New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-04

dufiee OF these stations,
cary 20 the successful conduct Of the simple business
pursu Of life II Is creditsble 10 those Who have had the
msnsg, ent Of the prsons that they have been enabled
maintain discipline among the convets aud 10 keep
ihem proftabiy employed for tie State
Isuggest the propriety Of allowing convict
ward Tor industry and good conduct some portion Of her
earnings for the benefit Of Themselves their families
This would he calculated to animate them with hopeto
ksti Of foresight and prudence and by enabling
them to Asss their families, would cultivate the bet
ter instincts Of their nature II woud also give them 1T
the expiration Of their terms Of imprisonment
Of support until they could overcome the difficulties Of OBJ
tanning employment In numerous instances disch frged
oonvos led 10 the commission Of crime poverty
end want conseeuent upon the prejndtees which exist
sgsiDst them Humanity and policy alike dictate that
nate persons 10 retrieve their past
The condition ofthe jas in this State should be made
the subject OF thorough investg alton Many Of them are
nuneries Of crime Criminals crowded Together with
out regard age character the nature OF their Ofense
Without employment and the minds occupied by topesof
and crime rendered mentally nd morally de-
trayed This miseTbe system not even commended By
considerations economy The Albany Penienary which
receives the convict Of certain class from number o.
Coures object Of interest TO the phlanthropic Of
other States and Of other lands for its thorough dise-
nine is perfect arrangements, and its skf1 manage
nept II il only self sustaining, but il yields
nue. beyond its expenses. s but necessary to contrast
his rsutioD with OF the as Of State to shos
that benevolenee policy and economy dictate thorough
reformation their arrangements and manage nenf Inc
average term If confinement in the in the Albany Pen
tertiary but three months The inmates are OF thai IN
eror ard degraded class who are committed for petty
fred TO simple and single branch of hand labor and yet
skul and experienced manhe they are mtis
to support thtmse,es Pay the sssTes Of ane
the maintenance Of commodious edince and ample
grounds. ,.s. a.. a; a.. 49,,
The convictions for different ohenses curing the pah
year will exceed 1000. OF this number above 600 have
besn sentenced 10 State Prisons. Ii appears from
examination Of convictions for series OF years that the
increae crime does not vary from the proportional in
ereese Of our population
recommend modification Of criminal laws which
will give judicial tribunals more power than they now
possess with regard to the terms OF connhemen' 10 our
prifoBs The distinctions between different grades OF
crimes be preserved without compelling our courts to
ut sentences of great severity upon oenses OF com
rastiyely light and venal character because TECHNICALLY
bey come within the statutoro definition OF certain Of
nes BY our present laws our 9oGr'; es1o sentence
or for highway robbery for term Ut imprisonment ess
than ten year, yet in many instances these oenses are
committed under circumstances far less criminal than acts
which punished by two year. confinement IN our prs
ons or a shorter period in the County Jas The ststu
tory provisions, which, in many instances, compel the
courts Ifct punshments than they deem
inst with the certainty OF the enforcement OF the
lawS and lead to numerous applications to the Executive
for pardon Experience has shown that to restrain crime
reliance be placed upon the certainty rather than upon
the severity the punishment The courts which try Grim
ra far competent 10 determine upon the proper
punishment be inflicted than the Executive be- IL
tie controlled by the arbitrary provisions of
tie staute the Governor have that they
in accordance with the judgment of tho courts which
convict the criminals can danger in this m )ti
cation Of criminal law the Judges who hear all the
testimony in the less liable to be misled than
the Executive who hears only the petitions and arguments
in behalf Of the criminal The exercise of the pardoning
POWER even in where II is demanded by considers
ioIs Of justice is always attended with great evils As
the which induce the granting Of pardons not
made known TO the public, it creates the belief that the
per ates ofhe law may be evaded through the interces
zion Of friends OF from considerations of sympathy. Al
though the number granted within the last ten yods has
not been great in proportion to convictions before
that reriOd yet the number Of applications and the diff
lies Of dischareug this duty have greatly increased
nd of eatio
duce the friends OF prisoners to make personal and re-
heated apple to the Executive under circumstances
both painful and embarrassing.
Tie enrolled militia If the State number about 100000.
The Constitution requires that the militia Of the state
"sha at all times hereafter be armed and disciplined
"apd in readiness for service 1t also makes ample pro-
vision for its alton and the appointment of
saIy officers The long period of peace enjoyed by our
country; and our freedom from domestic disturbances
hay led - regard militia sys1u with too much in
difference Few aware OF the extent - which II pro
,ects cur citizens in the enjoyment of their property and
The Constitution OF the United States declares that "a
"we regulated militia being necessary to the security OF
"a free State, the right OF The people to keep and bear
arms shall be infrnged. An efficient military or
gunzaton is of constant service in the preservation OF
good order Although few instances where they are
called upon que resistance to the laws yet they serve
at oil times turbulent disorderiy members
of society In addition to the enrolled militia many CON-
panes and II gmt have been formed which are wel
ubifc rmed and thoroughly disciplined. They number
nearly 90 coo men, and without ubjectng the State 20
any expense, they constitute an important part of ia exc
cuiiye power. Composed OF intelligent, active and re-
,ueetable men, who have interest in preserving the
GOOD order of society. they may be relied upon at all
times suppress tumus and TO enforce obedience to the
constituted authorities.
AT the last session Of the Legislature a commission
appointed reduce the militia laws to system which
would render them ineligible and more easily enforced.
The report submitted by the Commissioners not ad
opted by the Legislature commend it to your favor
able confederation important TO produce thorough
and efficient organization of the militia and to carry out
the requirements Of our state Constitution.
am happy state that great progress has been made
In the adjustment Of the difficulties in relation 10 immortal
titles which have agated sections OF our State for
many years The legal rights Of the landlords and ten
ants have To a great ent been determined by jGd
cAl tribunals and the principal obstacles to negotiation
between the parties interested have been removed They
have Interests in settling these difficulties and IN
relieving themselves from the pecnniary social and moral
evils which have been inflicted them and the State
at large BY prolonged controversies Since the questions
respecting titles have been decided, in instances
tie tenants have avaed themselves OF the abundance Of
Money and the high prices commanded by the productions
of the soil to the fun Ownership OF their lands upon
favorable terms.
But few instances Of resistance to legal process have
recently occurred. An outrage having been committed
in the County of Albany upon citizen while n the dis
charge Of an official duty resolution adopted BY the
sst Assembly requesting TO communicate 10 them II
sny reward had been offered for the arrest Of the Of
tenders or what had been taken Tor their ap
"prehe nsion and whether in my Judgment any further
Legislation necessary TO prevent the recurrence
such oursges and for the better enforcement OF the
"lsw."
Having advised the Assembly what measures had been
taken to arrest the ofenders stated my reasons for NOS
Offering any reward for their apprehension and my opn
ion that legislation necessary to secure the better
enforcement of the law when resistance Is made to pro-
In many instances the offer Of rewards for the a
prehenon Of criminals creates impression In the minds
Of those required execute process that they are IN some
degree relieved from their duty, as il assumes that the or
dirary means of enforcing tie law are insufficient.
The statutes Of the STATE confer upon the shes OF the
several counties the mos ample powers to discharge the
duties mposed upon them. They authorized, when