Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1839-05-23

court houses and municipal halls OF stone OF
marble, 30 new and fresh as to mark the re-
cent existence of the forest where they now
stand, would be admired in any part of the
old world. On the British side Of the line,
with the exception of a few favored spots,
where some approach TO American prosper
ity is apparent, all seems waste and desolate.
There is but one rail road in all British
America, and that running between the st.
Lawrence and Lake Champlain, is only rs
miles long. The ancient city of Montreal.
which is naturally the commercial capital OF
the Canadas, will not bear the least compar.
ison in any respect with Buffalo, which is a
creation of yesterday.
But it is not in the difference between the
larger towns on the two sides that we shall
find the best evidence of our own inferior
ity. That painful but undeniable truth is
most manifest in the country districts through
which the line of national separation passes
for 1000 miles. These, on the one side of
both the Canadas, and also Of New Bruins.
wick and Nova Scotia, a widely scattered pop.
ulation, poor, and apparently unenterprising,
though hardy and industrious, separated
from each other by tracts of intervening for.
eStS, without towns or markets, almost with
out roads, living in mean houses, drawing lit
tie more than rude subsistence from ill cul-
tivated land, and seemingly incapable OF
improving their condition, present the most
instructive contrast to their enterprising and
thriving neighbors on the American side"
NOTES IN THE STATE HOUSE.
We noticed in our last some of the lead.
ing members of the House. We have since
taken look into the Senate Chamber. The
Lieutenant Governor, the Hon. Mr.. Hawley,
presides in this body with the utmost skill
and ability. He had considerable expert
ence as member Of the Senate, before his
election to his present station, and now full.
credit to the State and to himself.
Mr.. Rockwell of Norwich is a leading
member of the Senate, in which he has held
a seat for the last two years. He is an ele.
CANT and finished speaker, as we'll as an &C.
complished gentleman, and an able and ex.
perienced legislator. Next to Mr.. Rock.
well, in point of standing and influence, is
Mr.. Butler of Norwalk. This gentleman was
for some time, we understand, Physician,
and relinquished this profession for the law.
We have never heard him speak, except on
some unimportant occasions. but he has the
reputation of being man of talents and an
able debater. He has been a member of the
Senate for one or two sessions, and was in
the Lower House in 1887, where he was
highly respected by all parties.
We believe these two gentlemen are the
only Senators who have had the advantage
of much experience in legislation. The Elec.
tors in many of the districts do not seem
aware of the importance of having expert.
enced men in the Senate, and have introdu-
ced practice of selecting candidates annu.
ally from different towns. The Senate has
thus become, if possible, body of less Sta
b;litv, to say nothirg of ability than the
House. The evils of hasty and injudicious
legislation would often be prevented by more
frequently re-electing old members.
There are several other highly respecta-
BILE Wing members of the Senate, whom our
limits will only permit us to name. Among
these are DIR. Abernethy Of Harwinton-a
town which is always well represented
Judge Hendee of Hebron, Mr.. Darlington OF
Milford, and others Of whom we have not
time to speak.
On the Administration side of the Senate,
Mr.. Wightman is the Great Apollo. On him
we shall not waste word, as he has, we un-
derstand. during the present session. been
somewhat sparing OF his own.--H. COurant.
Connecticut State Prison-From the report
Oh inc OlEOClUES VI entS 1AotltAttOHS W. ASeAt u
that the number of convicts in confinement,
March 31st, 1888, was 19O-since received
5O-discharged 57-leaving now in confine.
ment, 1873. The returns for this year show a
diminution of numbers, which leads to the
hope that crime is on the decrease. The re-
ceipts of the prison have been considerably
less than those of past years owing to a
general and long continued sickness that
prevailed in it in the fall Of 1888, and the
pressure of 1887. But Notwithstanding these
disadvantages, the directors are able to re-
port nett gain to the State of $1,000 26.-
The fact that the entire first cost of the pris-
on, and all its incidental and annual expens-
es have been saved out of the earnings OF
the prisoners, while they have been well
provided for, is enough to commend this in
stitution to the favor of the public. The Ply
sician's and Chaplain's reports contain ma
ny interesting accounts the case of young
man who died few days before the time OF
his confinement had expired, was peculiarly
so. He was of respectable connexions, and
his early prospects unusually bright; but
his real name he never revealed. Another
statement shews that impressions are some
times made on criminals in prison. which
they remember long after their release. One
instance is related of a man who left the
prison a year or two since and who called
on the chaplain last summer. Almost the
first thing he said was, edo you remember
what you read at the morning prayers. the
day 1 left prison! If you do not I do. You
read from the 10th chapter Of Proverbs,
where it says, ga man Of great wrath shall
suffer punishment" Not a day has passed
over my head since lett prison without my
thinking Of these words, and the place where
heard them"
The report exhibits many interesting facts,
which our limits will not permit us to notice
AUful Steamboat Accident.-The painful
duty devolves upon us of chronicling another
shocking steamboat accident.
The steamboat George Collier left this
port. Saturday afternoon. at half past 5