THE SCHENECTADYVOLUME XLVII.]—Whole No, 2423. SCHENECTADY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1857. [NUMBER 29.

S L E IG H RIDINCLD e a r ! a in 't i t nice ? O w h a t a charm ing snow !

H o w sw e e t i t falls, so fea thery , ■ oft and w h ite ! S cen e o f enchan tm en t, fa iry -like and b r ig h t!

A n d how th e w inds rom an tica lly blow.O , won't w e have a gorgeous sleigh-ride n o w ,

W ith live ly bells, th e d e a re s t li t t le horse 1 A n d H arry , h e w ill go w ith n le o f coitrse,

A nd w e w ill gallop, L o rd , I c a n 't te ll h o w !W e ’ll have th e r i d e ! W ’e ’ll have a splendid dance A nd supper, too, and som e o f th a t m ulled wine-1

A n d a fte rw a rd s his d ea r, devoted glance,A s w e com e b ack b y m oonligh t so d iv in e !

A nd th en one p leasu re 1 m u s t n e ’e r forgot!'T w o u ld heav en iy be, i f w e could ju s t u p s e t !

H urrah !

THE Co n str u c tio n of t h e Am e r i c a nHOUSEHOLD.

Sketch o f a Lecture, (//te seventh o f a series oil American So>-c t e t y ) d e l i v e r e d S u n d a y e v e n i n g , J a n u a r y 4 t h , i n t h e D i -*»itionH(retl Church, Albany.

BY BEY. A. B . MAYO.

■X family consists of two elements, sustaining to •teach other the relation of souL to body. The first 1b the sentiment of Love, creating a true unity of Amnd, heart and imagination; the second is the Construction of the Household, which includes the founding of a new home, style of living, ideas of ‘economy and entire outward domestic life. Hav­ing already spoken of Love and Marriage, we now speak of the Construction of tho American House ■hold.

The original American Household was the set- Itler’s log cabin. Into the howling wilderness of -a Western Continent came the English Radical,- following the prophetic leading of Liberty, his strong **rms the pledge of a livelihood. A few day’s workwith the axe prepares the logs, and, with patient

> toil* the square cabin is piled up to the roof. Every step iu his prosperity is notched in those logs. The

• interior gets hewed into a winscot, the windows en­large, the roof gains a coat of shingles, the outside is whitewashed. B y and by the logs subside to the skeleton of the frame house, and the cabin mounts up to the large, square, family mansion of the old time— where the children romp on the piazza

- *nd the old man and his wife recount the adven­tures of a life laden with the hopes of freedom for ■m New World.

Such was the American Household while Agri- eulfcure w as tb e c h ie f in te re s t o f th e peop le ; b u t in

i t h e u p r is in g o f com m erce a n d lu x u ry , a side w indfilm struck our square farm house and blown it into• various <&A-orders of architecture. There is now -mo-idmirican home, only families living according >to their special notions, iu various fantastical or ra­tional styles in dwellings tbat defy all previous con­ceptions of architectural taste. A western city is the best miniature of American life. The log cabin 4*0Yers about its suburbs ; the generous square -house, in its green, shaded field, still clings to the

■ heart of the city ; the Irish shanty defies the neat dwelling of the German. In stately avenues, the 'French chateau jostles a Gothic cottage, a Norman eastle frowns over an Italian villa; vast piles of brown stone declare the stupendous folly of their •builders, and here and there appears a bewitched ~Specimen, as if a whirlwind had blown together the ■odds and ends of all the queer abodes about town, ?4nd some evil spirit had doomed a family to wan­der through a Cretan labyrinth in expiration of .their sins. Our family life, like our architecture, ihi a ll afloat, out of its old reckoning, beating about for new soundings. Whence is to come tho Amer­ican Household ?] When it does pome it will lie none of these new

^disorders. The way to our destiny is to follow up the foot-path trodden by tbe feet of tbe Pilgrims, which widens to the highway of Republican society. In polities, we shall grow tired of pettifogging semi- ttvages, who, under the name of statesmen, declare

.that American freedom means the equal rights of God and Satan ; and after scratching ourselves in the thorns, .and wading through the sloughs ofa faw more Presidential campaigns, full again upon %he grand, old, grass-grown road of reverence for

- man that leads up to the hills of our National dig- ttity>' So shall we return to a style of family life imposing on those ideal foundations which made the log cabin the prophecy of Republican household.

The firs t o f th e fo u n d a tio n s is F reed o m . The log cabin was the type of an independent family. T h e American household will not be a Socialist’s Phalanx, a Parisian block, or tho extension of a j New York hotej, but the independent home of a j free family. The true American young man mar-1

■ ries the girl he loves and goes directly to his own •bouse; if narrow and humble, no matter, since two living, loving souls, joined in one, will find space

■enough for the unfolding of a genuine family.— With prosperity the house enlarges, and its walls

■arc inscribed with tbe record <?f then- toils, joys,

K'efs, failures and successes in human nobility, ere can they set up their ideal of Heaven, and

create a new force to move the world.The evil examples of cities are breaking down

tbe National home, and the young men who throng them must pass through the purgatory of the board-. ing-house on their way to the dignity of the inde­pendent householders. The housekeeper is a free j

