we should be justly chargeable with a lack of prudence if we again fall into a like difficulty, without having made some exertion to avoid such a disaster.

I recommend to your consideration, the propriety of making efficient provisions by law, for taking an annual statistical account of the Agricultural and other industrial products of the State, in their great material features. Hardly any subject of domestic policy can be more important, whether we regard its effect upon our internal policy, or upon the just weight and character of the State as a member of the confederacy. The attention of wise men has long been directed to this subject. Not only has one or more of our sister States taken some action; but the General Government is proposing to lend its aid in accomplishing the object. But while I approve the spirit which we must suppose actuates and influences the General Government, I doubt the expediency of relying solely upon its action. Why should we be continually looking to the Capital of the Nation for information as to our own wealth, resources and means? This is a subject of economy in its largest sense; involving the certain knowledge of our material interest and ability. Such knowledge is of the first importance to the successful prosecution of individual and subordinate business affairs; but it is of vastly greater consequence to the just regulation of the collective interest of the State. It should therefore be acquired by the State, under its own laws, and through its own officers.

Important as this measure undoubtedly is, it is easy to accomplish it, at trifling expense. A bureau of statistics can be engrafted upon the office of Secretary of State, or some other State office, and the proper blanks may be prepared by such bureau, and transmitted thence to the county assessors, or some other county officer, to be by them filled, as prescribed by law, and returned to the Central Office, to be compiled for the information of the General Assembly. Thus could be ascertained the number of acres of land under cultivation; the quantity of cereal grain, and other crops produced; the number of horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, &c.; the number of mills and manufactories; the amount of capital and value of machinery employed therein; and the aggregate annual products, especially in breadstuffs; statistics of the more important branches of mechanical labor; of the extent and progress of railroads, plank roads, canals, &c.; with their cost and income per mile, together with any other items of great and essential value. In this way we may receive annual information on the subject of our schools, number of teachers, number of pupils in attendance, the number not in attendance, the amount of the pay of teachers, the kinds of books used at schools, the condition of the School Fund, and full details of the operation of your entire school system. Thus can be established a system of practical statistical information, relative to the resources and capital of the State, highly interesting in a moral and social aspect, and very important in its bearing upon our domestic policy, and upon the character and credit of the State generally. It would afford me

great pleasure if Indiana would lead off in the organization of such a system as a permanent part of our domestic policy.

The State University, and the other institutions of learning, are in a flourishing condition. More than twelve hundred young men have been in regular attendance at the different colleges of the State during the past year. It is gratifying to know that at every submission of the school question to the ballot box, there has been manifested by the people an increasing interest for the permanent establishment of an uniform system of common schools.

The history of the past speaks to us in strong language, that where man's moral cultivation is neglected, there, life, liberty and property are unsafe. It is the obvious and plain duty of government to provide for the education of the whole people; and to secure general intelligence among men, they should begin to learn while they are children. It is therefore becoming in us, as representatives of the people, to concentrate all our efforts for the establishment of common schools in every neighborhood, for the improvement of every child in the school district, in which should be adopted a uniform system, for every class of our youth, while we leave the county institutions and colleges to individual or associate enterprise. By such a system it is believed the object will be best promoted. One thing is certain: If we pay not for the education of the boy, we shall surely pay double for the ignorance of the man.

Your attention is called to the many valuable suggestions contained in the reports of the Trustees and Superintendents of our benevolent institutions. Indiana according to her population, this day educates, free of all expense, a greater number of mutes by thirty-three per cent., than any other State in the Union.

It is gratifying to know, that of the entire number, who have been placed in the Insane Asylum within six months after the attack, ninety per cent. have been cured; and of those who enter the Institution within one year after becoming insane, eighty per cent. are restored to their friends clothed, and in their right mind.

The economy and prudence with which the Blind Asylum is managed, are worthy of all praise.

The policy adopted by Indiana, in admitting into her benevolent institutions, all classes and conditions of her unfortunate fellow beings, without regard to property, has been followed by other States. in the West. Those that have not, are now making efforts to occupy the same ground.

These institutions are the monuments of Indiana's benevolence, and it is your duty, as no doubt it will be your pleasure, to sustain them by liberal appropriations. No part of the burdens imposed on our people is paid with more cheerfulness. It is, however, indispensable, that you provide suitable checks in the expenditure of the public money thus appropriated. It may be worthy of your examination, whether the adoption of some such provisions as follow, would not be beneficial:

1st. That the Superintendents and other officers should give bond,

with approved security, to cover any amount of public money that may come into their hands.

2d. That there should be adopted a uniform rule for the election of Trustees for all the institutions, and that no Board of Trustees should have the power to fill vacancies in their own body.

3d. That no Superintendent or officer of these institutions should hold the office of Trustee.

4th. That in the disbursement of funds to sustain these institutions, the money should be paid out upon warrants, drawn by the Auditor upon the Treasurer, to the person entitled to receive the same; following the rule, as far as practicable, by which payments are now made to the officers of State.

The propriety of insuring these valuable buildings is worthy of your consideration.

The cultivation and improvement of our soil is that upon which the other branches of business rely for support, and is the true source of all wealth. The system that adds to the stock of information in Agriculture will promote the welfare of the State, and deserves to be encouraged by the Legislative Department.

The establishment of a State Board of Agriculture, to consist, say, of nine members, for the express purpose of organizing a State Agricultural Society, would be calculated to bring into existence, in the several counties of the State, County Societies, that would be auxiliaries to the State association.

