Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-01-17

From the Reports Of che Directors and
Wurden II will &c been thot the receipts Of
the restitution from the labor of couvicrs
and otherwise have been more Than adequate
to meet all its expenses. |t|.
Although the number OF convictions for
the last yenr il considerably less THAI that
Of the year previous, 1t is generally believed
that the dimensions of the present building
will not be sufficient much longer for the
accommodation of all the criminals OF the
State.
A larger portion OF those who are con-
victed of crime in this State, belong to that
class Of persons who are usually denomino-
ted 'Juvenile offenders" the mos, OF whom
under suitable manage ment and care, might
be thoroughly reclaimed, and returned to
society as useu citizens. The erection o.
House Of Refuge and Correction, there
fore, would be much preferable in my judg-
Gent to tn, present establishment. OF the
SIX hundred and six convlcts now in the
PeDitentiary, one hundred and thirty -six are
under the age Of lwenty-one years. The
youthful offender should never be placed on
an equality of treatment with the confirmed
criminal, or compelled to resume the ca
reer Of life rnder the odnm that almost
necessarily attaches to a "Psnitentiary con
yict."
| | called the attention Of the General
Assembly on q former occasion to the
disorganized condition of the militia OF the
State. The present Constitution prescrbes
a different IN Ite for the election of general Is
Ill 81 ia, .ba
former, an1 repealed all laws and parts OF
laws that in any way conficted with its
provisions. The terms of the officers cho-
son under the former Constitution have
nearly all expired, and there is no law
through which the vacancies can be sup
| piled or the requirements Of the present Con-
| s,itution be carried into effect. All cleo
tons that have :aken place since ths adop-
ton Of the present Constitution, having
been held and conducted under the provi-
sions of the former, and pursuance of the
laws that were thus repealed, are, in the
opinion of the Attorney General, illegal and
void If such be q correct Interpretation
Of the present Constitution. there are no
General or Field officers in the State, and
the whole system has been rendered almost
entirely useless.
The public arms are in danger Of being
lost. They are scattered ever the State,
and many Of them in tie hands of persons.
who, according to the opinion Of the Attor-
ney General referred to, are in no way con-
nected with the militia of the State.
A well regulated militia system is almost
essential to the preservation of an efficient
military spirit among the people. Standing
armies in time of peace are viewed with
great datrust in ali Republican Govern.
ments, and it is upon an intelligent ond
well organized militia that we must
rest our defence, to great extent even IN
war.
In other Governments, the MILITARY force
is organized for tho support of tyranny, and
the mass of people are neither trained nor
allowed to psssess arms. Here the military
lorce is organized for the support of popu.
lar Government, and the right OF the peo.
pie to bear arms is an express guaranty of
tho Constitution. The protection of the
liberties Of the country and the maintenance
of public order, are confdcd to the hands
of the free and Independent; citizens Of the
State.
We receive annually large quantity of
arms from the General Government, md
with suitable encouragement, there would
be organized a line of uniformed volunteer
companies that would inspire our young
men with a laudabe spirit of chivalry, and
in the hour of necessity and peril, reflect
honor on the State.
In closing the present cemmun ication to
the Gererai Assembly, may be allowed
to advert, with some little feeling Of pride
and congrntulaton, to the high position
which our State has acquired, and the bril-
liant future that is still before MS. The
public debt, under the policy that has been
recently pursued, is rapidly diminishing.
Our credit is unquestioned on either side o f
the Atlantic. There has never been
period in The history of the State when i'll
dusiry and enterprise were more adequately
and literally rewarded. .
The geographical position Of Ohio, being
encircled by an inland Sea and River,
which bear upon their bosom a commerce
sufficient to enrich an empire, is not sur
passed by that of any State in the Union.
She has six hundred niles of nuvigsble riv-
ers, and eight hundred miles ot canals;
twenty-six hundred OF completed railroad,
and more than that number of miles projected
and in course OF construction. These ma.
tural Gnd artificial channels OF commerce
form the great prteries OF communication
between the Atlantic States and the rapid
ly growing West The soil and climate
admit of as great an extent OF variety of,
production I'd any similar area on the face
o.: the globe. Her supply OF the most use
ful minersls is inexhaur ti5le, and she has
all the facilities to render her one of the /
first manufacturing States oi the Union. -
She contains II population, that, under
bread uud enlightened. policy, has increased,
since the commencement OF the century,
from forty five thousand to at least two aad
Her Benevolent Institutions are monu-
ments OF the enlightened humanity of her
people, aud her educational system which
is as Tree and equal as the blessings of |
Heaven, Is ample Tor the solid instruction of
all her youth.