Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-12-04

in the laws for the incorporation of towns and churches
IL is that the former has prevented applications
for town charters, but these il is believed, in most
unnecessary, and in all they might be rendered
amending the general law as to confer the necessary
powers The same local authorities upon whom the law
coners the right Of establishing ferries might under sua-
bic restrictions be authorized ceI toll gates and toll
bridges. This would much DELAY in making the
cessary application for the privilege sought and would
hasten the completion Of works of much needed improve
ment.
AT nearly, il not quite every session, special laws are
passed for The election Of justices of the peace in addition
to those authorized by the general law In session
many seventeen and in the following session, eighteen
such bills passed. II is respectfully suggested wheth-
by clothing the Boards of Commissioners with the
cessay powers the object could not be well attained
the wants OF the community met and small
amount of the expense and labor of legislation saved
Bills have been passed vacaling towns and parts OF
towns and TO change their names, and examples have not
been wanting of successful applications vacaie town
alleys Admitting the power Of the Legislature TO effect
each of hse objects, it follows. that it can, by general
law be transferred and, it is believed, more appropriately
transferred, to the county commissioners.
fruitful of legislation is that Of granting
corporate powers semnares literary societies military
companies bands of musicians, mill and manufacturing
companies and 10 other objects of purely local and phi
character Within the last eight years. there have
been passed in this State above four hundred private
Of incorporation, mostly for similar Objects making
average of more than fifty voumnous for each
/
privileges in every case. the opinion is confidently
pressed that all who need them, might be enabled at
tain their object by general law BY this vast
accumulation Of private and special would be dis
pensed WITH which only to enghen the session.
increase the abors of the members and what not Of less
importance, to withdraw the mind from that full and
iured consideration Of important questions of general
and pevadDg character which demanded by the public
welfare. IL would be proper in any general law Of this
character to limit the of property be held,
provide for the principle of individual liability where the
would be applicable and to insert The other usual
restrictions in legislation upon these Subjects with
servaion 10 the General Assembly of the right of mOd
cation or repeal.
The policy of confinement in county jas as punish
ment for crime may, in most cases. well be questioned
II not only serious burden the couaes but il is be-
eved to be Incompatible with reformation. which is the
leading purpose of criminal punishment The attainment
Of this object may be hoped for by The penlentiay sys
em when made to combine imprisonment, hard labor and
a suitable moral discipline But this system, under
present laws only operates upon the higher class of Offend
ers and has no bearing upon prisoners in the county J
Yet there is far more hope of retaining the latter by this
system than the former who, generally speaking
practised in crime. As remedy for this evil the appca
cn of the principle of penentary discipline upon those
guilty OF minor Offences well upon juvenile and
female offenders, by of Houses of Correction, is
respectfully recommended. They should be established
with eye the comfort and separate employment of
the inmates, and to the exercise of kindly bat firm aud
steady discipline.
VICIOUS ASSOCIATIONS WOuld De prevented,
and habits of industry formed For all, who the chill
dren Of misfortune rather than of crime land Of SUCH
most of those who have only committed their first oilence)
such retreats would be, not only in name but in fact
houses of refuge.
principal obstacle TO the permanent reformation of the
penientary convict IT, that having lost his self respect
and desparing Of regnng the good opinion Of the
community, be feels at his release that bis character is
gone and that he has nothing worth living for but the
support of his animal existence. To obvae this difficulty
he II
report from the clerk of the prison, that convict had
faithfully complied with the rules of the prison. and by his
exemplary conduct had given evidence of reformation, he
should be restored to the rights of the
platform whence he had descended by pardon, bearing
its face the of its being granted -Four convcts
have already avaled themselves of this privilege since last
February, when the rule first established, and
informed by the clerk that had entitled themselves
to, and would gladly have availed themselves of this
favor but for the fact that they would thereby lose
the small sum of money, which, under existing
law is paid to every convict at the end Of the time for
which he is sentenced necessary of support
until he can get into reputable employment recon-
mend that the law be made apply all cases.
where the prisoner is released by pardon within given
time before the expiration Of his sentence and expressly
on the ground Of good conduct.
The report of the visitor of the State Prison has been
received, and will shortly be laid before you with such
remarks as may be required by the subject;
The fixing Of the number of Representatives and Scna
tors and the aPPoroning of them among the several
countess according to the number of polls lately returned
will devolve upon the present General Assembly In
Ting the details of this measure, it is respectfully
mended TO your consideration whether the number of the
members in each branch of the Legislature may not be re-
duced without disadvantage to the public seivice Be
sides the saving to the treasury which would be effected
by such reduction, the opinion prevail and
without foundation that where deberative bodies are as
small as will consist with due knowledge and represen
tation Of the Of The constituency on the part of
their delegation, the despatch of business is only
greater, but that and dspassiOnate Legislation is
better secured. On this subject, however the will Of
your constituents, of which you the rghtfuI expo
nents and with which you better acquainted should
be, and doubt not will be, properly consulted.
The annual reports of the Aduant General, and Quar-
ter-maser General are herewith submitted The former
contains some suggestions in relation drawing full
quota of the public from the General Government of
this subject were submitted in my former message TO
which reference is respectfully made.
By the latter report it will be seen, that under the d.
rection of the Quarer-maser General there have been
collected Of the public arms which had been scattered in
various parts of the Se eleven hundred and seveniyve
pieces, of which six hundred and pieces have under
gone the necessary repairs.
The recommendation of the last named officer touch
ing the transportation of arms commends itself your
favorable consideration the both Of economy and
sound policy The expense of collecting, repairing and
transporting constitutes large portion Of the dis
busemenis from the contingent fund, and this will be
annual expenditure, is recommended that H. well
the postage account be separately appropriated under
their proper heads
The present may well he regarded a crisis in the
affairs of the State. Some of the various which will
engage your attention, of vital importance TO the well
fare OF Indiana That there should he entire unanimy
Of opinion upon all these questions and especially
their Details is to be expected But they need and it
is trusted that they will receive. your deIibera
TONS in that spirit of Difference of concatcn and of
cesson; which, in such is almost essential
IANES wHIrEOMR