- nan, who walks up the steps of his home with the manly porte of a sovereign entering his o.vn do-j main j the hoarder is a harrasscd wretch, who skulks J In and out the door of a cheerless palace, appears at j •table as the clock strikes the hour, lingers a mo­ment-in the gilded drawing-room, darts off to his %ork or creeps up stairs to his narrow bed-chamber. iLike the engineer on the gravel train, who works tinder strict orders to keep out of the way of every

■‘thing else on the track, the boarder achieves the .^perfection of his domestic character by paying much money, and keeping out of every body’s way iu -the house. Young women in towns expect a year- o f expensive boarding after marriage. The gor- ogeous New York hotel is a type of our city domestic life j * palace of marble, gold, bronze and tapestry; Hhe bar swallowing up social happiness in the base­ment ; the rooms crowded with families driven into ‘corners where freedom, delicacy and health are cru- 'cificed, and pale melancholy children trembling 'through the passages under the feet of dusty trav­ellers. Only in the independent household, is: there ibqpe for the Republican family.

The second foundation stone is Economy. Tlie -log cabin was built as weell as the settler could Afford ; he then stood up tall in his manly dignity, ■Bid ch allen ged wife and children to a wise and -religious frugality. When ho honestly obtained a Comfortable and elegant dwelling he knew no sheriff’s ’bmd would grasp the knocker of the great hall •Aoor, no beggar turn away hungry from the kitchen, and 'no -plundered widow’s curse or orphan’s wail, ’Change the song of the wind up in the elm tree tops m an incantation of furies.

The. A m erican fam ily should spend less than its•income, use nothing which is not its ow n, and pilfer ao re fin em en t o r comfort from society. The house­hold comfort, gained by long effort and self-denial, is henceforth more precious than gold. The origi­n al laws of Plymouth Colony forbid the waste of anything th a t co u ld be used, an d g u a rd e d individ­ual rights o f property with ludicrous precision. In their earliest records one man was secured in his ti­tle- to an undivided third of an unborn calf. But this eoonomy saved tbe Colony, and with it Ameri-'

-•can freedom. One great cause of mercantile dis-• honesty is the prodigality of tbe household. In a! c e r ta in “ upper ten” street of au American city, the! drama of family lif > rar th";;; 1

Act 1st. Prosperous clerk marries ambitious young lady, and takes expensive rooms at tho E Pluribus Union Hotel.

Act 2d. Clerk becomes partner in a mercantile house ; does a good year’s business.

Act 3d. Builds palace on American Eagle-street, which is immediately mortgaged ;— grand parties, dinners, summer at Newport, and high-life in gene­ral enjoyed.

Act 4dh. Business gets into a sharl; husband mysterious and absent; wife and daughters anxious ; sons drink hard and spend fast.

Act 5th. Mortgage ‘ foreclosed’— auction— old Squire Jonathan Buck, from the country— who has lived forty years in a log cabin and laid up his cash — comes up to town and bids off the concern at a ruinous discount. Curtain falls on Merchant Prince’s family, vanishing into second class board­ing house, and ’Squire Jonathan Buck, driving Mrs. Jonathan Buck, and several bright eyed Masters and Misses Buck, in country wagon, drawn by a span of gay steeds up tbe grand entrance.

The third foundation is Purity. The Purity of tho old family was not a boastful and chivalrous sense of honor, hut a Christian reverence betweeen man and woman, and a social indignation at sensu­ality as the most fatal enemy of society. The im­purity of our day is greatly the result of our style of life. Geuerous living, so called, is often the meanest slavery to the lowest perversion of the senses. True generosity is liberality in all oppor­tunities for improving the body, cultivating the soul and enlarging the sphere of usefulness.

Firmest-among the foundations, is United In­dustry. The family in the cabin was a trained corps of laborers— tbe father swung tho axe and scythe : the mother coaxed the golden butter and the snowy curds from the foaming milkpail; the boys were up before the sun ; the girls did not disdain to go before their parents in faithful work ; each did a part; together they toiled, together rested, together rejoiced, and the wilderness retreat­ed before the victorious energy of their interlocked and aggressive wills. Sad will be the day when this law of United industry is repealed in the families of America, and father and mother drudlge to save their sons and daughters from the blessings of toil. There are two ways to obtain the labor necessary for the household. One is to put a skil­ful slave at the head of practical affairs and run the risk of explosive elements in tbe basement; the other is to call in love and thought, make labor a sci­ence, and let the homes bo cared for by the de­votion of all the w om en in it, aided, if need be- by a Christian servant, treated like a companion in duty.

The Log Cabin’s corner-stone of adamant was Religion. Push the door ajar and look in upon this family group, while the father reads tho Word of Life, finding in every page a type of his own stern and inspiring destiny, and the homely prayer goes forth into the forest inhabited by an over­present God, and tbe rich notes of the psalm tune thrill the heart with strange longings for eternal joys hovering near the boundaries of mortal being. Witness the half suppressed thanks-giving in pros­perity, the sacred and silent resignation in calamity, the holy indignation against tyranny and sin, burn­ing like a fire in the pine tree tops ; and when you see how Religion was the beginning and end of that life, you know the deep sources of its power. Oh, Men anrl Women of America, rise in the might ■of-yout h<jnost indignation, and rebuke the inso­lence of that new heathenism which is undermining the sanctity of your homes, and making your ware j houses rlens of thieves, poisons the waters of litera-1 ture and cuts loose politics from religion on the high- j way-man’s plea tbat might is right; anrl sets its ! double-headed dog of fashionable formalism and j political censorship barking at every prophet in the > Church. Love God and man, and on this creed, ' where is lodged the theology of the ages, and the i religion of eternity, build strong and high the walls , of the American Ilome— the type of a nation whose God is the Lord.

