled to the
highest commentator.


The application Of scientific principles
to the practical purposes of life, is but re-
alizing the full benefit of those laws of ma.
ture, to discover and to profit by which. is
undoubtedly one of the great ends of hu-
man reason. The more this important OBJ
icct is held in view and effected bv our
higher institutions of learning, the more
valuable and useful they become. The
Polytechnic College of PENNSYLVANIA at
Philadelphia, is founded on this basis -
and its attempt to popularize science, and
connect high requirement with practical
ability, is presented to your favorable con.
sidorat.on


Under q resolution of the last House of
Representatives., committee was appoin,
ted by the speaker of the House. TO exam.
inc the state and condition of several
Banks chartered at the session of 1857
The resolution directed the committee to
report to the Governor the result of its ex.
omination within ninety days after the adj
|journment of the legislature. On the Goth
Of July last, the report Of the committee,
together with the accompanying evidence.
was filed in the Office of the Secretury OF
the Commonwealth, a copy of which will
be LAID before the House Representatives.


In view Of the facts reported by COM
mittce, in reference to the organization
and subsequent management of the Tioga
County Bank, The Crawford County Bank
and the Bank of Shamokhin, would rec.
commend a careful inquiry into the pre-.
sent condition of these institutions, and if
it shall be ascertaned the public is likely
TO suffer injury from the further existence
of either, speedy and certain remedy
may be found in n legislative repeal of the
rights and privileges granted by the acts
of incorporation, The power to alter re
woke, or annul, the charter ofa bank when.
ever its continuance may, in the opinion of