New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-01-07

Supply
they have been deprived by their Creator the puma
have been made 20 see the deaf 10 hear, and the
dumb 20 speak Liberal provision mas been maze io'
the infrm aud destitute the patefnsl guarnl anshP
of the LEGISLATURE mas been extended 70 me iathef
less The insane and even 10 the lcio'lc cannot
too strongly commend the asencies ~ "hlch these
generous aims are accomplished to your fostering
care and attention.
Of inmates in the state Lunatc Asylum a. Utica, on
the 3oth o, Move nber last. was 45o Inc hunoer II
the LuDaiic Asylum on biack"ehs isiahu On VIC
The .atsI lumber Of i, sane persons in this STATE
in 1850 as shown by the census OF taai year "as
25C6 OF whom l.lO6 were In ihe AsyIons' ieH'lus
/ 4CO to be supported IN private families OF poor
homes II IS evident therefore. that some fnriner
provision ought 70 be maze for the Tene' OF Ins u
happy class OF our felio~ beings, ne humoet o.
pupils In the Institution for the Dear ana p0mo ~
The close OF he year, was 244, OF ~hom tae State
supports 100 MI, -....
The New.York Institution for The Blind contained
1870 inmates Of whom Sc are state oene nclaries IN
pursuance Of the ac passed by the last Legs azure
he Trustees APPOINTED for the purpose have establish
ed an ASYLUM for Idiots. They have fortunately Sc
cured the services OF Dr. B. WILDER as superntend-
ent whose efforts for the Improvement OF lmoecl.es
have been attended with great success snItaDse
building was procured 10 the vicinity 81 tbs CITY, AM
the chool has been opened under encouraging crcu
stances The report OF the Trustees Will present theh
proceedings more fully and imp III some FautOie IN
formation in regard 10 the merits and prospects OF
this noble undertaking.
The Houses Of Refuge for the reformation o. Juve-
nile celinQueEts have been administered "ith oe
cree Of fcelliy and success which reflect hls crect
rnrp the managers Of those institutions Al the date
OF the last return the number OF inmates was as TO-
lows 49,
Ney-York House Of Refuge 39j
House of Refuge. 10
Some further legislation is recommended IN re,
gard to youthful convicIs between me ages OF 10 uu
30 A. the power of the courts to send dellDquents
10 the Houses Of Refuge is confined 10 persons I'M
der the age of l6 many young offenders VINO nave
passed that age senteEced 10 haru laDoI III 'he
State Prison for term OF years Some OF tnem are
the victims of early Abandonment, ignorance ana
vicious associations and # placed IN proper
school for reformation, might De restored TO virtue
and prepared for a life OF honest INDUSTRY IL IL
worthy Of consideration whether separate depart
ept for this class OF offenders should not be added
10 our present Houses Of Refuge, or erected as dls-
tinct establlt hmeDt.
York, under the supervision OF the GoSernors on
Aims House, IN excellent order and cond-
ton. The expenses have been largely renucsu,
the discipline improved, and every oranch OF thsh
manage ment gives evidence OF skill, efficiency ana
fidelity.
Alter the adjournment Of the las. Legislature re-
ssroing II as duty TO obtain the best lniormttlonon
subjects pertaining to my official action | visited
each Of the State Prisons and made personal eK'
animation OF their condition. The result was IN
most respects, highly satisfactory. Great improve
men,s have been made IN the system OF prison man
aeement ard lsciplIne. Experience has shown ina,
humane administration Is more favorable 70 suh0r-
dlnation than stern despotlc severity. Every pfAc-
tcable Arrangement seems 10 have been N sde for
the health comfort and moral improvement OF the
convicts Much praise Is due 70 the officers, clap-
aiIs ard ply slcIans for their efforts 10 amend me
condition and reform the minds OF the Wrescheu
beings who have beer banshet from society TO ex-
plate their ofIeDses against its laws. Many have
been redeemed from the deepest degradation by the
influence of kindly teaching and example. The n,
deavors OF the Inspectors to improve the hnancai
management of the prisons, have been attended with
considerable success. No branch OF the public ser
vice requires more constant vigilance 10 insure III
tegrity and economy IN the expenditures. ASrlklng
improve ent is pefcepble In the affairs OF the sing
Sing Prison. For the first time IN many years, lis
officers deem II unnecessary TO call on the Legsia
ture for pecmlafy ard.