R E V E N U E S A N D E X P E NT D IT 17 i l E S O F T H E F IS C A L Y E A R . Receipts. .

Tolls from th e Canals, 82,719,925 08R e n t o f su rp lus w a te r 1,815 00In te re s t on c u rre n t C anal R evenue, &c. , 27,302 77

•‘£2,740,133 40Payments.

F o r rep a irs o f Canals, §600,100 10To Collectors, W eig h -m as te rs and

m iscellaneous expenses , 117,227 24---------------- 78G.G33 -10

“ S urp lus revenus ,” 81,962,500 00A m ount s e t ap a rt by A rt. 7 o f tlie C onstitu tion to pay the in­

te r e s t and redeem th e principal o f th e S ta te D ebt, viz :F o r th a t p a r t o f th e D eb t called the

Canal D ebt, $1, 61,700,000 00F o r th a t p a r t o f the D eb t called

th e G eneral F und D ebt, (R lis o f 6350,000) §2, 200,500 00

-------------- 81.002,500 00

T o l l s re c e iv e d in th e fisca l y e a r e n d in g 30tli S e p t . 1850,62,719,025 63

T o l l s re c e iv e d in t lie fiscal y e a r e n d in g 30tli S e p t. 1855, 62,631,491 11

In c rease , 688,434 52R ece iv ed from the T re a su ry on account o f T a x e s u n d e r chap.

835, §2, L a w s of 1855, 6320.000 00

W h ich has been applied to th e S ink ing F u n d s, v iz :F o r th e G enera l F u n d D ebt, $87,500 00F o r th e E n la rg e m e n t D eb t, 232,500 00

-------------— 8320,000 00

A loan (5's 1874) w as effected to suptu.y d e -y i c i e n c i k s u der A rt. 7, §1, o f th e O onst’n, 84,000,000 00

A LOAN (5's 1S74) w as effected to SUPPLY DE­FICIENCIES under A rt. 7, §3, o f the C onst’n, 500,000 00

$4,500,000 00 (Included in th e C anal D eb t on 30th S ep t. 1856 )R edeem ed during th e fiscal y e a r : C a n a l S t o c k s ,

6’s o f 1855. S243.083 34800 005F s o f 1855,

C a n a l S t . c k s , 5’s after 1855

C a n a l R f.vk n u e C e r t i f i c a t e s ,C's o f 1861, $283,500 006’s of 18GS, 67,500 00

8243,883 34 3,874,383 *•&-

84,118,206 34

$371,000 00

T otal am ount r e d e e m e d a n d c a n c e l l e d , 84,489,200 34

Legislature, ail tho usual grants of money to Lite­rary, Charitable and Agricultural Institutions and for the various Departments of the State Govern­ment, failed also. Hence the necessity Will be ob­vious to you of making early appropriations for these deficiencies, and of providing at the same time in tho liberal spirit which has heretofore distinguish­ed the Legislature of the State, for the future effici­ency of these institutions and of the Public Service.

The Census taken under the authority of the State in 1855 presents results which every citizen of New York may contemplate with equal pride and gratification.

The returns as I learn aro all now in the hands of the Printers and in a great state of forwardness. Meanwhile I am furnished by the Superintendent of the Census with some facts which you will, I am sure, receive, as I lay them before you, with great satisfaction.

T h e first is a su m m ary o f th e p o p u la tio n o f th e State at each census since 1790, with the increase between each period and the annual percentage ofthe increase upon each preceding censns

Annual p r ctYears.1790

l’opoulation.340,120

I ncrease. of increase.

1800 588.603 298,483 7.301810 961,888 373,285 6.351815 1,035,910 74,022 1.921820 1,372,814 336,902 5 421825 1,616,458 243.646 3.551830 1,913,131 296.573 3.671835 2,174,517

2,428,921261,386 2.90

1840 254,404 2.341845 2,604,495 175,574 1.441850 3,097,394 492,899 3.791855 3,466,212 368,819 2.38

One of the most prominent indications of the Cen­sus is the tendency of our population to centralize iu cities and large villages. Several agricutural counties have not increased in population for many years. The unlimited field of enterprize offered in manufactures, trade and commerce, appears to have caused the growth of cities and towns along the lines

T he e n tire C anal D eb t as i t ex is ted on th e 30th day of S o p - , and at the centres ot our great routes ot transports tem b e r last, w as

A dd to th is th e sum ofth e amount au thorized to be borrow ed d u r­in g th e p resen t fiscal yea r, w hich com pletes th e loans provided for in the la te am endm ent o f th e C onstitu tion for th e en largem en t and com pletion o f the C anals, and i t m akes th e ■

$22,416,289 82 I i * „ 12,200,000 oo !tl0n anu travel.

The nativity of our population is as follows:S ta te o f N ew -Y ork, 2,222,321O th e r p a rts o f th e U. S ta tes , 306,123

F o re ig n coun tries, U nknow n,

enlargement Y nluc o f dw ellings,dod o

dododododo

farm s, stock,ag ricu ltu ra l im plem ents,re a l e s ta te in v es ted in m anufactures,o f tools and m achinery ,raw m ateria ls used in m anufactures,o f m anufactured products,

sum of 824,666,289 82I t ap p ea rs b y th e A n n u a l R e p o r t o f th e F ta ie

E ngineer, made to the L egislature at its last session,that after the am ount raised upon these loans shall of ’have been exhausted and also the Prem ium s rea lized ' N u m b e r of in s.-m e ,

from, them , th e re w ill s t i l l ex is t a defic iency o f over J Number of idiotic,§2,500,000 necessary to finish the and com pletion o f the Canals.

