dition. Tuition was cheap, and "no pains were spared to make the institution respectable." But the common schools. then existing in the youthful settlements of the State were in a poor condition.

CHAPTER XX.

IN

ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR RAY.

N the year 1826, the State of Indiana had already a history of State progress. The foundation for the magnificent public school system which the State now enjoys was being carefully laid. The State government had reached a better policy, and confidence in business circles was in a great measure restored. In short the State seems here to have reached a point when its inhabitants could look back over the events in its history, observe their results, and shape a policy consistent with the probable future demands of prosperity. The increase of population was made noticeable. At this date, 1825-6, the population exceeded 250,000 souls; in 1820, it was 147,178; in 1815, it was 68,780; in 1810, it was 24,000; in 1805, it was 11,000; and in 1800, the date of the organization of the territory, it was only 5,000. Thus the people could perceive the increase, during the twenty-five years of their history. Beginning in 1800, with but five thousand, and reaching, in the short space of twenty-five years, the respectable number of two hundred and fifty thousand, there was every reason to take courage.

Aside from the growth in population, this year afforded a view from another standpoint. The influence of national policy from without, and the prospective effects upon the future: of the State, its commerce and agricultural pursuits, were to. be seen and measured. For a long period previous to the war

of 1812, the continued struggle for power in Europe called immense numbers of their people from the plow to fill their armies. In consequence agriculture was neglected. Whole countries were overrun, and the people, as well as the armies, were in a measure compelled to look to the United States for a considerable portion of their subsistence. American produce found a ready market in every port in Europe, and the high prices which it commanded enabled the farmers in every part of the country to incur the expense of a tedious and difficult transportation, and yet to realize handsome profits. Nor was this prosperous state of affairs changed by the war of 1812, for in consequence of this war, large disbursements of public money were made by the general government in every part of the Union; consequent upon this came a general rage for speculation; numerous banks with fictitious capital were established; immense issues of paper were made, and the circulating medium of the country was increased four fold in the course of two or three years. It will not be difficult for the intelligent reader of the day to predict the consequences. of all this. The great increase of what was then deemed equivalent to money was the cause of a corresponding increase equally as fictitious in the value of labor and every species of property; the established value of every thing was a deception, a species of fraud upon the world; money-the money of those days—was easily acquired, and the people too generally and too easily indulged in visionary dreams of wealth and splendor. But this state of things could not always last. The general pacification of the old world, and the consequent disbandment of their numerous armies again tenanted their long uncultivated fields; agriculture was so far encouraged that every nation on the continent produced an ample supply of the necessaries of life for their own consumption, and American produce could no longer find an extended market in that hemisphere. About the same time that peace was concluded in Europe, war was brought to a close in this country, and of course the extraordinary flow of money from the treasury of the United States was discontinued; the American army was reduced, and the newly created banks, no longer supported by

reckless speculation, began to fail. Specie disappeared, and the fictitious paper trash became worthless in the hands of the people. As a consequence wages and all kinds of property suffered an unprecedented depression in value, and the industry of the whole country was shocked. The evils and embarrass

ments of this sudden change were felt severely among the farmers of Indiana. Then followed the "dark days" of IndiWho that lived in the State at the time will ever forget the winter of 1821?

ana.

the attention of the people of Indiana, as well as those of the other States, in 1822-3, and many measures were adopted, all of which worked successfully in the long run, although many, for a time, were "eye-sores" to the people. In the first place the capital which was no longer needed in commercial enterprise was employed in manufacturing establishments. This not only gave employment to thousands whose services were hitherto valueless, but created a market for a great portion of the surplus produce of the farmers. This measure was completely successful in Indiana.

In addition to the establishment of factories, large portions. of the dormant capital of the State and country which had been withdrawn from mercantile pursuits, now no longer profitable, was invested and circulated among the people in works of internal improvement. Some of these works were, as we shall see, for a time unsuccessful, yet it is now apparent that all worked out, in a measure, the ultimate prosperity of the State.

Such were the views which the people of Indiana were enabled to take of the past in 1825. In this year Governor Ray, in his message to the legislature, urged upon them the necessity of adopting that system of internal improvements which was not fully entered upon as a policy until 1836. He said: "On the construction of roads and canals, then, we must rely as the safest and most certain State policy to relieve our situation, place us among the first States in the Union, and change the cry of 'hard times' into an open acknowledgment of contentedness. * * * We must strike at the internal improvement of the State, or form our minds to remain poor and unacquainted with each other." In the following year he urged the same policy, and in 1829 he added: "This subject, (State internal improvement,) though more than once pressed upon the attention of the legislature, can never grow irksome, since it must be the source of the blessings of civilized life; to secure its benefits is a duty enjoined upon the legislature by the obligations of the social compact."

It was in the year 1825, and during the administration of Governor Ray, that the State of Indiana had the honor of

welcoming the illustrious General Lafayette within its borders. The reception of this great friend of American and national liberty was extended by the Executive of Indiana in true and genuine republican simplicity; and that so many of the pioneers of the State had the honor to greet the presence of this illustrious veteran in the cause of our liberty and country, and to express to him as far as possible, their unutterable sentiments of gratitude and admiration, will ever be a source of the most greatful recollection.

On the important question of asylums, it was urged by the Executive in 1825, that radical changes should be made in the law for the support of the poor, and measures adopted "to provide by law for a general system of education, ascending in a regular gradation from township schools to a State university, wherein tuition shall be gratis, and equally open to all.” In 1826, Governor Ray expressed the sentiments of the people of Indiana when, in his message to the legislature he used this exciting language: "All that the most ardent could rationally wish for has fallen within the lap of the State. The history of other nations furnishes us with no parallel for our gigantic growth. A wonder among wonders,' our amazing young State, with each annual revolution of the earth, seems destined, by the force of circumstances and the energies of her people, to outstrip the geographer with all his sagacity; to develop some dormant treasure, and exhibit to public view some facinating projects eminently calculated to attach our citizens to their homes and country, and to enable us to look prospectively to the period when we shall be among the first in power, wealth, and respectability in the grand confederation of North American States." And in the year 1827, in the same official capacity, he added: "When we bring in review before us the successive currents of emigration which annually penetrate the deep recesses of the western forests; when we behold the generous efforts of the enlightened statesman and philanthropist for the establishment of primary and higher schools that education may be equal and universal; when we witness the enterprise and industry of the people, their moral ity and order, the conclusion follows that all the essentia