Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1855-01-18


! other official duties.
During the course of the years 1856
and 1854, the present efficient Stat
Treasurer has received and distribute
about three quarters ola million Of pub
lie moneys. Oh account Of swamp an
wet lands. For the additional rsspon
sibilities and labor imposed on him il
the discharg. Of these duties, the Legis
lature should allow proper compensa
ton.
Before the next session Of the Legisla
ture. the present lease of the State Pris
on will expire. aud the duty devolves OF
you to decide whether the present sys
lem of selling ovt the crime OF the Stat,
to the highest bidder, shall be continued
or abandoned. The policy OF making pc
riodical sales of the management and Ia
Dor of the criminals that tho State may
have in its custody. is highly objection
able. The Penitentiary of Indiana is as
we'll kept. in conformity with the law
that governs it, as any State Prison in
the Union; but the system is essentially
wrong. and unworthy Of the State.
The State should have the entire con.
troll Of the Prison. its discipline
its labor. and its internal regu.
lations, and as far as practicable and ex-
pedient, a syseem OF rewards for good
conduct should be kept constantly before
the view of each convict. Do not make
the convict slave without hope, if you
expect to reform him, but let him know
that the State regards him. as a man, in
whose restoration TO the rights of ci,i.
zcnship. she feels an interest.
In determining the question of the fu
ture management Of the State Prison, the
idea Of making it profitable. in a pscuni-
airy way. should be outweighed by high
er conside duty of adopting
the best means for the reformation of the
convicts within its walls
The Constitution that you have sworn
to support. declares tina; the General As
sembly "shall provide houses of refuge for
the correction and reformation OF iuven
lie offenders" OF two hundred and six
ty-seven men in the State Prison, thirty
six are under twenty years Of age; and
more than ne.half Of the whole number
are under twenty five years ofage. The
youth of sixteen is found by the side of
the old offender. and deprived of all asso.
ciates other than those who are hardened
in crime. All prisoners, convicted Of
the first offence, aud youthful convicts
should be placed in situations where they
would receive the advice of parents
guardians or friends. By adopting this
houses of reformation. as w sHpa become
Of punishment.
| communicate, herewith, the lists OF
pardons, fines and forfeitures. for the last
TWO years. and sugges, that they be pub
lished with this message; and also that
you provide by law for The annual pub
LEGATION of similar lists,
Your attention is especially invited to
the interesting Report of the late Visitor
of the State Prison. to the reports Of the
other officers, aaJ TO the views expressed
in nv former communications upon the
subject Of The management Of this ins,i.
tuition.
Early in 1853. appointments of Briga-
dier Generals were made. with q view Of
effecti0s al organization Of the military
strength OF the State; and at court mar.
tial which was held in the month of Oc-
to5er. 1852. rules and regulations were
adopted, which. it was believed. were at
least sufficient TO develop and secure that
strength. Commissions have been issued
in thousands; letters of instruction have
been sent to the proper officers; and eve-
~ effort has been made 10 carry the law
into eff ct; yet not one Brigade enumer-
alton has been perfected; and hesitate
not TO express the opinion that no organ.
ization can be effected. unless the General
Assembly gives to the proper authorities
the power to impose penalties for the
non performances of official and militia
duty.
Although our strength has increased
fonr-fold since 1881, we are drawing our
quota Of arms from the General Govern
ment, upon our strength Of that year.-
Many valusble suggestions are contained
in the reports of the Adjutant General,
which will be laid before you. The labor
Of this officer has bsen greatly increased,
and he should receive additional compsn-
! sation.
Many questions of vital interest to the
State. are presented, for your considera'
ton. in the report of the trustees of the
Wabash and Erie Canal. The most Of
these have been alluded TO in my former
message, to which your attention is in
vited.
Since the last meeting of the legisla-
ture, the Wabash and Erie Canal has been
completed to the city of Evansville; thus
forming the longest line of continuous ar.
tificial inland navigation on the globe
In the completion Of this great work we
may find. taking into consideration The
many embarrassing obstacl IS W hich have
been thrown i'm its way, causes for mutu'
al congratula:ion. 1t opens. for the ex-
tensive districts of fertile countrg lying
upon its borders. cheap means for the
transports ton Of heavy articles of export
and import; and BY affording the means
of an easy passage to northern market. i,
promotes. materially, the agricultural in,
terest Of the State. and imparts stimu-
lus to other branchesjof our home indus
try.
1t is an unpleasant duty to call Jour
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