The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-01-26

the various school funds is a fruitful source o.
trouble in the districts and general cause of COM
plant against the system. Iewould recommend to
your consideration the propriety Of thorough re-
vision of all the laws upon the subject
By its variety and fertility of soil, Ohio is peculi-
arly adapted to that first and noblest occupation Of
man-agrculture, giving employment to greater
number of citizens than any other branch Of
industry; furnishing from its products material for
manufactures home consumption and commerce.
to the value of more than fifty millions of dollars
annually. Agriculture is and ever will be the
great source of wealth to the people of the state
and therefore merits and should receive much at
tention and encouragement from the government.
In obedience to a resolution of the last General
Assembly have visited the several benevolent
State Asylums and made an examination of the
books and the method of keeping accounts all Of
which appear correctly kept, and in a manner to
secure strict and rigid accountability of all those
having charge of the several departments in these
institutions, The number of officers, persons en-
poyed and salaries paid to each except those whose
salaries are provided by law, will usual be com
municated in the annual reports of the officers of
the several Institutions to which refer you for in
formation on the subject
On the appearance of cholera in this city, the
people in the asylums for the education ofthe blind
and deaf and dumb, were dismissed for the time
that they might, by being taken to their several
places of residence, avoid the danger which would
have encurred by the fatal disease by remaining
together. They have again returned and the pres
ent term of both institutions has commenced un-
der favorable auspices, and with more than usual
prospects of accomplishing the benevolent objects
for which they were designed.
The patients in the Iunatlc ASvlumS from the
nature of their complaints and the difficulty and
costs of removing them could not be dispersed
Much credit is due to the officers and assistants for
their exertons and care in the use of all the means
believed to be beneficial as preventives, as well as
much gratitude to that Being who controls ttbe
destruction that wasteth at monday" that the as
ylum escaped untouched by that disease, while
:,!!..7.E Of the kind were nearly destroyed by its
ravages.
1t is believed that this institution has been as
well and as successfully conducted as any one
known; but from the rapid increase of our popu-
lation many whose condition require it, cannot be
accommodated at SO early period as is necessary
to secure successful results.
The law governing this institution is in many re-
spects defective, especially in the large amount of
costs required to procure the admission of patients,
aud needs thorough revision to which 1 would
earnestly invite the attention of the General As
sembly. The wants of the community will, at no.
distant day demand probably two like institutions
in different parts Of the State An enlarged phi
lanthropy and enlightened forecast require that
the public attention be early directed to this sub
iect.
On the Sd of November 1S4s, the number of
convicts in the penitentiary four hundred and
twenty five. Of this number there were taken
from contracts and applied to the work on the new
State House from fifty to one hundred and twenty,
as the labor could be most advantageousy used
upon that building; leaving upon the contracts
only so many were supposed to be necessary to
pay the current expenses of the prison. The health
of the prisoners unusually good up to the Soth
of June, when the cholera first made its appear
ance among them, raging with great mallgnlty
prostrating in its course more than threefourths
of the whole number, and carrying off by death
more than one fourth. Thus the arrangements of
the prison were thrown into confusion the means ex
hausted by extra expenses and the loss of about
two months labor. In this pressing necessity two
thousand five hundred dollars of the Governors
contingent fund was appropriated to aid in procur
ing such necessaries and and assistance as were
absolutely Indispensable and demanded immediate
partial payment
Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon the
directors, particularly upon the woresldlng in this
city, who gave their whole personal attention, and
10 the warden ana all tile OIucefS anu BudFuS WHO
remained at their posts for their devoted exertions
and 6rmness through that fearful trial. as well as
to those citizens of this place who noby and genen-
erously came to their relief
A more particular description of this calamity,
together with detailed account of the affairs of
the prison will be given in the report of the direct
ors and warden.
During the prevalence of the cholera, twenty
eight of the convicts whose terms of service had
nearly expired or who had rendered important SER
vices in watching the sick and in aiding the officers
in preserving the safety of the prison, pardon
ed Thirty others, including thirteen pardoned
by my predecessor for good cause shown, receiy-
ed executive clemency; making in all ffty-eight.
The whole number of prisoners at the COM
menccment of the year, was. 425
Received during the year.. .............. l55
Making. $50
Reduced by Cholera. '..''..-.'.'' IIo
By pardon by the Governor. ............ So
By pardon by the President ofthe u. ST..
By expiration of sentence. 81
BY writ OF error.... .......s.....s.s
BY escape. ....--...........''' D go
Leaving now in the Institution. ......... 335
The work on the new State House has been
JoLl