The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-12-08 00:00:00

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..nsider that knowledge is essential to the happiness
and dignity of winn—to the existence of Republican
Cevernutent, and to national power and glory, we
rust feel persuaded that more munificent dispense-
'.ll4 ought to be afforded fur its encouragement and
diffusion. And I would particularly recommend, the
e•luention, at the public expense, of youth distinguish.
el and selected for moral superiority, or pre-eminence
of talents and character. A turasure of this nature is'
grimly in unison with the genius of our government.!
and world have a tendency to restore the equ:librium
Of society—to mitigate those prejudices which spring
up in the freest communities—to develope intellectual
resources, nhich would otherwise be lost to the world,
and to excite a spirit of emulation propitious to the
interests of knowledge, and promotive of the fame and
prosperity of our country. When I contemplate the
vast resources of the state, and particularly the
im-
wense revenue which will accrue from the completion
6f its great plans of internal improvement. I enter-
tin a confident expectation that the rising, and all
future generations will experience the continued and
increased munificence of government exercised in dif-
ferent ways and through various channels, for the pro-
motion of instruction. and the propagation of know-
ledge.

A growing spirit of improvement has been gene-
rally manifested by the militia, used in some sections
of the seine it has been exhibited in an extraordinary J
degree. The adoption of a plate and feather for the
hat. in the city of New York, has given an uniform
tad military appearance to the infantry; and 'the
great attention which several distinguished officers in
that and other places have devoted to the pro ttttt tiou
of mLitary.knowleilge. is entitled to high commenda-
tion. During the late war a brigade of horse of
flying artillery was orgamised in the Atlantic parts of
the state. In the formation of the present militia
code, this brigade was nut recognised, and no provi-
s;on was made to enforce the attendance on parades
of the officers and privates of that part of the brigade
tl'at belongs to the city of New York, nor can any
court martial be iastitutetl fur their trial under the
present system. As this is a very useful and efficient
institution, I recommend it to your favourable consi-
deration. A lanilable pros ision for the distributio.. of
elementary books on the military art has been con-
f•Ted to the infantry. The other departments of oar
rolitary finer are anxious to enjoy similar benefits:
it,,tl on this occasion it may not be improper to men-
eon that an able treatise on artillery has been recently
put)lished tunic: the patronage of the national govern-
r!..nt. and which, a' it deserves, it is to be hoped will
r•ceivr tour encouragement.

I conceive it an inilispensible duty to call your at-
tertion once more to the state of our penitentiary sys-
tem. In corroboration of the eleterrations which
hare heretofore cOmmunicated, permit nie to state,
t. it the expellee, and partial failure of this ♦ystem,
limy be principally ascribed to an injudicious argue-
Illation of it• government, and to an inexpedient ar-
rangement of the buildings. The rorernment of oar
state prisons is intrusted to several respectable citi-
z-ns, who act frcm patriotic inu!ives, and withont

ctottpeneatautt. Ihe affairs of the establishment are
principally taann..,ed by offivvrs under their contra
When the vigilance of self-interest cranes to operate in
any institution, its place :mist he Occupied by ade.
ite and puwerful substitniuns, by impusinr respon-
s;'.ility. and by exiting exclus re and undivided at-
tet!ien.

The operation of the present administration* of
0.. r pc nitentiaries is to create a nominal authority
ir• the inspectors, but to invest the substantial control
it subordinate stews. The former attend hut sd-
duri, and, indeed, a rigid attendance cannot be ex-
rected where officers are nut remunerated fur their
is—vices. The censequetices are obvious. These
i—?ortant institutions are almost entirely directed
!neonipetent men, who were not contemplated nor
I-tended for that purpose. viol the pecuniary affairs,
vs well as the moral discipline of the establi:htnent
b Tome distracted and deranged. The state prison
at Auburn is, by a late arrangement, modelled un the
plan of solitary cells. In London a prison has been
re:essay erected containing even hundred cells; it
Pittsborgli, in Pennsylvania, one is now bnildine, of
six hundred cells, each six by eight feet. A bnilding
en this plan will not be so expensive as on the old one.
It will not be necessary to make it ssi strong ; the
prisoners will hare no chance of forming conspiracies,
•ard hence all escapes will be prevented. The expense
of a military guard wend Ie saved the duratiun of
punishment might be usemily alirideed, and, above all,
we might be certainlr assured. if nut of a reformation
that will prevent, of a pnnisliment that will deter,
from the repetition of erimes. I am happy to state
that the New York Kuelety fur the prevention of
poatterisns, have instituted no emptier on the subject
of the penitential, system, whisk will be mended
with favottrable to-stilts ; and that' imptutenients are
bkieultiteir necessary, 'may be inferred from the fact,
tbat in sil.probability there is one villein incarcerat-
ed fur crime, in 'every thousand persons composing the
popmlation Art the ware.
It lb universally euncrded, that odic( the mosfper-
niuloes nickliss of raising reventre, is by the establish-
ment of lotteries. The spirit of gambling, whi'ili•lt
generated, and the demoralising influent, which. it
er.ittes, are greatly to be depteVaied. Mill a view to
militate floe resulting evils,•the avails been gar
netallJ applied to the prunwtiun of education and. in,
tout isitproreenerts. Hut it is to be hoped, after
theeeisting grantor are satis6ed, that this expedient
fur raising money will be entirely abandoned. 'ln
the Mei" time, I tun sorry to *say, that tile evils are
snoltlpliesi upon us, by a forced-cotittruction of the
power* of Congo's, and that the local authority of
that body over the district of Columbia, exercised for
municipal accommodation, is attempted to be erected
into-an authority to raise user the laws of the states.
!lush a palpable and mischievous usurpation can neter
be sustained stir Omit 4d. •
I should do.jaissue.• to tire feelings which I enter-. 1
twin and elievith, wire I nut to avail myself of this tic,
elision tox,Wicate to the people of this slate, my
grateful. wledgement for Ow renewed expretsiost,
of their favourable opinion.—Witli (kip ?isre 9f ay
inability, bet wit} a hamWe.uliaace on this bases
-• of Almighty Ilea, 'shall endeavour to obtviCtge coo.
[Silence of my felloit-citisees, by 'Very piepet exertion