The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-12-08

fdiUA st fNffN nav. w consequence Of an ~
ereasing scarcity. All necessary repairs 10 the
public buildings have been made exeept in =
few cases. calling for greater expenditures Than
the Executive Council %tlinn.hf proper 10 advise.
One of them, the repairs n. the ronf ofthe Bell
House. requiring immediate aiieuiion. Is res
p%ecifully %submiitc to The consideration of he
General Assembly, with M estimate OF ihe pro-
hsble cost OF The repairs. Due attention has
besn grvrn IN the preservation of the trees plan
led in the public Square aud thu Hyd,ons ,lleer.
In have been repaired; aud improved by The
substitution of iron conductors, in The place OF
the decayed wooden ones.
take great pleasure in calling the attention
oft'e General Assembly To the present impros-
ed condition., aud future prospects of the Prni.
Tertiary system. In the course of the last year
! called on our able rad interchangeable snprtin-
tsndant. for such Information respecting the
management and discipline of The other peniten.
tiary establishments in the Union. ~ in NV tdg-
meni, would enable us 10 improve fle police OF
our own. WINS then much pleased with The
report mad" in reply to NV enll since which
be has added a supplementary report. Both
reports contain valuable Information. II seems
now To I've a maxim univ e%rsally settled in the
Peniientia,y system that n sufficient number Of
cells to produce nm entire separation Of the con-
vic,s. Is m indispensable prerequisite 10 It's sue.
cess, at least for all purposes of reformation.
he opinion in relation 10 another great princi.
pie ~ human punishment. solitary confinement
In cells without labor, remains YET unsettled
but from the information | have been enabled
TO procure upon thai interesting subject and
from the best reflections | have been able 10 be-.
tow upon II, ! am confirmed IN my original i'm
preston, that solitary confinement in cells with
out labor Ougat not 10 be Introduced into the
feni'enliary system, except in cases of the most
airocions offences. and OF refractory conduct
IN the convict after entering the Penitentiary.
In this latter case, IFS iniliction must be made Ia
depend upon The sound discretion of the super
iniendanti but should never be permitted 10 be
extended beyond the time of the sincere ,epen-
tance and reformation of the offender. II Mp.
pears from this supplementary report, that there
has been very little, il any increase of convic-
tons for PenItentiary offences during the pre-
seat year compared with preceding years. The
number Of Convicts reported to be ia the Peni-
Tertiary Both Sept 1927 was l47 Of which
number 1856 were white males, 3 coloIed males,
and of two white and rYo coloured females
On the Both Sept. 1893, the number reported
was 1853, consisting Of l42 white males, of two
white and one colored females. and Ii colored
inales-an increase Of II in the whole.
There is one fact disclosed in the supplement.
fary report, 80 extraordinary IN itself, AMI so
honorable 10 the white female population OF this
state. that I deem il my duty to make honorV-
bic mention Of II 10 the General Assembly, and
thus TO afford hn opportunity OF its becoming nj.
ilmafely known 10 the whole civilized world.
IL is, that for the last four wears but onc white
woman has been convicted of n Peniientinry Of,
fence within the Commonwealth Of Va. aud il
! appears, that only two white women have been
confined in the Peniientiary for the last two
years. The free white population of Virginia
exceeds 1000 souls. How smnl the number
OF convicis, particularly of the white female po
pulation, compared with The aggregate popula.
ton H.! How wonderful the fact. thai only one
white woman has been convicted of Penllen-
ilary offence within the last four years From
the unusually small number OF convictions, com.
pared nth the whole population, n presilbb-
ton might arise. thai there ~ some inatlen-
ii"n or Lastly in the adninittraiion of
the praal laws, but firm mn attentive oh.
serraiion upon that point, SINCE ] came 10. |
t%O,onice. ] am satisfied that the TACT " other
wise, aud recently several calls upon the Ezecu
tive for revisions and pardons have exhibited
indications, which induced me To fear, thai the
penal laws were in some few Instances executed
more IN rigonr than IN Justice. This most IA
vourable general result of the small number Of
convictions, compared 10 the whole white lopu- |
laiIon, is rendered still more conclusive in In. |
YOUR of the sound mo,al condition oi our socie
y, and more honorable 10 cur civil institutions. |
by the rec"llec''on, that grand larceny is made
a feiitentiaTy offence, ind is made To consist
OF all theifs To an amount exceeding ten dollars
the lowest limit 10 petit larceny. as far as my |
Information extends, 10 he found IN the pcnal
eide of any State Ia the Union. Another con
sola'ory fact appears IN the report, IN relation to
The effects Of our Penirentiary discipline IN the
reformation OF offenders. II appcars that within
the las, four years, only eight convicis have
been returned for second and third Offences,
| when tSpnIyAIUn were returned tDI tia fnn,
years preceding, bring nearly r"oitirds more
tor the first than the last four Years. II is also
consoialory to he informed, that llc Noollcn
Mandatory recently established, lias Iully req.
iIsed the antic'pa ions Of its projectors, anl IL
furnished with proper eng ines Ter the use OF AZ.
tlficial labor, may become extensleely useful.
There are now confined within the prnieniiary
three persons ofcoIour who were condemned Ia
slavery. sale and transportation, before tile rr.
peal OF the late law inllIciing those sever pun.
ishments upon that unfortunate description OF
peisOns. aud J now respectfully submit II to the
General Assembly 10 declde upon the proper
disposItion 10 be made Of them. also respect,
fully submit 10 the General Assembly, the pro-
piieiy Of - revision of the whole P~eniieu,,a,y
code, with "a view to its uniformity, plainnrs,
and simplicity, and particularly Inc cApedirncv
Of restricting the hmm of the va,ue OF stolen
things which shall hereafter constitute the crime
olgrHnd larceny, 10 II larger sum than ten dol
lars. The supplementary report of he snperin.
tendant will accompany this ~cotnmnnicai ION, to
which, MS well rs his report Of the iasl year,
aud my remarks thereon, | respectfully AK the
attention oi,he General Assembly.
10 Consequence ofIhe urgent aud anxious n.
quests of Mr.. Chas w. hnntley, formerly n
TEACHER If the Deaf and DltnD, and the in,eres.
ting communication made by him IN favor Of
that unfortunate description Of persons, ma well
rs my own sincere compassion for them. and
the deep interest ! take in Their welfare, ! am in.
duced To recall rIie'aitrntion of the General As
sembly 10 a recommendation IN their behalf,
made by Governor fleasants IN December,
1925, aud to a bill. which was under considera-
ton IN the year 1876, for establishing an Asy-
inm for tie Deaf and Dumb, ia Virginia. Inis
u La [ nm nnw informed una ILL.,. .nI.uuuI