The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-03-31
OHIO LEGISLATURE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

honorable means to have the principles Of the Or.
dnance of 1857 applied to all territories owned by
the United States. i
A resolution was adopted authorizing the Gov.
ernor to proclaim day Of thanks giving. ..
The Senate amendment to the Homestead bill
was taken up; and after various Intellectual attempts
to amend it, was finally lost. r... .
March 20, 1s49
The House was principally engaged in the read.
ing of bills the third time, and passing number
of them The bills were generally ofa local char
acter. .o
The Senate amendment to the bill concerning
the Office Of Attorney General was agreed to.
Msrch 81. ls49.
Almost the entire day was spent in the consid-
Grafton Of reports from committees. ....s
The House agreed to Senate resolutions ap.
pointing Samuel Medary Director of the Ohio
Asy um for the Deaf and Dumb, for six years, and
Joseph R. Scroggs Of the Institution for the blind.
Mr.. Long (Schools and School Lands) report
ed back divers petitions, and asked to be discharg.
ed from the further consideration. Agreed to.
Mr.. Morris (majoIity Of Finance committee)r rs.
ported OH the reply Of the Auditor of State, con.
cerning the three per cent. fund.
Mr.. Pennington presented a minority report.
March 20, 1s49.
Senate resolution on the subjec. Of new con.
stltuon was received, and
Mr.. Townshsnd moved that the resolution be
committed to a committee of one He thought
the resolution might pass eventually, but was afraid
to press vote at present; if committed he would
report it back to-murrow. Agreed to.
The resolution concerning United States canal
land, was taken up and passed.
This resolution requests reduction OF the price
of those lands to 81 25 acre, and proviso that
the sale shall be confined to actual settlers in
quantities not to exceed l60 acres.
Mr.. Roedter's resolution on the Penitentiary
system was then taken up.
The resolution is as follows:
Whereas, the punishment of crimes, by conf.
ming the convicts IN the Pententary Of the state
at hard labor. only be justified upon the ground
that society s bound to protect itself and its iCd-
vidual members against fraud and violence; and
upon the further ground, that such confinement
Is intended to correct and improve the moral and
industrial habits Of the criminals SO as to reform
them into useful and honest citizens;
find Whereas, The confinement for a. certain
time has, to a great extent, failed to effect The
necessary reformation Of convicts;
lind ,ohereas, system of punishment, inducing
convicts to fair consideration of the benefits OF
honest industry. by securing to voluntary exertion
a proportiona,e reward, seems TO be better calcu-
lated to reform vicious habits, and transform the
reckless and idle into industrious and moral men,
than the mere confinement at hard labor, without
any inducement to voluntary exertion; therefore,
Resolved by the General assembly Of the State
of Ohio, That the Warden OF the Psnitentiary is
hereby requested to enquire into the expendisncy
of so amending the laws for the punishment Of
crime, that the convicts be sentenced to perform
certain number Of days work, instead of serving
for certain number Of years, substituting about
three hundred days work for one years con6ne.
ment at hard labor, under our present criminal
code
Resolved, That said Warden is hereby request.
ed to report the result of his inquiry on this sub.
ject to the next session Of the Legislature.
The resolution was adopted.
House bills to tax banks as other property was
indefinitely postponed.
The bill for law reform was then taken up and
passed.
[The bill abolishes all forms Of action, and ap.
plies the mode Of proceeding in Chancery to all
actions al iaw.]