This deficiency arrises from tho circumstance that the estimate upon which the amendments of the Constitution were based, ineluding only the con­struction of the work, and did not include engineer­ing, land and other damages necessarily consequent upon the construction. The work has generally been contracted for below the estimate, and on terms advantageous to the State. However we may re­gret this deficeney, it is nevertheless to be met and provided for, the interest at stake being too wide spread and important to be left for a moment in suspense.

The whole length of the Canals and public works is 892 miles. Their entire cost, when complete, will amount to about §50,000,000, and their ca­pacity will then, it is confidently believed, be equal to tbe transportation of all that may be offered to them, at a rate of toll so low as to defy competition.The deficiency now exisfingjs only

i tieth ofthe entire'cost ofthese works,

1,4221 ,1 3 6

2,742 1,812 •

A cres o f im proved land, do un im proved land,

V alue of special m anures used,Churches,

N u m ber of church edifices,V alue o f churches and lots,

do o th er rea l e s ta te ,N um ber o f sea ts in churches,U sual a ttendance ,

by a State in its manhood, and with an assessment; Nsrimatedk..,..™ ______ .roll of nearly fourteen hundred millions of dollars j T h e A dju tan t G eneral reports1 that th e r e a re e ig h t D ivisions

559 112 73 13 16

411 l i 3 540

LAwumJtoik __193,294762T

copies o f all c lasses p e r annum , 241,7-19,902

T o ta l num ber o f new spapers ,do o ther periodicals,do dailies,do tri-w eek lies,do sem i-w eeklies,do w eek lies,

‘ do m onthlies,.... ^N u m ber w hose circu lation w as reported.

to be botneTN um ber of copieTTpTirrted per unui

in taxable property. The steps necessary to make I of the MiiUia o f th e s ta te , com posed o f tw en ty -e igh t B rigades

good what is needed will demand your early atten-1and seven ty R eg im en ts . T h e num ber ol enrolled M ilitia is 335,000. o f w hom 18,500 are uniform ed, arm ed and equipped,

For I venture to assume that under n o c i r - , constitu ting a m ost effective and pow erful vo lun teer iorce. , - . . .n .;i! 3 l™ • .. . o rn n r i ; n n t ; I t appears by tiie R ep o rts o f &chool Officers ior th e y e a r Trustees of the College had manifested their estimate

cumslances W ill it be deemed WU3 or expedient, | 18,55i ti,at th ere w as expended for T eachers w ages, du ring p onrl olriKfxr

qtion

education, should secure to e d u c a to r s adequate remuneration ; and this is only to be accomplished by a wise administration of the School Revenues, •so that they shall he productive c>f the desired re­sults. The sanlo Legislature which inaugurated the policy of raising tho tax from year to year in proportion to our growing means, sought also to organize a more efficient system for the inspection of schools and teachers. It provides for the election of School Commissioners in the several Assembly Districts, and has thus furnished a body of officers raspectable from tho extent of their several juris­dictions, and with salaries which, though a scanty compensation for the faithful and intelligent dis­charge of the duties imposed upon them, arc yet sufficient to enable men interested in the work to devote their time and energies to its performance. I am informed that tho Commissioners are, for the most part, competent and zealous, and that the labors of such aro successful in awakening an in­creased interest in the Common Schools among the people, and in elevating the standard of qualification among the teachers.

The system of town supervision for which this was substituted was expensive to the towns and unfruitful in results. The inspection of teachers in too many instances was merely nominal, and the financial reports unsatisfactory.

The new system has not been in operation longenough to afford a practical test of its merits-, or to expose its defects, if such there be. It may iu future require amendment, but tbere seems no room to doubt the wisdom of the policy which places the school money in the hands of the Supervisors, and holds them responsible for its proper disbursement.

It is very obvious that the measures of most pressing importance for general education are those which look to an increased demand for, and supply of, highly qualified teachers. The State Normal School does well. It annually sends forth well trained teachers, whose numbers, however, are small, compared with the districts to be supplied.

Tho whole number of pupils during the past year which embraces the third and fourth terms has been 342. Seventy-three of these, 22 males and 51 females have completed the course prescribed and have received the dipoloma of the institution, and are now, with few exceptions, engaged in teach­in g w ith in th e lim its o f th e S ta to . T h e w holenumber of those who have enjoyed the advantage of the School for a longer or a shorter period to S ep ­tember 1856, is 2,687. A ll the counties have, w ith th e excep tion of th ree , viz.: A lle g a n y , E ssexand Hamilton, been represented in tbe School dur­ing the past year. Thirty-four counties were re­presented by the graduating class.

