The Litchfield County post., 1828-05-15

ueI TeQuireH, ana increase tue einCtenCy ol this arm of national defence.
 Having been officially informed, in Sept
 last, that the quota of arms accrued to this state, under the sct uf Congress fnr arming the militia. since the close uf the year 1922, had been settled at the war department.I wis tied the arsenal, with the view of fascertainIng the quantity and condition of the arms there deposited, and the kind of arms needed by the State. The Quarter Master General re- DOT ed that there were tn the arsenal 1857 muskets purchased by the state, together 2972 muskets and 50 rifles, with the proper accOutrements, received from the United States. These arms appeared to be in good order. According to the last reg gular returns, there were in the hands of the militia, but not Ownedby the state, upwards of 13,OOO muskets and rifles fit for service, which. with those in the arsenal, are nearly equal to the whole number ofthe infantry.
 But the supply of mounted cannon was found to be inadequate. Entertaining deci- ded opinion, in which experienced military men concur, that an additional quantity of field ordnance is indispensable, to the proper defence of the state, as well as desirable for the immediate use of the artillery, cOmmu- nicatrd that opinion to the War Department. with the request that forty pieces of mounted cannon with the necessary accoutrements, might be furnished to this state in lieu of the muskets ready for delivery. This requ~ ton was met ny an assurance that it would be complied with. as soon as the necessary car rlages could be constructed. for which |" i'm mediate arrangements" would be made. h. formation, hO vever, Was at the same time given, that the carriages ''cannot be compile ted and delivered until next summer, as the same number are required to be provided for the state of NewY York, besides the smaller supplies for other states" The importance of adding to our supply of cannon, reno we'd all hesitation in acceding to the proposed delay.
 The arsenal needs some repairs, and it is important to place the large amount of pub lie property there deposited, in state of greater security from fire. But it is desra- ble to avoid drawing from the treasury the means necessary to accomplish that object. This may be effected to considerable ex- tent, if not entirely, by the sale of such arti cles heretofore purchased by the state, as are in state of deterioration, as we'll as those which modern improvement in the fabrication of arms and munitions, have rendered use- less. A due regard to economy, therefore. induces me to present to your consideration the expediency of author.zi1g s the proposed sale, with proper Limitations of the discretion of the officer who may be charged with ma king it.
 The condition of our financial concerns is highly prosperous. The receipts into the treasury of the civil list funds, for the year ending on the Slst of march last, including the balance in the treasury at the close Ot the preceding year, amount to ninety-two thOus- and nine hundred an thirty nine dollars and forty-on cents. Or this sum, thirty thousand seven hundred and twelve dollars and forty seven cents have been received from the state tax, and the tax on b ,nk stock belonging to persons not residing in ihis state. The ex- penditures during the same period, including fourteen thousand dollars paid to the com misslOners for building the state prison thir teen hundred dollars to the warden of the prison, and one thousand dollars advanced to the committee for building the State House at New Haven, have amounted to only sixty seven thousand one hundred and sixty seven dollars and thirty-lour cents, making the a. mount of the ordinary expenses of the state, less than fifty-one thousand dollars, and leav- ing the sum of twenty five thousand seven hundred and seventy dollars in the treasury, at the commencement of the current year. The permanent fund, exclusive of three hun dred and ffty-four shares infhe k gle Bank, amounts to three hundred and nlnety-nine seven hundred and two dollars and sixty-six cents, the income of which is appli- cable to the ordinary expenses Of the state. This sum is invested in productive stock, which is deemed safe.
 AgreeabIv to the existing law, the convicts heretofore confined in New Gate Prison, have been transferred to "The Connecticut State Prison." The warden appointed by the di- rect DTS ofthe prison is peculiarly qualified to discharge the important duties ofhis station, and his Iabors have been followed by the most satisfactory results. The police of the prison tends alike to meliOrate the condition of the prisoners, to effect their reformation, to prevent the commiss ion of crimes. and to promote the security of the community. Its discipline is strict, but humane. Each pris- oner is subjected to the salutary restraints of constant inspection denled all conversation except with his immediate keeper absolute ly excluded from external intercourse, and prohibited even to see a visitor, unless in the presence of an officer of the institution When not employed in labor, each convict is confined in a solitary cell, where he eats his food, with which he is adequately supplied. The only drink allowed the prisoner when in health. is water. It is gratifying to know, that under this regimen, the appearance and vigor of the cOnvicts have ob. b.lously impro- we'd, notwithstanding the habits of intemPer-
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