The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-01-13

early dawn until dusk, without an hour
TO read by day, or a light to read al
night, should be emeliorated; and that
even in their fallen estate, the accents
OF kindness, the enlightenment Of truth,
the teachings morality, and the con
solation OF religion, should not be with.
held.
5. TIA the monopoIies gradually
fastening themselves upon the State
and beginning to claim perpetual dura.
ton, embracing hundreds of aole-b
men. working at thirty.,hree cents per
day, boarding, lodging and workshops
found, in competition with the mechan.
les OF the State, ought not to be endur.
ed or tolerated, beyond what lair
construction Of the contracts. made in
accordance with law, demands.
6. That the work on the new State
House should be Immediately, and ear.
nestly, resumed; and convict labor
withdrawn from vocations injurious to
mechanical pursuits, and directed to
this important object; taking care, in its
gradual withdra wal, to work no injury
TO any just rights Of contractors for
prison labor. .'s... -... .... .,......
| Z. That those enactments very prop.
erly denominated, by universal consent,
"the Black Laws of Ohio" are impolit-
ic, unjust and inhuman, Mt war with the
genius Of our free institutions, and the
spirit Of the age in which we live; and
that they ought to be Immediately md
unqualifedly repealed.
This last opinion was every where
distinctly avowed during the canvass
of 1916. The repeal has been recon-.
mended, on every proper occasion
since. And although the General AS
sembIy has, thus far, in the exercise of
its constitutional powers and duties,
maintained different policy, yet can
not refrain, in this my last official act,
respectfully yet earnestly to recon.
mend, that these laws should no longer
remain upon the statute books Of the
first State, organized under the Ord
nance Of 1897.
1t will remain source of grateful re-
membrance TO me, in all future time,
that every one Of these recommenda.
tions, the last only excepted, has mel
the appreciation and sanction Of the
Legislature. The Currency aud Rev.
enue laws have been upheld, and are
fulfilling the just expectations of their
founders. Our Colleges, Asylums and
Schools, have been literally sustained
and in return are pouring streams OF
benevolence and enlightenment into all
the departments Of social life. A re-
duction was made in the price of our
Canal lands, in limited quantities, to ac-
tual settlers, and the result is that since
the law went into operation on the
first day Of March, l847, more than
ninety thousand acres have been sold
for over one hundred and twenty thou.
sand dollars. The public faith has been
nobly sustained. The sinking fund
has been enlarged. And portion of
the State debt paid. The Penten,iary
has been lighted with gas, and furnish
ed with more than seven thousand vol.
umes Of books for the use Of the con-
victs. Many have been taught in the
nrison Sunday School 10 read; and the
heering results OF kindness, blended
;'h wholesome dicipIine; and OF men,
nd moral training are manifest in
rma'ipn of inmates. A large
those lately discharged
'e entered upon life
alike honorable to
lul to their country.
nd aeventy whose
PRED, or who have
thin .he past two
ave been returned to
the wise and oppor-
ast winter an ehectual
en- TO the execution Of
!; for penitenliary labor,
the renewal Of the old
rrk on the new State
,rnostly resumed and
ed. More than sew.
.es Of stone have been
foundations have
the walls raised
on varying from six
The surface of the
ng Of stone is still
7vicis from ex-
=. pc f5tained next
oy moderate appropria-
wear, which are recommen-
0""ded for
legislative
he govern.
reservation
a.. q. DEL