Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-02

edia'e attention. is re ectiully SUBMITTED to the
consideration OF the General Assembly, with an
'suiiate OF tue pr 'habie cost Of the repairs. Due
teniion has been gwen to the preserv alton of the
trees planted Oh he public square, ami the IIy-
dran's thereon have been repaired and improved
oy inc substitution al non conductors in the place
OIL tue decaycd wooden ones.
take great pleasure in calling the attention of
uie General Assembly to she present improved
cohiion and future prospects OF tho Particularly
system. In the course OF the last year, called
on our ahie and interchangeable Superintendant for
such information, respecting the management aud
discipline vi the other Penitentiary Establishments
In the Union, as, in my Judgment, would enable
us 10 improve the police Of our own. l was then
inuch pleased with the report made in reply TO nv
call; since which he has added supplementary re-
port. Both Reports contain valuable information
IL seems now 10 DC maxim, universally settled in
the femtentary System, that sufficient numher
oil cells to produce IN entire separation of the con-
vics, Is an Indispensable PFC requisite 20 IL sue
cess, at east for all purposes OF reformation
ne opiaion, in relation 10 another great principle
Al human punishment, solitary confinemen, in
cells, without labor, rstn-ns vet unsettled; bue
from all the information have been enabled TO
procure upon that interesting subject, and from
the best + Elections | have been able To bcslow
upon II, am confirmed in n,y original impre ssons
uia' solitary confluence in cells, without labor
ought not 10 be int oduced in the Pentcn-
uary Systeni, except in cases of the most afro
cio"s oIsnccs--and OF refractory conduct in
INC convict alter enteriNg the penitenary In
this latter case, it's ntcton must be made 10 de-
pend upon the sound discretion of the superln-
tendcnt but should never be permitted 10 be ex-
'enaed beyond the time of the sincere repentance
anu reformation of the offender. Ii appears from
THIS Supplementary Report, that there has been
very ttie II any increase, of convictions for Pen.
fteh'tary offences during the present year. cornpar-
cd win preceding years. The number OF eonvcts
reported TO BE- in the Penitcntiary, Soh ,p,emhcr
iSZ1, was l47, of which number, I35 were white
maie>,S coioured males, and two white and two
co'oured females On the goth September, 1928,
the number reported, was l5S, consisting of Ia5
white males, OF two white, and one co'oured fe-
male and IL coloured males an incrcase of eleven
in the whole
, ihere is one fact disclosed in the supplementary
report, so extraordinary in itself, and 20 honorable
20 the white female population of this State that
deem II my duty TO make honorable mention of IL
to the General Assembly, and thus 10 aifor! an op
Por'uh'y i ats becoming ultimately known 10 ihe
who!e civilized world-l is, that for the Inst four
years, bu, one white woman has been convicted OF
Penren;;ary oifencr within the Commonwealth
oil virginia, and it appears that Only Two white wo-
men, nave been confined in the Peni;cn;iary for the
last two years. The free white population OF Vir-
ginia, exceeds G60,G00 souls. How small the
number OF convicts, particularly of the white fe.
inaie pofuia on, compared with the aggregate pom
uatlon - How wonderful the fact, that only one
"';ie woman has been convicted of a Pencutia.
ry offence within the last four wears
From the usually small number of convictions
compared win The whole population, presurnp-
non might arise, that there is some inattenton or
|
from AN attentive observation upon that point since
came into Otilce, satisfied that the fact Is
oherwise; and recently eyeral calls upon the Elk.
ecutve for reyisions and pardons have @ xhibita,
iiihcaiions which induced to fear that the
f'una! laws were, in some few instances executed
more In rigour than in justice.-This most E,vora
bic general result of the small number of convic-
tons, compared TO the whole white population is
rendered sti more conclusive in favor of the sound
moral condition OF society es more honorable Ia
our civi instltutions,by the recoection that grand
larceny is made Pententary offence: and is
made TO consist OF all thefts 10 ain amount excaed-
ing SlO-The lowest limit 10 petit hrcenv a.
lar as my information extends, to be found in.
the penal code Of any State in tn, Union.-
announcer consoiatory tact appears in the report In
relation 10 the effects of Peniteniiary Iiscio
ii1e IN the reformation OF offenders-It appears
that within the last four years only eight conyicts
nave been returned for second and third offences
"heh twenty-five were returned for the four
years preceding, being nearly twc-thirds mora
Tor the hrst than the last four ycars-It ;s also
conservatory TO be in.orTned that the woollen man
u'actory recently established has fully realized
me an'icpa'ions OF its projectors and if furnished
with proper engines for the use of artificial iabour
may become xtensively useful
mere are now confined within the Penitentiary
'hrec persons OF colour who were condemned 10
slavery, sale and transportation before the repcsl
OF The late law nciing those severe p,,n;s;,n,ir.s
upon that unfortunate description Of persons and
now respectfully submit. it TO the General Assam,
piy 20 decide upon the proper disposition 10 be
Siro respectfully submit TO the
General Assembly, the propriaty of n revision rs
me Whoie Peniteniiary code, with view 10 its
uhiIo' mi'y. piainnes- s. simplicity, and partieuIar-
y nt cxpediency OF restricting the limit of the
value oil stolen thiags, which shall hereafter con-
siitute the crime OF grand larceny to arper SIM,
tnaa ten doars.-The supplementary report nj
me superintendent will accompany this c,rnn,uni
ca'ion to which, as well as his report of the last
year, and my remarks thereon respectfiIl,, AL,
the attention OF the General Assembly
In consequence of the urgent and anxious re-
quests OF Mt Charles w. Huntiey, formerIv a
teacher OF the Deaf and Dumb and the interes
ing communication made by him in favour of that
unfortunate description OF persons; as well as NV
own sincere compassion for them; and the deen
interest take in their welfare, am no.y nduced
TO recall the attention Of the General Assembly 10
accommodation in their behalf, made by Go.
vernon Pied-ani5 IN December IS25-and 10 a B;ll
which was under considerations the wear 1926 fo
e.taohshing an asylum for the deaf and dumb in Va
MS Dill am now Informed was then postponed.
from doubt whether not, there was a sufficient
huInDer OF Deaf and Dumb in Virginia to justiGv
such an establishment have recently received
assurances. grounded upon calculations believed 10
De conclusive, that the number Of this unfortunate
description OF persons within this State exceeds
iour hundred Under this new view of this sub
Ject, 1t Is again respectfully submitted 10 the com
sideTaton of the General Assembly
communication from Mr.. Hunuey to rne in
relation to the Deaf and Dumb, together with a
printed copy OF the postponed Bill of the wear 1896
Is herewith communicated.
herewith lay before the General Assemble a..
report OF tho Adjutant General, accompanied with
statement of the strength of the Militia If th;s
STATE Tor the present year, and also Of the Arm,
accoutrcmcnts, &c. &c.
In executing the Act of the 9th March. 1s1,