In view of the acknowledged deficiency in tbe supply of competent teachers and of tbe annually

_____ increasing revenue of the Common School Fund, it13 ,574,479 ( will be for you to decide what additional aid shall 13 ,663 4ff> i o*ven this branch of tho public instruction,

—----’ - whether by multiplying Normal Schools or byS077 ! such other expedients as may be devised for effect-

827, 76d’328 ing so great a good.I should do injustice to my estimate of the value

of agricultural education, and of the College for that purpose endowed under the laws of this State, as well as to my own connexion with that Institu­tion, if I failed at tho earliest moment to invite your attentin to its present condition. The first successful movement in this behalf was by the late John Delafield, of Seneca county, through whose W*^WiLpA^eaL.and. perseverance, an act of in­corporation was obtained i r o ie IiG-grsbrlTtrft—i-vv April, 1853. Encouraged by this success, Mr. Delafield was earnest in securing friends and sub­scriptions to the enterprize, until suddenly arrested by the hand of death; not, however, before tbe

2,528,444920,530

17,238

3,466,212

----------------7 , 1 1 2

86747894,357789,850,3061 0 3 ,7 7 6 ,5 5 6

26,926,5057 0 ,7 1 8 ,8 5 836,191,975

1 7 9 ,3 9 0 ,7 1 1

321,261,281

82,203,010,609

3,710,8102,141,1591,124,211

GOVERNORS MESSAGE.rT o ift** Sen a te ond A ssem bly :

In addressing to th e L e g is la tu re this com m unica­tion at the commencement of our public duties in conformity with the Constitution, my first impulse is to offer to you my congratulations upon the hap­py, prosperous an d healthful cond ition of o u r peop le and commonwealth.

By the blessing of God, the pestilence which was at the very door of our great sea-port was turned from i t ; our population is steadily progressive, and industry, in all its callings, has, during the past year, found constant employment and reaped abun­dant reward. From the returns made to me by the different departments, I am enabled to lay before you a summary of the leading interests of the State :

S T A T E O F T H E T R E A S U R Y .T he balance in the T reasu ry a t th e com m encem ent o f th e y e a r

w a s 83,127,51b1 98R ece ip ts o f the T rea su ry from all sources dur.

ing th e fiscal y e a r ending S ep t. 30th, 1856, 14,677,190' 11

w ith th e ex p erien ce w e a lc a d y h av e o f the cost an d ; that year, th e sum of evil of suspending works under contraet to permit j ofF ^ j ^ . r t h e I S a x , 0 ^ those now m progress to be interrupted. Much j From iocai tax a tio n in th e c ities and School less shou ld an y p u rpose o f se llin g the C an a ls be fo r j D istr.c ts ,

. , t m i c t, . , - ; F ro m r a te b ills u p o n p a re n ts a n d g u a rd ia n s oia moment entertained. They are State works m children a ttend ing School their origin and progress. They should so continue to completion, and forever remain the property and under the control of the State, in honor of the sa­gacious enterprise that projected them, the liberal public spirit which, in the face of vehement opposi­tion and combined political and pecuniary obstacles, carried them successfully through, and because the time is near at hand when, the'whole enlargemen t effected, they will amply repay all the cost of con­struction and maintainance and afford in the futurea large revenue to the State.

T otal o f pay m en ts from th e T re a su ry duringsam e period,

L eav ing an aggregate balance, in th e T re a su ­ry on Sept. 30, 1856,

C O M M O N S C H O O L F U N D . T h e C apital of the Common School Fund isShow ing an in c rease daring th e fiscal y e a r o f

834,395 25 T h e incom e o f The F o n d for th e y e a r is A nd th e am ount appropria ted from th e incom e

o f th e U. S. D ep o sit F u n d for Com. Schools and School d ividends is

T he paym en ts from th e F u n d on account o f revenue received , v iz :

Common School D ividends, $310,000 00M isc e lla n e o u s , 638 98

817,804,701 09

14,563,110 68

$3,241,5901 41

$2,431,910! 14

L IT E R A T U R E F U N D . T he C ap ita l of th e L ite ra tu re F u n d is T he iucom e of th is F u n d for th e y ea r is

$16,986 56 A n d th e a m o u n t a p p ro p ria te d from

th e incom e of th e U . S. D eposit F u n d is 28,000 00

159,549 1 1 7

165,0001 00

8324,549 17

8310,638 98

$269,452! 12

$44,985 56

$42,701 93T he p a y m e n t from tb e F u n d for D ividends to

th e A cadem ies, Ac.U . S. D E P O S IT F U N D .

C apital, $4,014,520 71R ev en u e th is y ea r, 256,549 03A m ount paid from the revenue of th e F u n d , 260,401 40

G E N E R A L F U N D S T A T E D E B T .A m ount of d eb t exclusive of tem porary loans to th e treasu ry ,

to be paid from revenues o f tb e G enl’ F u n d is 66,505,654 37G E N E R A L F U N D D E B T S IN K IN G F U N D .

T he deficiency in th is F und to m ee t th e p ay m en t o f th e in te ­re s t on th e S ta te D ebt, lias increased during tb e y e a r 86,- 928 53, show ing a deficiency on S e p t,3 0 ,1S56, o f $23,780 50

G E N E R A L % U N D R E V E N U E .T he deficiency in the revenue o f the G en’l F u n d is $88,007 79

C O N T IN G E N T D E B T O F T H E S T A T E .S t a t e S to ck s issu ed and loaned to R a il R oad C om panies,

8770,000 00From the books of the Canal Department I am

furnished with the following abstract of the actual d e b t o u ts ta n d in g a t the close of tho la s t fiscal y e a r, as well as of the revenue and expenditures of the Canals. The details under all those heads will bo communicated, with other interesting mattors per­taining to the C an a ls an d th e ir en la rg em en t, in the Annual Reports of the Canal Commissioners, of the Commissioners of the Canal Fund, of the Auditor of the Canal Department, and of the State Engineer.

