54

have attended the State and National meetings of Superin-
tendents and Teachers in Washington, Elmira, and Harris-
burg; have visited New York and Philadelphia on business
connected with Text Books, have been present at the examin-
ations andexhibitions of private Schools in Baltimore City and
elsewhere, have regularly attended the meetings of the Board
of Trustees of the Agricultural College and whenever invited
have assisted at the dedication of School houses, and united in
the ceremonies connected with educational progress.

In the performance of these duties, I travelled during the
first School year ending June 30, 186C, 6557 miles, and have
delivered over 100 lectures and addresses on Educational
topics. I have attended Teachers', Institutes and Associations
as often as other duties would permit, and have visited fre-
quently the "State Normal School" and the " Normal Pri-
mary and Grammar School." In the discharge of these
varied duties, I have been the recipient of kind attentions on
the part of School officers and other persons which are grate-
fully acknowledged and most pleasantly remembered. Ming-
ling freely with the citizens of almost every section of the
State, I have yet to meet the man who opposes public Ed-
ucation . There may be difference of opinion as to modes of ad-
ministration and minor points of School government, person-
al preference relative to location and style of School houses,
some Complaint that Schools are too far distant from a por-
tion of the children or are not open the entire School year of
ten months—but here, according to my observation, the objec-
tions cease. It will be a difficult task to find among the
patriotic and intelligent people of Maryland, whatever may
be their political sentiments or denominational preferences,
any who would withhold from children the opportunity of free
education or who dissent from the proposition that the pros-
perity of the Commonwealth depends upon the virtue and
intelligence of the people.

Indeed, so general is this sentiment, that it has not been
deemed necessary to discuss, in School addresses, the abstract
questions connected with general education; but to devote
the time to an explanation of the Law which provides the
means for accomplishing the result which all unite in declar-
ing to be most desirable.

I feel authorized to say that in Maryland popular education
is not the banner of a party. It is the policy of the whole
people.

Local preferences may exist, personal discussions will
always arise, newspaper editorials and communications com-
plimentary and condemnatory will statedly appear, but apart
from, these and undisturbed by them, away down in the
popular heart Me love of morality and intelligence and a
determination to secure for every child the opportunities of
thorough instruction.