We are an agricultural people. Our climate, soil, and situation, make us so; and the adoption of a system that will bring our peo ple together annually at some point in the State, where we can present the most valuable specimens of science and art, especially the useful inventions of labor-saving implements of husbandry; endors ing the character of the improvements; awarding premiums, either of money, diplomas or medals; exhibiting the stock, grains, and productions of our State, would no doubt create a spirit of emulation in our people, and be well adapted to further the interests of our growing State.

We are not aware of the amount annually expended by our people for stock, implements and productions of other States, that can be saved in a few years by the proper organization of such County and State Agricultural Societies.

To aid in this enterprise, it is suggested, that the tax collected upon travelling circuses, menageries, and public shows, in this State, be paid to the County Treasurers, thence into the State Treasury, to be set apart expressly as a fund at the disposal of the State Board of Agriculture, to pay premiums at the annual fairs.

It is believed that you can safely appropriate one thousand dollars to this purpose in anticipation of the receipts from this source the coming year.

I mention with pleasure, on this occasion, the fact that a few of the enterprising citizens of Indiana are preparing to attend the great industrial exhibition of all nations, at London, in May next, and to

carry with them specimens of their skill and labor, and samples of the productions of our soil. The propriety of expressing, in some proper manner, your approbation of such an enterprise is worthy of your consideration.

Your attention is again earnestly invited to the importance of providing for a thorough geological and topographical survey of the State. The interests of agriculture, manufactures and commerce, alike demand it. That Indiana is rich in mineral wealth is a fact that each succeeding year more and more demonstrates. We have vast beds of coal and iron, and recent developments indicate that we have many of the more precious metals. When we shall send out men of high scientific attainments to explore our hills and our prairies, to analyse our ores and our soils, and lay bare the now concealed riches of our mines, we shall have taken the first and most important step in that great race of industrial progress which will place Indiana in her true attitude. Her position on the map of this great valley is commanding; and if, under a kind Providence, we escape the perils that threaten to separate us from the great sisterhood of States, whose interests are so blended by geolog. ical, geographical and commercial affinities, the next ten years will place her, as an agricultural and a manufacturing State, by the side of Pennsylvania.

Our policy is to rely upon our own resources rather than upon any aid from the General Government. While we do this, our interests are undisturbed by the shocks and struggles of political parties. Our strength and our independence lie in our great agricultu ral and manufacturing resources. We want more knowledge-we want a map which not only defines our boundaries—our area—our corporate subdivisions, and the course of our rivers; but we want a map which will tell us the depth of our coal seams--the best localities for our iron furnaces-the extent and value of our marble and stone quarries-the worth of our exhaustless quantities of tim ber, and the true character of our soils. We are now groping in comparative darkness; and while other States, by the aid of science, are unfolding new and hitherto unknown elements of wealth, we are trusting these interests to chance and individual enterprise.

I submit to you, whether, if we regard the measure in the light of mere revenue alone, it is not worthy of your deliberate and favora ble consideration. And while looking at the cost of the work, you will not fail to see, that in a few years it would bring such an increase of population and capital as would reduce the general burthens of the people four-fold the amount of the expenditure. I shall lay before you a printed circular letter addressed to me on this subject, and signed by a very large number of the most intelligent and enterprising citizens of the State. The views expressed in this letter will attract your attention, and, I doubt not, command your favor.

Some of the evils of local legislation have developed themselves in the practical effects of the Act giving exclusive jurisdiction of

certain criminal offences defined by the general laws of the State, to justices of the peace, in several of the counties. Among these offences is that of assault and battery. Under the act concerning crimes and punishment, in the Revised Code, an assault and battery may be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, and imprisonment for any term of time not exceeding six months. By the Act conferring exclusive jurisdiction on justices of the peace, in the counties alluded to, no fine can be imposed higher than twentyfive dollars; and thus, in those counties, an assault and battery, no matter how aggravated, cannot be punished by a fine exceeding that amount. Another bad effect of this Act is, that upon the trial of an indictment in a Circuit Court for an assault and battery with intent to commit a felony, if the intent to commit a felony is not, in the opinion of the jury, proved, the Court has no jurisdiction to inflict a punishment for the simple assault aud battery. But when the case is dismissed for that cause and comes to be re-tried before a justice of the peace, the justice may think the intent to commit a felony sufficiently proved, and in that case, he, also, would be divested of jurisdiction. Thus in bandying the case to and fro, the offender may escape punishment altogether, and that, too, when his of fence is of the most aggravated character. This subject requires your immediate attention.

The subject of a small appropriation annually to the State Library, sufficient to pay for one or more of the newspapers published in each of the counties of this State, to be regularly filed and bound, is worthy of your attention. In this way, we shall, for an inconsiderable sum, obtain a history of our State, that will be of great advantage in after times. You will then have in detail the general and local policy of counties, in connection with the opinions of men; the history of individuals and families; addresses; notices of all kinds; marriages, deaths, &c., besides important local statistics not easily obtained from other sources. How highly would we prize full files of papers, which have been published in our State since the year 1804 since 1820? They would be more sought after than any work found in the State Library. By this means, you would preserve the religious, moral and political history of our State, from year to year; and although you would have a vast variety, much, of but little value; yet, it is from this alone, in after times, that our history is to be written. To this, the historian must go, to do justice to the men and the age of which he writes.

The work on the Wabash and Erie Canal, under the judicious management of the Trustees, has been prosecuted steadily towards completion, according to their plan as submitted in their first report to the General Assembly. By the contracts which they have made, the canal will be finished to Evansville within the time, after making just allowance as provided for in the act, for the delays which have been occasioned by Providential causes not within the control of the

Trustees.