Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1833-12-19


: seem to feel the necessity OF some nc.
! ton upon this subject alike interesting
to oil, as will be seen by the Resolu.
J tons of the State of New Hampshire.
where have been received and arc now
submitted to you.
i Unjust be seen, that system fully
/ equalling public expectation, and max.
ing adequate provision for the nume-
rous defects Of the present Laws, much
time and great labor, with large share
of military knowledge, will be required
to meet the wishes of the country. Ii
is proposed for your consideration, to
authorize the appointment Of compe-
tent and experienced officers or other
citizens, to assemble at some suitable
time and place, to form an entire sys-
tenn, complete in all its parts, and re-
port 10 the General Assembly at this or
the next session Of the Legislature.
l have to inform you, that, by the
death of the Major General Of the Fifth
Division of Militia, q vacancy has &C.
Cured, which you will be called on to
ill. There is likewise q vacancy in
the Thirteenth Brigade. accustomed by
the death Of Brigadier General James
Breckenridge, of Botetourt county,
which win make il necessary for you
to appoint a successor.
| The report Of the Superintendent in
relation to the Penitentiary, is herewith
laid before you, which win inform you
OF the condition ofthat institution, which
may be regarded in highly favorable
point Of view, and capable Of confer
ring advantages upon the community,
and benefit even to the convicts them.
selves; who have sometimes learned to
read and write, and in most cases,
have left the prison masters OF pro6ts-
bic trade, when the time Of their con-
finement allowed them to acquire one.
It. ought not to be unnoticed, that, by
the law as it now stands, punishment
for the same offence 10 often inflicted |
very unequally, and in some instances, |
wholly disproportioned to the crime.
By review ofthe lawson that subject. |
punishment may be made certain and |
definite. 1t ought in well.rsgulatcd |
communities, 10 be not less an object
to punish certainly, than to convict
but when the sentence 10 wholly dis
lproportioned TO the offence, appeal is
made 20 the Governor, who willalways |
find il difficult to resist so strong a !
claim to mercy, il not 10 justice, it
would almost seem, from the unequal
pressure of the law. BY this means, |
much good would be attained---no par
dons would be granted-and all often |
ders would know, that on entering that |
prison, they had no hope Of returning
to society until the utmost hour Of his |
sentence had been inflicted.
1t gives me great pleasure to state to
you, that the fiscal affairs ofthe Com
monwealth, are in prosperous condi-
ltion, as will be fully shewn by the re-
ports Of the Treasurer and Auditor of
Public Accounts, which will be laid
before you.
| have received from the Governor
of the State Of Delaware, resolutions
which now lay before you, relative
to the ordinance Of the State of s. Ca
rolina multiplying certain acts Of Con-
gress. also lay before you resolutions
upon the same subject, received from
the Governors Of Connecticut, Alabn-
ma, North Carolina, Massachusetts,, In
diana, Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey,
Ohio, New York and Maine.
| have also received resolutions from
the Governor Of mississippi, relative to
a call Of Convention of the States TO
lamend the Constitution, from Georgia
proposing amendments to the Constitn-
ltion; from Massachusetts dissenting to
1.-THE proposition ofGeorgia and Of South
carolina, and in favor of the Tariff and |
against reduction of dutics--also on
the subject Of Lotteries, and proposing |
Ian entire abolition of them, also her |
response to the resolutions Of Tennes- |
see in relation to the Public Land-ofl
Maryland, relative to the boundary
IIine-of New Hampshire, relative to
an exchange oflegal reports.
In obedience to the provisions of an
Act passed the fifth day Of March,
1883, entitled, Gan Act to settle the
Western limits fthis State, and the d.
viding and boundary line between this
State and the Commonwealth Of Mary
land" appointed Charles James
Faulkner, John s. GaIlaher, and John
B. ID. Smith, Esqrs. Commissioners to
perform the services therein required,
who will perform that duty 80 soon as
time is allowed for Maryland to consi-
der and determine upon her course.
The resolution Of the fifteenth of A. |
pril last, has also been complied with.
and Charles b. Shaw, Esq. well known
as an Engineer Of great merit, has