Journal

ed to some one part of the system, would it follow that common schools must be that part. What the system most needs is, the spirit of learning kept alive and vigorous in all its departments. This spirit is strongest, and most vital and diffusive, where there is the highest culture. The higher seminaries are the head and heart of an educational system; it is from them that the warm life-blood and the informing and moving power must go out. It is well argued in the report of last year, to which your committee have so often referred, that "without some standard of education higher than that of common schools, their standard cannot be raised;" and it might be added, that, without a more energetic spirit of learning than they embody, that spirit cannot be elevated or even kept alive in them at all. The facts that have been adduced from the Connecticut and Massachusetts reports show abundantly how necessary it is to keep the highest intellectual culture in close contact with common schools. Whenever the intercourse between the two has been much interrupted by the establishment of private schools, the common schools have lost their interest and their life, and have failed to furnish, even to those who attend them, half their wonted benefits. It is a characteristic of modern civilization, that, by means of the press and an educational system, the results of the mightiest intellectual energies, and all the lights of purity and honor that beam forth from the noblest and the best, become almost at once the property and are made to contribute to the well-being of the humblest citizen. It is the business of the Legislature, so far as in its legitimate sphere it touches the subject, to foster this blessed intercommunication. To make it perfect, the whole educational system must be cared for. It is only while the system remains entire and is duly cherished in all its parts alike, that the sap of life flows freely, and the developement is every where vigorous and beautiful. The arrangement ought studiously to be made such as to secure for common schools the greatest possible influence from the higher seminaries. This was well argued by the committee last year from facts noticeable among ourselves. It is seen every where, that when the higher seminaries sustain their proper relation to common schools, the influence is salutary in the highest degree. But when false and abnormous relations exist between the two,-when they no longer constitute parts of one system, the result is disastrous. "Schools, academies, and colleges," says the President of the American

Institute of Instruction, "should form distinct parts of the same system." "If the academies are brought into competition, as it were, with the schools, the influence of the academies has been found to be altogether bad; because they draw from the common schools the children of those whose influence is every thing to them." "If, on the other hand, academies are kept within their legitimate sphere-if they admit only those who have gone through a common school course, then the effect of academies on the schools will be good. Such an academy in the neighborhood of a common school, will elevate the standard of education in that school." This would be the natural result of the mere juxtaposition of the two.The spirit of the higher would pervade, more or less, the lower. How much stronger and more happy might the influence be made, by establishing fully between them the relations that they ought to sustain, as parts of a system!

While your committee are fully aware, therefore, of the immense work to be done for perfecting common schools in all their arrangements and details, they would keep no less distinctly in view the means of infusing into these arrangements and details a proper spirit. Doubtless activity and interest may be awakened and kept up for a time, by confining attention and effort to common schools themselves. But legislative action should be guided by a wise regard to permanent influences and results. And therefore it is, that while the examples of our sister States ought to fix our attention and may well serve to guide us in many respects, your committee have deemed it a duty, in referring to those examples, to show wherein they seem to be imperfect, if not dangerous guides.

As the first practical measure, therefore, to be adopted for carrying into effect the views of the Legislature, your committee would recommend the appointment of a Board of Education, charged with the consideration of the whole subject; with authority to employ a secretary; and with instructions, as a first duty, to investigate and report upon the state of education among us in all its departments, the amount of money, sources, and condition, of all funds devoted to it. And further, that, to facilitate the labors of this board, proper measures be taken to procure for their use, by legislative authority, adequate returns from teachers and school committees. Which is respectfully submitted.

For the committee, E. C. TRACY, Chairman. Montpelier, Oct. 22, 1842.

REPORT OF THE AUDITOR IN THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT.

To his Excellency, the Governor of the State of Vermont:

The undersigned, Auditor in the Treasury, having attended to the duties assigned him by law, submits the following report of the operations of the Treasury Department, from the 14th day of October last, the day on which the present Treasurer came into that office, up to the 30th day of Sept. 1842:

The State of Vermont in account with JOHN SPALDING, ESQUIRE, Treasurer : DEBTOR.

To cash paid debenture of the General Assembly,

debenture of Council of Censors,

$15,719 93

895 20

150 00

Governor Jenison, balance of last year's salary,
Governor Paine, three fourths of present year's salary, 562 50
Judges of Supreme Court their salaries for

present and part of past year,

8029 88

deduct fees by them receiv'd in civil suits, 3130 38

4,899 50

26,109 07

9,825 71

137 50

275 00

A. L. Brown, Assistant Clerk, half year's salary,
D. W. C. Clarke, Secretary of the Senate, half
year's salary,

62 50

125 00

E. A. Stansbury, Ass't Secretary of Senate, one
half of last year and one half of this year's salary, 125 00
Geo. B. Manser, Secretary of Civil and Military
Affairs, one half of last year's salary,

100 00

A. W. Kinney, Librarian, his salary for present
year and one half of last

year,

112 50

Wm. Weston, Reporter of Decisions of Supreme
Court, three quarters of a year's salary,
D. Pierce, Auditor of Accounts, one year's salary,
E. S. Camp, Sargeant-at-Arms, salary,

F. W. Hopkins, Adjutant and Inspector General,
one year's salary,

John Spalding, Treasurer, and Commissioner of
School Fund,