C A N A L D E B T .U nder A rt. 1, $1. of th - C onstitu tion , 813,225,704 33U nder A rt. 7. §3. of the C onstitu tion , 8,750,000 00In te re s t paid out of the G enera l F u n d , 442,685 49

ToL‘1 on 30tb S ep tem ber, 1850, $22,115,2.?? 82

B y re-opening the Constitution for such a mod­ification of its financial article as would extend the period for the redemption of the Canal Debt from eighteen to thirty years, Canal loans would be ne­gotiated, as others have been, upon tearm highly advantageous to the State. Such an amendment of the Coustitution, however, assuming that ihe People approve of it, will require nearly two years ; and in the event of its failure, the evils of a second suspension of the public works would be inevitable.

The more direct, and therefore, probably, fbe wiser way to complete the Enlargement, is to im­pose a Tax which, while it relievos the exigency of the Government, will bear by no means onerously upon the People. Even if we forget the benefits already conferred upon the State by its canals, ihe money now required for their completion should only be regarded as a temporary loan, for -when completed, the Canals, with their largely sugmen- ted surplus revenue, applicable to the supporl of the Government, will, in wholly exempting the Peo­ple from Taxation, at once repay the debt.

The Erie Canal, with its tributaries, has peojled and enriched our State, invigorated every depirfc- ment of industry, and greatly enhanced the value of our possessions. The three millioni of dollars first loaned and then given to the Erie Jail Road, proves, in the developed resources, anc in the largely increased value of the timber and agri­cultural lands of the Southern Tier,” and the cheep and speedy access to tho Coal fields of Pmn- sylvania, to have been a good investment. Wih a State rich in its soil, rich in its products, rici in its improvements, and richer still in the enterpise, intelligence and patriotism of its inhabitants, Xeon- fidently anticipate a cheerful acquiescence inany just measure looking to the speedy eompleti<n of the Public Works, which the Legislature may aiopt. And be assured, in advance, of m y h e a r ty coDpo- ration.

The Banks, Banking Associations and Indvid- ual Bankers in this State are in a sound and helthy condition, and it is to be regarded as an evidece of the benefical operation of the General BankingLaw upon the currency of the State, that but a ingle failure has taken place during the past cahidar year, and that, an individual Banker doing buiness under the name of tbe State Bank of Sacket’ Har­bor with a capital of §20,000.

Tho notes issued to him are now rcdeemedit par at the Banking department from the proceds of the sale of the securities deposited in the office. The increase of Bank Capital in this State airing the past fiscal year has been over $12,000,0j^0, all of which, it is believed, finds ready and prdtable employment. The total amount of capital no/ em­ployed in the business of Banking exceeds§96,- 0 0 0 ,0 0 0 .

The general Appropriation and Supply Bills having unexpectedly failed at the last scssionof the

4,886 28

F o r the purchase of books fo rD is tr ic t Schools and app a ra tu s for th e Schools,

E x p e n d e d fo r b u ild in g S ch o o l-h o u ses a n d fo r o u t houses and fences,

E x p e n d e d for re p a ir in g S chool h o u se s an d fo r o u t h o u se s an d fences,

E x p e n d e d fo r h ire o f S cho o l-h o u ses, do in su ra n c e ,

Total,

R a is e d h y t a x in th e c it ie s and c o u n tie s fo r th e p u rc h a se o f sch o o l-h o u se s ite s .

R aised b y C ity and D is tric t ta x for fuel,R a ised by C ity and D is tric t ta x for book-cases

and furn itu re ,R a ise d b y C ity and D is tric t ta x for o th er inc i­

d en ta l ex penses in N ew -Y ork city ,R a ised hy C ity and D is tric t ta x for tlie r e s t o f

tlie S ta te ,T h e a g g re g a te c x p e n d i tu ’-es fo r a ll p u rp o se s

connected w ith th e Common Schools, w e re _____

School Districts.R eported num ber in th e S ta te in w hich School h as been kep t,

on an average, e igh t m onths iu th e year, 11,883T eachers em p lo y ed ; num ber of m ales, 10,117

I N u m b e r o f fe m a le s , 14,019-------------- 24,13 0T he num ber of child ren in th e S ta te be tw een

4 and 21 years ,

82,308,035 35 his services, character and ability by, choosing _; him President of th e C ollege. T h e loan to this

1,069,039 Go ̂Q0qege 0f $40,000, authorized by the last Legisla- 779,872 76 ture on condition that a like sum be obtained from 457 430 oo ’ °^3er sources, enabled the Trustees to secure that

- — p riv a te a id , and to proceed a t once to th e organiz-

8581,802 88

8 57,528 65149,257 64

22,668 61

33o,865 1 1)

76,753 69 ‘

83,531,942 57

R ep o rted a ttendance in th e Common Schools, R e p o r te d a tte n d a n c e in p r iv a te u n in c o rp o ra te d

Schools,R e p o r te d a tte n d a n c e in A c a d e m i -s,

1,207,214876,603

45,36229,967

931,932This would leave between the ages of 4 and 21 as not attend-

i n g S c h o o l, 2 5 5 ,2 8 2

When it is considered that few children go to school before 6, and that between 16 and 21 a large proportion ceases to attend school and go to active work, this discrepancy between the whole number of children in the Stato and that of those who attend school is seen to be more apparent than real, and it may be safely concluded that there are very few children in tlio State who do not spend a portion of their time in school.

