Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-12-04

} Gener'i Assembly cory Of this letter m,,s., ,
submitted 10 the consideration OF The (;ens,, ''y
-embly. As-
In pursuance of the act of the o.h Of Nr...
1927, requiring the Executive to Cause Ia n.
Ell IN convenient fo'm, t~o hindred aud Go,
copies of all The journals of both hous,. -,
sembiy hon the year l1sT to the ves, t-on \
both inclusive, as aiso the 10 u,nsi OF the ron
ton OF this state which adopted the Federal -
s'ituion land with The advice of Covrc,, 81
Ter iuu public notice tor proposal. to 10 The min,
| ing, entered rio an advantageous eon,rac, :;
behalf of the ann eah with Mr. Tho.
! w. White for performing that service 1, 49,
found upon examination, however, that the ;o,w
nails 81 the May Sessions of l777. l779 and i7so
were rot in The Rolls Office. Efforts were i'm
mediaiey made TO procure copies of the mi,.;rc
Journals; and by means of corresponds, c. wiz
the honorable Secretary OF State, cories of ,ba
Journals of The session OF l777 and 1870. w.ro
ps4cuei from the pu lie Library at Wasb,n.ton.
on the one ct the Session OF 1882 is still waiting
| II affords . real satisfaction to inform the Gene.
rel Assembly that the most prompt and oblisiry
attention was given TO my r,qiest, on this oc.
rssi'E, 10 behalf OF This Comm snw cal h. both b7
the President of the u S, and Secre,ai, of State.
Efforts havc been since made, and are now ma.
! king. to obtain the deficient copy. I am assured
that this important work ia prog. essing well. and
that the journals o. the Convention and one vo.
Iurne oil the Journals OF the General Assembly will
be ready Tor delivery in the course of fifteen q,
| twenty days
In pursuance OF the provisions Of the f-st sec
ton OF the act for rebuilding Gauy b ldge, The
President and Directors OF the Jane. River Com
Pany nave sold go much oil "tbe james River sur.
plus and appropriation lunl, b-ionging to tia
iond Tor internal improvements" as ha- proJuced
| he sum "i $40, 400 40 upon the following terms
% iva
ioi S4o,ooO belonging 10 the surplus fund on the
books oi III. Board .f Public work- were sold on
the 90 h OF April, add transferred the 3rd May
last. to George Mcintosh. whc paid therefor a pre-
| MUM oi one quarter per cent, viz:
| $40 800 sock. brough, $40. 400 80 ca.h
And there hsvs been purchased by the President
and Directors of the Literary fund since the 9th
!, of July 1927:
! certificates of James River Stock, bearing 8 per It,
interest, at a premium OF per cent Issued by
Tue jackson River Company under the AIS $50,
| 1922 5000
| OF the CONN 'nwealii', 5000
Ii,or0
..,..,, % 49,. =, sil77i
Rsss cJ%ps ssy under he a. .. 3 ss ias
rl eng sa interest q PEI cent? e'.s sGS
/ $500
!
January 6, 1926, spp.opristing certain funds for
| the purchase OF Public Library; and Of The act
oil March 1ih, 1927, extending the app opriations
1 ioI The same object, the whole of the funds,
which have been received for that purpose. have
been invested in the purchase of books which are
! now deposited in In c Coanril Chamber. sub,
Jsct 10 the disposition OF the General Assembly.
have received application from the Hon.
Judge Brooke in behalf OF the Court of Appeals,
tor the use OF such ofthe books ss M az re found
| necessary in the course of the judicial proceed
! inss oil that court. This application was cub
United to the council; and compliance herewith
refused without further legislative provsio 8. ex-
tending tbs powers of the executive TO ,ha subject.
Il Is now respectfully submitted to the Genr As
sembiy, to determine whether it be best TO extend
me powers oil the executive in relation 10 the Pub
lie Library, or 70 adopt other mode Of bring
ing the books which have hccn already purchase
INTO practical usefulness a copy of Judged
brooke's letter marked II, is herewith comu,u-
nicatea Tor the Information OF tho General Assem-
| bly,.
! Among-tthe first duties, found tnysefcallel up-
onto perform, after entering init This Office waste
make myself acquainted with the practical effects
OF me three pfincp,i points of stsie policy which
had for many years cccuIi.d great p.,tion of III.
attention. o. the Legislature. Eiuc, iion--puni.h-
ment of crimes aud Internal improvements
ihs duty had been rendered The more neccsssry
n consequence OF my !o,g retirement from public
NE, and the extreme debated state Of my health
dprins great part of that time.
In looking 10 the subject Of education a. 70 tie
'irsi Importance, and particularly, primary n>
sruc'ion found that ny highly respected Ir.-
recessor I'D. In an able and Impressive manner,
urged that subject upon he consideration a the
iisS legislature that the subject accordingly oc-
copied much OF the attention af The House Of De-
iesates, and thai system uf instruction was then
reported Tor consideration, but was not finally act.
ed upon during the las, session. concluded,
however, that II would, as matter OF course, a.,
'fact the early attention OF the present session I'll
me General Assembly, aud would receive all lhei :
eons'deTaiioo, It's primary importance demands.
Ahe punishment of crimes seems al the present
cay, 10 attract The attention and TO interest the
FEELINGS OF gresi portion OF the learned and phi-
sn;hropic part of mankind. TW objects only can
Jnsiiiy human punishment: The prevention OF
crimes; and tie reformation of criminals. The 1a,-
yer OBJECT seems tn have been the chief induceInsn
Tor the INTRODUCTION of the Penitentiary System.
After sayersI Interesting congregations with My.
pam ! L. PARSONS the abe s. worthy Surerincnd
OF our own PenitenliirT, upon the subiec, of prison
discipline, grounded upoa lis own experiences OF
MS ovo Institution; and after receiving and consi.
derng several able written communications upon
the same subiec, from several philanlbropis;s of
ne lrst standing and taeu's, came 10 the coa--
eusion' 'hst lot The purpo of producing the r.
formation OF criminals, under the Peatenfiary
system, separation Of the convicts was an indis.
pensibie prerequisite: That solitary confinefntnt
e'ihsr with, or without latcu- was the chief ma
teral Tor producing reformation: AMI that its hsne-
nciai ELECTS would depend very much, upon H.
di'io"s aPPlIc alton of due proportion OF that
mode OF punishment, 20 the nature Of the crime.