The Litchfield County post., 1828-05-29

\ are not enough to commit perlury tO lusuty 1t; that 1t was proper however to provide that no one should be convicted under a penal law On his own disclosure thus Ob- tained, and therefore ihe prOvisO was intrOdu ced. Mir. s. concluded by remaTking that the bill would probably shield no one from the penalty or forfeiture of the existing law, as the proposed bill in its operation would apply f only to cases where there would be no com mon law testimony sufficient to prove the 1 fraud, and of course where conviction could 1 not take place under the existing law. Bill respecting County Courts. Mr. Ing ham, one of the committee, after alluding to the bilis heretofore introduced on this sub l iect, and stating wherein they differed from l this, said, this bill will produce but little change in the present forms of County Courts, { but great change in the substance the advantages of the change proposed, are-It will be productive of uniformity of decisions -the judges will be free from little prejudi- ces, which judges now must unavOidably It. ccive but chiefly, the bench will be filled ] with more competent judges, in whom the public can place more confidence ;2he wish ed to cast no reflections on our present judg- l es, but it is we'll known that the office at present is not desirable one, and the ap- pointment is often made by compromise of the bar. If the proposed law goes into ope- ration. men we'll qualified will be willing to 1 accept the office, and the public confidence will be restored consequently appeals, which are now almost matter of course, will become comparatively unfrequent. . Bill granting standing jurors Sl 50 per 1 day, talismen 75 cents per case, and that l $500 for jury fees be paid by the parties, passed.
 Bill by the Committee, for an act against circusses, subjecting persons concerned, to fine of not more than S2OO nor less than $6O, and the horses, sc. to forfeiture.
 Bill appointing justices in Fairfield county passed.
 Report of committee on common schools read, and on motion of MT. T. $. Williams, 800 copies ordered to be printed :: together with the accompanying bill. The principal feature of the bill provides for the appoint nent of a superintendent, with salary, by the Assembly. His principal duties are, to adopt rules for the regulation of schools {; recommend orprovide suitable hooks; diffuse general information /; visit each county send blank forms for returns to each school district, &c.
 Resignation of Rrigader General F.. l.. Hawley, fourth Brigade, and of Major Gen. eral Morris Woodruff. third Division, accept ed.
 Committee reported in favor of releasing John Peabody from State Prison. On the acceptance of the report, there was an inter- esting discussion of some length. Peabody was sentenced, on three counts for passing counterfeit money, to eight years imprison- ment, two and quarter only of which have elapsed. The reasons for his discharge are his youth at the time of ofcommittng the crime; his being seduced tO commit it, having pre- viOusly sustained an irreproacable character i; his repentance and entire reformation, and his declining state of health.
 MT. Hawley spoke of the aggravated na- ture of crime, the difficulty of detecting it, and consequently the necessity of rigor in punishing it. If this prisoner must be dis charged for such reasons, most of the prison CTS may be on the same ground many can plead seduction and reformation their friends can plead good character before thus seduced. We can place but little confi- dence in the reformation of such men. They are artful, ,and can put on disguise for the sake of obtaining their release. The committee have not exhibited such peculiar facts as will J
 MT. Shepard thought there were such pe- culiar facts in this case facts requiring the exercise of mercy.
 Mir. J. Griswold stated the objects of the law in nAicting punishment for crime. One of which is the reformation of the offender He is, in this case, undoubtedly reformed ;-- l and other circumstances are such as to justi- fly the release of the prisoner. The object of the law will be sustained.
 MT. T. Pitkin thought there was danger of having our feelings too much wrought upon by such applications, and such testimo- ny from friends. He alluded to former acts of liberation, to the pubic injury. We are l liable to be misinformed and to be imposed upon. No confidence can be placed in such ex parte applications. Our laws on this subject are mild and all mitigating circum- stances, such as his previous character, his youth, and his seduction, were probably pro- | duced to the court. and they had thelr nau, ence in mitigating his punishment. Do not let ns now supercede the court, and liberate the prisoner when he has been in prison but little more than one fourth of the time for which he was sentenced.
 MT. T. Perkins said-Our mercy ought to extend to society as we'll as to the crmin- al. If you pardon this man for such high 1 handed offence, you excite the expectations of others that they also may be pardoned.- l If the prisoner is reformed, he can in prison enjoy the benefit of it. If he is sick he can have the best care taken of hlm.
 Mir. A. PettbOne manfred can nO eVdepce