The American patriot., 1855-02-14
THE LEGISLATURE.


wolves on the Legislature to renew the lease or
make some new disposition Of the institution, and
the question to be decided is whether the State
shall resume the superitendence or whether the
policy of leasing shall prevail. The tide of ex-
citement seems to have run higher, and more dis
cussion has been elected on this subject thar
with any other matter which has been before the
present session. and though several important
steps have been taken in the premises, the end is
not yet.
Those who contend that the State is the proper
authority to manage and control the Penitentiary,
and that it should be administered with view of
turning the revenues derivable from it into the
Golfers Of the public treasury, whence such large
sums have from time to time been drawn to build
it up support their position by much argument
and good reasoning. For long time this institu-
ton was burden on the people, and was kept up
by direct appropriations by the State. Now 1t
pays revenue, and large one.
The lessees, by their own showing, and the
impression generally: prevails that they have
not told all, have realized large profits-becoming
rich themselves, while they are paying mere no.
minal rent to the State As the State has made
such OUTLAWS for machinery and fixtures, it is per-
fectly right and reasonable to expect that some
compensation shall be paid, adequate in some
measure to the expediturcs.
The first question which presented itself to be
settled in the commencement of the long wordy
war between the two parties differing in their
views upon the matter, was whether the State
should control and administer the institution by
her proper officers, or whether it should again be
leased out
The bill was introduced into the Senate, and
after much warm discussion it was determined to
lease, but the price to be paid by the lessees was
raised from four to about $1,000. When the bill
come from the Senate into the House, the greatest
excitement prevailed, and the discussion was long
and warm upon many points Several amend
ments were made to the Senate bill, the most i'm
portant is that the lessees shall pay to the State
the sum of $4,000 and the salaries of all the
officers The matter stands thus at this time, and
whether the Senate will accept of the amendments
proposed by the House remains to be seen. If
these amendments are not accepted it is highly
probably that some plan entirely new will be
adopted
Another important amendment made by the
House to the Senate bill, is that the lessees shall
be allowed to engage in all kinds of merchandise
whatever they may see fit to employ the con-
vcts on If the making of boots, shoes and tailor
ing is carried on in the Penitentiary, which is
now not allowed, it will interfere very seriously
with the manufacturing establishments of this
kind in the town of Baton Rouge, and the conse-
quence will be that all the workers in leather and
cloth will be driven out
A bill has been introduced to the effect of TAX
ing the sense of the people in reference to moving
the capitol to New Orleans.
A New SrATE-OREGoN.- Monday week, a
bill passed the House of Representatives, which
authorized the people of Oregon Territory to as
sembe in convention and form Constitution and
State Government. When the Constitution shall
have been formed it will be submitted to Congress.
If it meets the requirements of the Federal Con-
stitution and is republican in its character, then
the Territory will be admitted into the Union on
an equal footing with the original States and bear
the name of the STATE OF OREGON. The National
InteUigeneer gives the following synopsis of the
provisions of the BILL
'eFhe usual Courts are to be established, and
until another census and apportionment the new
State is to be entitled to Representative in the
Congress of the United States. Sections 16 and
SO in every township of the public lands in said
State to be granted for the of schools; two
entire sections are to be given for the use and
support of a university; and then entire sections
are to be appropriated for completing the public
buildings of said State or for the erection of Others
Five per cent of the nett proceeds of the sales of
the lands lying within the State are to be paid to
the State for the purpose of making public roads
and canals in the same, as the Legislature thereof
shall direct, upon condition that there be no in
reference with the primary disposal of the soil
within the same and that no tax is to be laid upon
upon nonresident proprietors than upon resi-
dents.
Too PROUD TO BEG.-It is said there are thou
sands Of worthy citizens, men and woman, in New
York who are too proud to beg let their circum-
stances be KNOWN and are, therefore, silently pin
ing in secret restitution The Mirror says the
pawn-shops only tell their sad story, and adds:
First go to the luxuries-thc superfluous furni-
turc--the silver spoons-thc spare clothing-the
jewelry even to the bridal ring; and then the bed
ding the tables, the chairs, and so on through the
whole inventory of articles that can be dispensed
with, while life is retained. TO accommodate this
inborn and inalienabe American pride, the pawn
shops are provided with stalls, so that the melan
cholly bartcrng may be done without exposing
the poor victim of that peculiar institution t.
public shame. The amount of business at these