The large number of Teachers above reported may seem to indicate that the whole number is need­ed and employed at the same time. Unfortunately the truth is not so— but rather the reverse, for the number is thus swelled by the frequency of change — one of the greatest evils in a school system— occasioned by the inadequate com pensation to School Teachers. Hence, though teaching is resorted to by many as a temporary resource, it is relinquished whenever better prospects of support present them­selves, and tho necessity is thus produced of new appointments. The number given aboyo truly represents that of the persons who have been em­ployed for a portion of tho past year as teachers.— The actual number at any one time may be stated at about 13,000.

This single fact, if duly weighed, should impress upon the Legislature, the expediency of securing to the position of teachers more permanency, by pro­viding more adequate compensation.

H ap p ily , the L egislature o f 1856, in lieu o f the f i x e d annual sum of $800,000 which, by the lawof 1851, was apportioned to tbe Common School Fund, imposed a tax of three-fourths of a mill upon earth dollar of valuation. The valuation of the State having increased, the proceeds of this tax for this year will be proportiouably larger, although sufficient returns have not been received to determine the amount precisely. It is estimated that the increase of tho Common School Fund, the con­tribution of §165,000 from the revenue of tbe U. S. Deposit Fund, and the avails of the State tax, will amount to nearly §1,400,000. Such liberal pecuniary contributioii to the expohse of public

857 204 58 at*on Oi° College. They have purchased a farm ’ I of 670 acres in Seneca county on a part of which,

379,969 13' e x te n d in g from S eneca la k e to the village o f Ovid, 132114 72 ! they design to erect the necessary buildings. They

7,628 17 have elected Samuel Oheever, of Saratoga county, President of the Collage; are taking measures to provide competent instructors; and hope to have the institution sufficiently advanced to reeeivo stu­dents before the close of the present year. Among many grants for Education most worthily and liberal­ly bestowed by the Legislasure on different insti­tutions of this State, this loan is the first specific aid towards the instruction of youth in the science and practice of Agriculture, the greatest interest in this great State. I am quite confident, as it was liberally bestowed, so it will be wisely used; and I will not doubt that the plant thus set out, and al­ready springing into hopeful promise, will receive, as it may need, all seasonable nurture at the hands of future Legislatures.

Iu the month of Auguest last the Dudley Ob servatory of the City of Albany was inaugurated in the presence of a largo concourse of the scien­tific men of the country, with the most auspicious promise of usefulness and honor; and we shall henceforth possess an Astronomical Observatory which for the completeness of equipm ent and the number, delicacy and power of its instruments, will equal if not surpass any similar institution in the old world.

While it is gratifying to see the munificence of individuals flowing in so noble a channel, the Stato itself can not be indifferent to the progress of true science, inseparably connected as all its achievements are with the material prosperity of the country.

You will receive, as usual, reports from the various Public Institutions of the State for the suppression, the restraint and punishment of crime, and from the Eleemosynary Institutions for the relief and care of the deaf and dumb, the blind, the imbecile, and tbe insane, and from the Dispensaries in the City of New York which so faithfully provide medical aid for the sick poor.

It is the province of tho Legislature to look into the workings of all these, and to afford to them all proper and reasonable assistance, for they are specially tho creatures and the concern of Christian civilization.

Reports of the State Prisons and of tlieir manage­ment, results and pecuniary condition will be made to you as u su a l by the Comptroller of the State and by tho Inspectors of the respective, prisons— and to theso reports I must refer you. Respecting the Houses of Refuge at Rochester and at Randall’s Island, I am enabled by information communicated to me hy the Managers to speak with some knowl­edge, and with great satisfaction as to the results there attained.

It is no lo n g er a d o u b tfu l experiment but a well ascertained result of the working of these two establishments— that youthful delinquents arrested at the outset of evil courses and subjected to the mild y e t v ig ila n t d esc ip line an d d isc rim in a tin g con­trol of these institutions— may be rescued in large proportion from vice, and trained to he u seiu l citizens.

In tho Western House cf Refuge, since its open­ing iu 1849, there havo been received altogether 769. The belief is expressed to me by the mana­g ers that “ the benign objects o f the L e g is la tu re in

establish ing this institu tion have been, and are be­ing, attained and realized in an eminent degree.”

The older House of Refuge at Randall’s Island, opened in 1825, has received up to the close of last year 6880 children. The. managers, in a recent communication to me, say : “ We have every reason to think that the results of our reformatory system have been as satisfactory as at any formor period of its history. Of the whole number received up to this time, we judge that 70 per cent, or nearly three- fourths are saved.” With such hopeful and unex­pectedly encouraging results, I may not withhold my earnest recommendation that such truly bene­volent and beneficent institutions should not Re left straitened in their means of doing good.

The State Lunatic Asylum at Utica, and the A sylum in New Y ork, under the charge of the Gov­ernors of the New Yolk Hospitals, as well as that Hospital itself, the institution for the Deaf and Dumb and for the Blind in New York, tbe Asylum for Idiots or Imbeciles, in like maner demand your care and your bounty, if that ean indeed be called bounty which is simply the fulfillment o f a cleat duty of humanity and true citizenship, not less than of consderate economy.

