The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-01-10

has received and distributed about three
quarters of a million of public moneys, OF
acct unit Of swamp and wet lands. For tn
additional responsibilities and labor impose,
on him in the discharge Of these duties, TIT
Legislature should allow a proper compen
sation,
Before the next meeting OF the Legis!aiu
re, the present lease of the State Prison vii
exPirej aud the duty devolves ON you to de-
eide whether The present system of selling
out the crime Of the State to the highest bid
der, shall be continued or abandoned. The
poiicy.of making e. Idical saIeIfrI emanage'
ment and labor OF the criminals that the State
may have in its custody, is highly objection
able. Tue PenitentIary OF Indiana is as well
kept, in conformity with the law that gov.
ems 1t. as any state prison in the Union;
but the system is essentially wrong, and un
worthy of the sta e.
The State should bave the entire control the Prison
Its discipline, its labor. aud It's Internal reguatons
and as far it may be practicable aud expedent, $,
TEN Of rewards Tor good conduct should be Kept corr
stanty before the view OF each convict Do not max
The convict ave without hope. you expect To re.
form him; butiet him know thai the state regards him
even within the walls of prison. nn, in whose re-
formation and restoration to the rights of citizenship
she feels an interest
In determining the question of me future manage
ment othe state Prison the idea Of making
in Peeuniary way, should be autwei- he'd by higher
Consideration the duly OF adopting the best for
the reformst of the eonvicts within its walls.
The constitution that you have sworn 10
support, declares that the General Assembly
"shall provide houses OF refuge, for the COR
rection and reformation # juvenile offen-
ders." vi two hundred AID sixty seven
men in the state prison, thrty-six are under
twenty years OF age; and more than one.
half OF the whole number are under twenty
five years Of age. The youth Of sixteen is
found by the side Of the old offender, and
deprived Of all associates other than those
who are hardened in crime. All prisoners,
convicted Of the first offence. and all youth
full convicrs, should be placed in situations
where they would receive The kind advice OF
parents, u.rdians, or friends. By adopting
this pehcy, our prisons I'll soon become
houses of reformation, as well as places of
punishment.
| communicate, herewith, the list Of par
dons, fines and iorfeitures, for the last w.,
years, and suggest that they be Published
with this message; and also That you provide,
by law, fer the annual publication Of simil,r
lists.
Your attention is specially invited to the
interesting report OF the late Visitor to the
state prison, TO the reports of the other off.
GERS, and to the views expressed in my former
communications upon the subject of the
of this institution.
Early in 1853. appo ntments of Brigader
Generals were made, with the view of effect
ing an organization of the military strength
OF the State; and, at court u atrial which
was held IN the month of October, 1853,
rules and regulations were adopted, which, i,
was believed, were at least sufficient to de-
velop and secure that strength. Commits
sioas have been issued in thousands; letters
of instruction have been sent TO the officers;
and every effort has been made to carry the
law into effrcij yet not one trigade enumer-
alton has been perfected, and hesitate not
to express the opinion that no organization
can be perfected, unless the General Assem-
bly, gives 10 the proper authorities the power
to impose penalties for the NON performance
of official and militia duty.
Although our strength has increased fourrod since
1881, drawing our quota ofarms from the Gem
eral Governments, upon our strength OF that year.
Many valuable suggestions contained in the reports
Adutaat General, which will be laid before
The labor Of shis ocer has been greatly increased and
he should receive additional compensation
Many questions OF vital interest to the state pre-
sented consider tion In the report OF the trus
tees ofthe Wabash aud Erie Canal The most Of these
been allu ed TO in former messages TO which
your attention Is Invited Since the last citing of the
slaure, the Wabas and Erie anal has been csf
pleted the city Of EVANSVILLE thus forming the long
est line OF continuous a,t inland the
globe. In the complexion of this great work, may
find taking into consideration tne many embarrassn
obstacles which have be hrowH in IL. way causes for
mutual congratulation. topens Tor the extensive dis
trcts of fers count lying upon its bordersa chea
means for the transportation ofheavy Articles Of
and imports and, BY anording the OF easy pas
NOR her or Ter I'M ker nrom
eraly the agricultural interest OF the state and i'm.
parts stimulus to other branchss ofour home industry.
It is an un unpleasant duty to call your atten-
ton to the fact, that, in a few instances of
the existence Of spirit Of mob law and vio-
lence have appeared. Secret associations.
.usurping the prerogatives of law. have, by
means of disturbing the peace of families,
injurng property, and inhicting corporal
punishment on Individually undertaken to
regulate the morals of the communities in
which such lawiess combinations are permit
ted to exist. Civil officers, and peaceful
citizens, fearful Of mourning the dangerous
hostility Of members Of these secret assoc
iations, allow their lawless acts to pass with.
out punishment, and almost without public
censure. The inevitable tendency OF these
secret association is to corrupt the morals
of the community, and to divest men of their
respect for law and order.
In reference to this subject, il seems that
some additional legislation is required, in
order to insure prompt and efficient action
on the part Of the civil authorities. Tin
cases unlawful assembloges, riots, ARRAYS,
SC, the circuit courts were invested with
concurrent jurisdiction with the courts OF
common pleas, and informants were thus
shielded nv Grand Juries the change wOuld
prehaps, afford to society some additional
protection against the violence Of lawless
men.
No state of facts can ever arise, in a gov
ernme Mt like ours, that Shot Id for a momei