The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-03-30

of his injuries.
SUDDEN DEATH OF AN OLD CITIZEN
We regret to learn that Mr. CHRISTOPHER p DEAN
an old and respectable citizen, expired very sud
denly of apoplexy, last evening, about half-past
o'clock. Mr. Dean was In the enjoyment of excel
lent health a few hours before his death. He
leaves a large number of relatives and friends to
mourn his loss.
Cry CoUNoL.-A called meeting of the
City Council was held at the Chamberla,ns office,
Yesterday afternoon at O'Clock, Messrs Myers,
| Anderson, Butler, Scott, Snead, Saunders. Rich
ards, Grant, Talbot, Sheppard, Hill, Haskins,
McCance, and Fry, being present.
Minutes The minutes ofthe last meeting were
read and approved.
| Work Horse Mr.. Anderson, from the Commit.
tee to whom was referred the subject OF work
house, presented the following report:
| The committee charged with the duty OF enqring
into the expediency of establishing H0r6 HoHSt
for the city of Richmond, ask leave, Respectfully 10
| report
That the city now supports Poor House at an
annual expense of some $4,000 the inmates OF
which are for the most part vagrants. MANY VI
them are able TO work, but no adequate provision
has been mad to secure the proper performances Of
labor We have, it is true, & most lnteii!seh',
faithful, and efficient manager. who Is also supe
| rin,endent of one of the city Cemeteries, bur his
dutes too multitarious 70 permit hii.i u over
| see the inmates, and keep them at worS:
awe have too city jail, in which prisoners are
| unmarried by the Commonwealth, at, IL is believed,
| Something like similar annual expenditure Ia
both these establishments are cohhned large num.
bers Of worthless Migrants supported III adieneSs at
Sha nuhic e,krepse--thus Offering premium to va
gancv and attracting hilher the worthless and lazy
| of other cities where better provision has been
| made for the punishment OF vice.
nYour committee are OF opinion that q simple
| and very economical arrangement may be made,
embracing such features OF the Work House sys-
tenn as are adapted to the circumstances of the
case by which both these institutions may be made
lar more useful, than as at present organic cd.
They would propose that the city apply to the next
Legislature to pass law authorizing the present
jdl 20 be converted into jail and work house, and
defining offences for which offenders may be CON-
Iii ned in the same; liking the terms OF confinement
&C. etc, and authorizing the city authorities to
cause the male convicts 10 be daily taken from the
Jail and workhouse under charge of overseers, and
kept at hard labor upon the streets and the city
ouarries, at such other works as the City Coun-
ell may deem expedient further authorisng the
CITY Council TO cause such additions to be made to
the jail building, if any be necessary, as will
commodste all the prisoners, Z male and female,
and TO make such provision for the constant en-
ployment of the females at hard labor within doors
land n bad weather of the males) the Council
may ordan. ---
"Your committee further recommend that the
system shall embrace provision for the employ
meut constantly. at hard labor of all Migrants in
the Poor House who may be daily reported by the
Physician thereof as able to work,
'tYour committee believe that the operation of
wise legislation on this subject, If vigorously car
red out by the City Council and vgilant and faith
full officers will be- In the course of time, to trans
Ter from your Poor House the largest class Of Its
inmates to the Work House, where they ought to
be- and that then the Poor House will be elevated
into House OF Refuge for the unfortunate but viz
tuous poor Of your city, who are now deferred from
seeking refuge within is walls by the VIGOROUSLY
degraded character OF its inmates.
III is believed that the General Assembly would
grant the proper law without objection, inasmuch
as it would impose no additional burthep upon the
State treasury On the contrary it Is fair to pre-
sumo that the introduction of the hard labor sys.
tenn will soon very much reduce the number of
prisoners already supported at the expense of the
Commonwealth. Ii ls proposed that any additions
al sccommod atoms In order to adapt the establish
ment to the Work House feature, well as the ado
dionaI supervision shall be provided and sustained
at the expense OF the city the greater part of which
expense 1t is believed will be returned to the city
10 the form of convict labor upon her improves
menta. Your committee do not deem it expedient
to erect large workshops, nor to employ the pris-
oners in mechanical pursuits. They believe such
a system as punishmenr, would be less salutary
than the common labor as herein before proposed
whilst they regard altogether ineXpedient Ia view
of the very heavy tax 1t would certainly entail upon
our people for all time. But still more would they
deprecate this latter system for ts deleterious in
auence upon the mechanical interests of our city
and State. Upon this view the committee would
GLADLY extend their remarks. but the limits of this
report forbid it, and they believe is unnecessary
s.Your committee believe that so far as that por.
ton of the class In question Is concerned who have
arrived at the age of men and women, the chief
protection demanded by society Is their restraint
TIL ere doubtless are exceptions but moral reform
aud return TO life OF sobriety, industry and hons
esty ia believed TO be rare with such. 1t is
believed that this be attained
10 the mode proposed, at the least expense (proba
bly no greater than that now borne by the city un-
der faulty SYSTEM and that the punishments pro-
posed to be authorised by law, such as hard labor
solitary confinement in some cases, and living on
bread and water will exert the most salutary nilu
ence upon others if such depraved persons at the
age we speak of indeed often susceptible of any
such influence
xentive of vsgrancy and vice generally in city,
has not yet been alluded to In this report. And al
though it may not be strictly within then province,
vcur committee regard it intimately connected
with this vital subject that they cannot forbear
farsnce to it here-they sllude to the Of
the young this city would now make the neces-
sary provision, by enlargng the capacities of those
noble Institutions, her Female and Male Orphan Asy-
lums to receive and educate every destitute boy
and girl among who can doubt that In Jew years
ysPy different slate of things would exist at your
MAYORS Court Let the idle, drunken parents who
have no occupsGion and no means OF support-who
daily send their children into your streets to beg if
not TO STEAL the means of sa.iating their own evil
eppetites for lquor-let such be committed to the
Work House, and let their children be taken from
them and placed in these schools before they are
ruined by the evil influences surrounding them at
home Rescue them thus early from the hsunts of
vice. place the bible In their hands, and teach them
ia hat hook of books to learn their duty to their
neg hbor and to their God-make provision for their
Instruction in useful trade and you will thus
save many an Inmate from your iails, warehouses
aod penitentiaTy and raise up viTtuous and useful
citizens TO love and defend their native city and
state. Your committee would most earnestly 70.
commend that hereafter minor bs allowed to be
an inmate of the Poor House, satisfied that 1t but
confirms them in bad principles and habits 1t would
only be to visit your Poor House to satisfy
any citizen of this
"In the brief period (ttle more than menthl
which has elapsed since the appointment Of the com
nittee they have been unable to learn much Of the
sgst bich have been adopted in other cities.-
They have learned much OF the practical wants OF
the city la reference to Work Houss from ellis
cient Mayor who, with the exparienced Superiu.
tsndent Of the State Penite ntary and the inteli-
gent Manager Of the Poor House, they feel author
zed TO say, win give valuable aid In maturing sys.
TEN.
in conclusion, your committee are TALL of them)
convinced that the subject II Of vital intersat to
the city. whether sewea In reference to the moral
Improvement and well being OF class Of our popu.
aton 70 the public order and individual interest.
And being fully persuaded that they have given an
outline Of system which will, IL properly carried
out, meet the exigoncies Of thu case, without In
their opinion. incu1rins any material additional OK
they ask the Council to grant Instructions to
bring - sn ordinsnss 20 carry into effect the prins
pies OF this report.