All these institutions are managed, and so far as I have the means of knowing, well and efficiently and conscientiously managed, by disinterested and self-sacrificing individuals, who receive no pecuniary com pensation, w hatever, for their services, but are actuated solely by the higher motive of caring for their afllicted and helpless neighbors.

When, then, institutions, thus beneficent and thus managed, appeal to the Legislature for aid com­mensurate with the wider field which each succeed­ing 5rear opens in their operations, they may justly claim to be listened to, with the presumption in their favor, that investigation— without which no Legislative aid should be granted— will, in their cases, make good the reasonableness of such appeaL

The Committee of the Senate appointed to visit, during the recess of the Legislature, the several charitable institutions receiving aid from the State, also the Jails and Poor-houses in every ooutity, having discharged their duty, will, I am informed, lay the result of their labors before the Legilature at an early day.

T h e E x c ise L aw s w hich a re co-eval w ith o n r ex*istence as a State, and the proper regulation and enforcem ent of w hich have ever b een demanded, essential a like to the m orals and -Well-being of the peop le , w ould seem to re q u ire , th o ro u g h revigicte. The Judicial decision against the Act of 1854 for the Suppression of Intem perance, P auperism AndC rim e, as unconstitutional, has left the sa le of in­toxicating liquors free from the wholesome restraints , of law. However opinions may diner as to the right or expediency of attempting by compulsory legislation to prohibit entirely the sale as a bever­age of such liquors; none will doubt that it is botk a clear right and -an absolute duty so to regulate their sale, as to diminish as far as -practicable the risk of their abuse, if we may not entirely prohibit their use. For ef the frightful evils Of drunkneit, no exaggeration is possible, and no remedy fb&l-- law will permit and opinion will sustain to cheek, or eradicate so fell an evil, should bo left untried.

The Superintendent of the Onondaga Sait Springs/ reports the quantity of salt inspected during the year.^1856 to be 5,965,842 bushels. The revenues have been §59,936.85.

The inspection for 1856 is about 117,009 bush­els less than for the year 1855, but exceeds that of

.any previous year..Tiie year. ISSO-eannot be said te have been one

of prosperity with tbe m a n u fa c tu re rs . T b e market opened in the begining of sumpier unfovorably a a i scarcely recovered its tone during the whole season. The present languor cannot be permanent, as tbe increasing wants of the Western States, must oon- * tinue to bejsupplied mainly from this sotfMe. N e w York salt has literally penetrated to the Mississippi River, and will undoubtedly b e fiirmshed hereafter to all parts of th e N o rth -w est above th e Missouri Line. The reputation of onr staple appears to Ihe well established in all the markets to which it has access, and wherever it can b e b a d for tbe &H&0 price, receives tbe preference over like products from any other quarter.

The public works are germ er ally in good order, but need some extensions. The erection of private works especially for the manufacture of Solar Salt has been much stimulated for a year or two. Not­withstanding the recurrence of a dull .season thri’O is every reason to believe that the manufaciureg-mt the State Salines in and about the City of Syracuse arc destined to a continual progression, and. that they will prove an ifie'xliaustible souree*of profit to the State, and of cheap and convenient sapplyjn ono of the primary necessaries- of life to the most populous and-thriving portion-of our country. _

The Commissioners on Harbor Encroachments in the Port of New York, appointed under the A ct pf 30th March, 1855, have been diligently engaged in the discharge of their duties. Minute surveys have been made of the Harbor from Sandy Hook to New York— of the East River to Throg’s Neck — of the Hudson to citte mile north of Spuytfen Devil’s Creek and of that creek and Harlern R iv e r . Tbe whole of the water area has been carefully sounded, and the directions and velocities o f cur­rents have been ascertained. Exterior l im its for the construction of p ie rs have b e e n describ ed for the portion of the Harbor within this State, and suitable lines for tbe shores of New Jersey have, at the re­quest of the Commissioners, been laid down b y their advisory counsel, consisting of Brig. Gen. Totten, commanding tho Engineer Corp3 of the United States, Prof. A. D. Bache, 'Superintendent of the Coast Survey, and Commander 0. H. Davis, o f the U . S. Navy.

A description ofthese lines' will be transmitted by the Commissioners to the Governor of New Jersey for tlie consideration of the Legislature of that State.

The Commissioners acknowledge gratefully the constant and ready assistance they have received in tbe prosecution of the objects uonfided to them, from the Coast Survey Service,, which is still em­ployed in preparing the maps and charts to be sub­mitted with the Report of tho Commissioners to the Legislature as early as possible.

From the magnitude of the work>. it bas-beejt found impossible to complete it , within the p e rio d proscribed by the L e g is la tu re a t i t s last session . I recommend sueh extension o f tbe time as may be needed, for the thorough execution of this vexyjin- portaiit undertaking. ’•

The C ommissioners charged'with the duty of pro­viding for sick and destitute Emigrants, appointed Under the law of 1847, continue to :devote_their time and services, without compensation, to this be­nevolent object. With tbe per .capita tax of two dollars on each passenger, -the Commissioners have p u r c h a s e d eligible Islands in the East River, npOtt which large and commodious Hospital, School and Refuge Buildings have been erected* where thou­sands^ f sick and destitute strangers receive support a n d instruction. ,

The Marine Hospital at Quarantine, devoted to the reception of patients with infectious or contagious diseases, is also supported by this Fund, and man­aged by the Commissioners, and the experience o f this year has added emphatic testimony to that of the past, as to the wisdom and efficiency of a Qua-