The finances of the Auburn Prison are in a less
prosperous condition, and considerable approprla
non will be required for its support TINS necessity
has been produced partly by large expenditure m
erecting new buildings, which had become mdlspen-
sable.
From careful examination OF the subject, | am
convinced that the unayorabe results at tue CLINTON
Prison may be attributed In part TO the incomplete
execution Of the original plan, which included the
necessary works for making iron aud MANUFACTURING
II III some OF its ruder forms. That part OF the de-
sign has been neglected. No FORCES furnaces have
been erected, and the employment Of prisoners has
consisted In excayatng and separating the ore an
operation which affords but little profit IN the pre-
sent condition Of the iron market The difficulty has
been increased by the failure OF ore on the land held
by the State, making II Unnecessary 10 pay heavy rent
for the privilege of working on ad lacent tract A
result. much more favorable may be produced BY
erecting furnaces for smelling and manufacturing
the ore, a scale sufficient for the employment OF
two three times the present number OF convicts'
The additional expense of maintainiDga larger num-
Der would be comparatively small Inc LABOR OF the
convicts would be much more remuneratlve IN me
manufacture than the excavation Of the ore. Otner
than financial considerations may be urged IN FAVOR
OF this policy.
Complaints continue TO be made OF the employ
ment of too large a share of the convict labor In
mechanical occupations, which conflict with the
interests OF honest citizens engaged In similar pur
suits.
This evil, unavoidable 10 a certain extent should
be diminished as far practicable. leading mo-
tive IN the establishment Of the Clinton Prison was
10 withdraw a large class of prisoners from mechan
zeal employ ments But that purpose has been only
partially fulfilled. ASIDE from other inducements,
| am of opinion that the management OF all the
prisoners would be improved by transferring some
OF the conylctS from Auburn and Sing Sing TO Cln-
ton. AT Auburn the number OF prisoners sometimes
exceeds the number of cells The increase of GRIM
mails consequent upon the growth OF population and
other causes, VIII soon produce the same result az
Sing sing. The evils produced by OyercTowdi1 g
the prisons beyond their regular capacity are TOO
serious to be tolerated. 1t cannot be doubted that
the future necessities OF the State will require
third prison. After making so large an expenditure
upon the establishment at Clinton, us abandonment
cannot be seriously entertained, and would recon
mend that proper measures be taken for ere ting
such works as are necessary TO carry the original
design into full effect.
The number of convcts In the several State PRS
sons or the LIST OF Dec last, was rs follows
sbs
HANufb -.--til
N4Altn-
The number paIdoned from these prisons during
the last year was l04 The annual list of reprleyes
commutatonS end pardons, Will be transmitted IN
special communication. In the exercise of the par
dOnlDg power, one Of the mos! embarrassing and
delicate pTeIogallVes thai can be cOnhded 10 human
discretion, | have erteavoied to act upon correct
views OF justice, humanity and public policy Error
IN the conviction, undue severity Of punishment, loss
OF heSliA, produced or aggravated by leDg connne-
ment, ana service rendered TO toe State by the dis
covtIy OF accomplces have been regarded as the
oAly legitimate grounds for the Indulgence OF
clemency In the discharge Of this difficult duty
have been impressed with the importance Of a care
FIJI REVISION OF our criminal laws for the purpose of
making the punishment Of certain crimes more pro-
poTuonate TO the grade OF oifeBse. Some OF the pro-
VISIONS OF our statutes are productive of inequalities
which violate the sense of justice, and this evil IS
aggravated by want Of uniformity in the action OF
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