The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-12-11

erary societies, military companies, bands OF
muslci1ns, TO null aud manufacturing comDa-
NEE, and TO other objects OF purely local aud
private character. Within the last eight years
there have been passed IN this State, above four
hundred private acts of ncorpuration, mostly
tor SIM lar objects, making average of more
than nifty volumIHous acs Tor each session
Without discussing the utility Of these corpo
rate privileges IN every case, the opinion is CON
tiently expressed, that all who need them,
might be enabled 10 attain I'll cir oblee. by
general law BY this means vast acc uinula-
ton OF private and special would be dis
pensed with, which only serve to lengthen the
session, TO increase the iabors of the members
aud what IS not of less importance to withdraw
the MUD from that full and matured consider
alton OF important questions o! a general and
pervading chara, ter which is demanded by the
public welfare. Ii would be proper in any
general law OF this character, To lnIt the am
| cunt OF property 10 he held, to provide for the
principle OF individual liability where the same
would be applicable, and 10 insert the other
usual restrictions In our Legislation upon this
subject, with a reservation + the General As
sembly OF the right of mOdIfic alton or repeal.
The policy OF confinement in county lails, as
I a punishment for crime, may, in most cases,
well be questioned. 1t is not only a serious
| burden on the counties. but IL is believed 10 be
iIcomD atlble with reformation, which is the
leading purpose OF criminal punishment The
attal nment OF this object may be hoped for by
the penttentlary system. when made to combine
imprisonment, hard labor, and suitable moral
discipline. But this system, under our present
laws only operate upon the higher class OF OF
tenders, and has no bearing upon prisoners in
The county lalls Yet there is lar more hope of
retaining the latter by this system than the
former, VINO, generally speaking. are more
practlsen III crime. AS a remedy for this evil,
the application OF the principle os penitentiary
discipline upon those guilty minor offences,
well as upon Juvenile and female offenders, b.
III cans OF HOus es OF Correction, is respectfully
recommended They should be established
with an eye TO comfort and separate employ
ment OF The inmates, aud the exercise OF a
kindly, but firm and steady discipline.
BY THIS means vicious associations would be
prevented, aud habits of industry formed. For
all, who are the children of misfortune, rather
than OF crime, (and o! such, are most OF those
who have only committed their first offence. }
such retire ats would be not only in name, but ia
iact, houses of refuge
The principal obstacle to the permanent ref
ormation OF the penItentiary convict, is, that
having lost his Sc II respect, and despairing OF
ever regaInIng the good opinion OF the commu-
atty, he feels at his release, that his character
IS gone aud that he has nothing worth living tor
but the mere support of animal existence. To
| obvlate this difficulty lar as poss ib!e, es-
abolished a rule, that on a written pnrt OF tn g
clerk Jt the prison, and by his exemplary con
should be restored to the rights of citezanship-.
to the same platform whence he had descended
by pardon, bearing on its face, the canse OF
| Its bel ng granted. Four ccnvicts have already
avaiIed themselves of this privilege, since last
February, hen the rule FIRST estabii sh ed.
and am informed by the clerk, that more had
entitled themselves to this favor, and would
gladly have awaited themselves of it, hut for the
tact, that they would thereby loose the small
sum OF money, which. under an existing law,
us paid TO every convict AT the end of the time
tor which ne Is sentenced, as necessary means
OF support, until he can get into reputable en-
| ployment. recomnend that the law be
made TO apply to all cases, where the prisoner is
released by pardon, within a given time before
the expiration OF his sentence, and expressly on
the ground OF good conduct.
The report OF the vIsiter of the State Prison
has been received, and will shortly be laid be-
fore you, with such remarks as may be require
by the subject.
The hxing OF the number of Representatives.
aud Senators, and the app"rtiOning of them. a
among the several counties, according TO the
number OF polls lately retured, Will deyoIve up
On The present General Assembly. In setting
the details oil this measure, il Is respectfully re
commende ed 10 your consideration, whether IN . 4
number OF the members in each branch of the
Legislature may MOI be reduced without disad-
vantage TO the public service. Besides the sa
Wing to the treasury, which would be effected
6y such REDUCTION, the opinion seems 10. pre-
vail and not without foundation, that where de-
Lucrative bodies small as wilt consist
with due knowledge and representation of the
wants OF the constituency the part OF their
delegation, the despatch at business Is not only
greater, but that matrue aud dspassIonate ley
lslauOn IS better secured. On this su biecI, b ow-
ever, the will -of your constituents OF which youl
are the the righttul expOnents, and with viii ch
you are better acquainted, should be, aud
doubt nos Will be. properly consulted.
The annual reports OF the Adiutant General
and Quartermasl er General, are herewith sub
mltted The former contains some suggestions
IN relation to drawing our tull quota OF public
arms from the General Governm mt, of which
we have been deprived since 1892. My views
on thus subject. were submitted IN my forme
message, TO which reference is respecIfu lly
made
BY the latter report il will be seen, that und /
the direction OF the Quarter-master Genera!
there have been collected of the public arms, |
which had been scattered in various parts OF the
State, eleven hundred and seventy-fvs pieces, |
of whIeh SIX hundred and one pieces have I'M
dergOne the necessary repairs
The recomme ndatiOn of tle last named Off |
Ger. touching The transportation OF arms. com |
mends Itseil 10 your favorable cOns deratioH. on |
the score, both OF economy and sound policy. |
The expense OF collecting, repairing and trans
porting arms, constitutes a large portion OF tbs
disbursements from the contingent tuad, and 1
as thus will be annual expenditure. it is re-
CONNIE nded that it, we'll as the postage ac-
account, be separately appropriated under tn cir |
proper heads.
The present may we'll be regarded q cris is |
in the affairs OF the State. Some. Of the various
subjects which will engage your attenuon, are
OF vital importance to the welfare of Indiana.
That there should be entire unanimity oit
opinion upon all these questions; and especially |
as to their details is not to be expected. Bat
ey-need, and it is trusted they will receive |
your maturest deliberations, in that spirit OF
Difference, of Cancellation, and of concession.