American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1856-01-17

The Report Ofthe Board Of Trustees fur liSh
es n very iull anu satisfactory account OF the
past history and present condition Of the Be
n=vrlent Institutions located in Columbus
4 e lapse Of time has confirmed The wisdom
of the policy which suggested their eStabl' sh.
ment. Every year has widened the circle Of
their usefulness. AtIhe same TIME that the
humanity uf the ace has been eratI6vd, they
have been instruments, o cOnfrrring the great
est dressing upon the unfoT unaie class who
have been inmates of them. The Institutions
fnr tie Deaf ana Dumb and the Blind reach a
class Of ,hild en- for which our public schools
had not provided. The S ccess in impaItIng
moral and intellectual training has been equal
TO The highest expectations other most ardent
friends.
The prosperity of these Asylums has been
uninterrupted during the past two years -
They have been emln- ntly successful in fulfill.
ing the objects of their establishment. Owing.
however, to The rapid advance in The price Of
provisions, the appropriations made Tor their
support, have not been adequate 10 meet theft
expenses. To keep THEM in operation, the
Board of Trustees have been compelled to
cnnt act heavy debts. for the statement OF
v Inch refer Won 10 their report. These debts
are due principally 10 tiudesnen and oihcis
who have furnished provisions for The inmates
Of the institutions. They are, therefore, enti-
lied IN your early consideration, and as prompt
payment as is consistent with the interest Of
the Stnie
The Two Lunatic Asylums at Newburg and
Dayton have beei completed. and opened for
the admission OF patients within the past year
the former on IL 9Th of March. and The lat
ter on The list Of September. The cost Of e..
Tecting and furnishing these institutions has
greatly exceeded the amount appropriated
In the opinion ofthe Boar OF Trustee S the in
teresis Of the State required the c. mpletlon Of
the buildings, and TO DO this they have contTac-
ted heavy liza abilities.
All must approve the humane motives which
have multiplied institu ions OF this character
thtp,lgtodt the country. They are, ho&evef,
attended with great expense. and therefore
shonld not he increased beyond the clear de-
mands Of human Y and justice.
The Report ofthe State House Commission
ers will advise you Of tue W 'rk under their
charge during the past two years. II is to be
regretted that the means placed at the com
mahd Of the Commissioned by the late Legs
lature, were not sufficient tn have the Halls OF
thu Senate AMI House of Representatives ready
for occupation by the present General Assem-.
bly,. The stt1s So far appropriated for the
erection and completion Of the new State
House amount 10 S706.57
Every department Of the State Government
, is deeply interested IN the speedy completion
Of this huildrhg. The health and convenience
+ OF the General Assembly and Of the Judicial
. and Executive Officers, and Of the people do
ing business with them, rs also the safety ri
r the public records, mani that every proper
fort should he made to prepatt il { T occupa-
iion within the short ST practicable period.
Under u ese circumstances the Commission
, ers Eel. il 10 be their duty. even after the appro-
p~riations were exhausted, 10 continue opera
tIoms on the heavier portions Of the work -
Tia hahtIttlau thus ,nnnEVa1 hatnu nkiaAu
9 due 10 contractors and mechanics, will receive,
trust, ynur early consideration.
The affairs connected with the Penitentinry
have teen concluded during the pnst " years
with unusual care and, success. From ihe'He
ports Of the Directors and Warden it. will he
seen That the receipts Of the institution FROM
!. The labor Of convicts and otherwise have been
r more than adequate TO meet all It's EXPENSES.
Although the number Of convictions for The
last year is conside rahly less than Of The veal
,, previous, it is generally believed that the di
> menslons of the present building will not be
.. So ficient much longer Tor the accommodation
:, OF all the criminals Of The State.
A large proportion ofthOse who are convict
, ed Of crime in this State belong 10 that class OF
y persons who are usually d%enominnted 'juVeh-
: lie offenders the most Of whom, under suite
BILE management and care, might be thoroughly
reclaimed, and returned 10 society as useful
, ClllHtnS' lie tIeCliOH u u lOuso VI htluEC
and Correction, therefore, would be much pre-
, ferable in my judgment to any enlargement
OF the present establishment. or the six hun
, dret and six ~convictS now in the Peniientiary,
one hundred and thirty six are under The age
OF twenty one years. The youthful offender
should never be placed on an equality Of
: treatment with the confirmed criminal, OF com
PEELED to resume The career nf lie under the o.
dunn that almost nece sarily attaches TO q
: 'Peni!entihry convict
: called the attention Of the General Assem-.
. bly, on a former occasion to the dlsorganlzed
. condition of The militia. The present Constitu-
tlon prescribeS a different mode for The election
: Of general and field officers from that contain
=. ed IN The former, and repealed all law and
: paris OF laws that in any way conflicted with
its provisions. The terms Of the officers cho-
y sen under the former Constitution have nearl'
all expired, and there is 10 law through which
/, the vacancies can be supplied or the rqulre'
: menlS Of The present Constitution he carried
1 into effect. All elections that have taken
" place since the adopt on Of the present Con-
S~tituiion, having been held and conducted un
der he provisions Of the former in pursuance
OF the lawsthat were thus repealed, are, in the
-. opinion OF The Attorney gen raj, illegal and
VOID. III such be n correct lnlerpTetaii u Of The
= present Constitution there are no General or
= FIELD officers in The State, and the whole sys
: ten has been rendered almost entirely useless
: The public arms are IN danger OF being lost
They are scattered over The State, and many OF
them IN the hands of persons, who, according
:. to The opinion Of The Attorney General refer
- red to, are in no way connected with the mill
!. tia Lf The State.
. A well regulated militia system is almost es
+. %sential 10 the preservation Of all efficient mill
. tary spirit among The people. Standing armies
> in time Ol peace are viewed with great dlSlruSl
" in oil Republican Governments; and II rs upon
i an intelligent and well organized militia tina
" We must ..reStCur defence, TO q great extern!
even IN war.
In other Governments, the military force is
organized Tor the support OF tyranny, and the
mass OF people are neither trained nor allowed
y 10 possess Here the military force is or
ganlzed for the support of popular Govern
ment, and The right OF the people to bear arm:
is an express guaranty Of the Constitution. -
The protection Of the liberties Of the country
and The maintenance OF public order, are con-
h ided to the hands oil free and independent cit
=, liens Of the State.
We tcelve annually a large quantity of arm'
from the General Government, and with Sulta
be encouragement, tht re would be organized
u line Of uniform volunteer companies tina,
:. would inspire our young men with a laudable
spirit Of c~hivalry, and in the hour Of necessity
and peril, reflect honor on the State.
In closing The present communication 10 the
General Assembly, | may be allowed to adj
', vert, with some little feeling Of pride and
congratulations, to the high position which oul
State has acquire d, aud the brilliant future
tha, is still before us. The pubic debt. un
der the policy that has been recently pursued,
is rapidly diminishing. Our credit is unques
toned on either SIDE Of the Atlantic. There
! has nevtr been n period in The history of the