The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1856-01-17

inion of the Board of Trustees the inter.
ests OF the State required the completion
of the buildings, and to do this they have
contracted heavy liabilities.
All must approve the humane motives
which have multiplied institutions of this
character throughout our country. They
are, however. attended with great expense,
and therefore should not be increased be-
yond the clear demands of humanity and
Justice.
The Report of the State House Com
missioners will advise you of the progress
of the work under their charge during the
past two years. 1t Is to be, regretted that
tho means PLACED at the1atc Legislature,
were not sufficient to have the Halls of the
I Senate and House of Representatives ready
for occupation by the present General AS.
setnbiy. The SUMS so far appropriated
tor the eicction and complexion of tue new
State House amount to S. 06,575
Eve.y department of tn, State Govern
ment is ,ieepIy interested i'll the speedy
com plelion Of this building. The health
and convenience OF General Assembly and
of the Judicial and Executive Officers,
and of the people doing business with
them. rs also the safety of the public re-
cords. deluand that every proper effort
should he made to prepare 1t for occup-
alton within the shortest practicable per-
iod +. g5 f. I9oaaaG -
Under these circumstances the Com
inissioners felt it to be their duty, even
after the appropriations were exhausted,
to continue operations on the heavier por-
tions of the work. The liabilities thus
incurred, being chiefly due to contractors
and mechanics, will receive, L trust, youl
early consideration. o
The affairs connected with the Peniten
tiary have been conducted during the past
two years with unusGal care and success.
From the Reports of the Directors and
Warden it will be seen that the receipts
of the institution from the labor of con-
victs and otherwise, have been more than
adequate to meet all its expenses.
Although the number of convictions
for the last year is considerably less than
that of the year previous, 1t is generally
believed that the dimensions of the pres
ent building will not be sufficient much
longer for the accommodation of al the
criminals OF the State.
A large proportion of those who are
convicted of crime in this State, belong
to that class of persons who arc usually
denominated Juvenile offenders, most OF
whom, under suitable Management and care,
might be thoroughly reclaimed, and re-
turned to society as useful citizens. The
erection of House of Refuge and Correc-
ton, therefore, would be much preferable
in my judgement of the present establish
ment. OF the six hundred and six convicts
now IN the Penitentiary, one hundred and
thlry six are under the age of twenty-one
yeals. The youthful offender should
never be placed on an equality of treatment
with the confirmed criminal, or compelled
to resume the career of life under the od-
ium that almost necessarily attaches te q
"Penitentiary convict"
| called the attention OF the General
Assembly. on d former occasion, to the
disorganizcd condition of the militia ot
the State. The prerent constitution pre-
scribes different mode for the election oi
general and field officers from that contain
ed in the former, and repealed all laws and
parts of laws that in any way conHictcJ
with its provisions. The terms of the
officers chosen under the former constitiou
have nearly cll expired, and there is nc
law through which the vacancies can be
supplied, OF the requirements OF the pre-
sent constitution be carried into effect
All elections that have taken place since
the adoption OF the present consttu
ton, having been held and conducted un
der the provisions OF the former, and il
pursuance of the laws that were thus re
pealed, are, in the opinion of the Attorney
General, illegal and void. If such be ;
correct Interpretation of the present cons
tltution, there a.e no general nor field off
GERS in the State, and the whole system
has been rendered almost entirely use
less.
The public arms are in danger of being
lost. They are scattered over the State
and many of them in the hands of per
sons. who, according to the opinion o
the Attorney General referred to, are il
no way connected with the militia of th
State. f,-
a wellregulated militia system is al
most essential to the preservation of al
efficient military spirit among the people
Standing armies in time of peace are view
ed with great distrust i'll all republican
governments, and it is upon an iGteliisen
and well organized militia that We mus
rest our defense, to great extent, even il
war.
In other governments the military fore
, is organized for the support of tyranny
and the mass Of people are neither traine
: nor allowed to possess arms. Here tn
: military force is organized for the supper
Of popular government, and the right 9
: people to bear arms is an express guaran
tee OF the constitution. The protection G
, the liberties of the county and the main
, lenance OF public order are conided to tn
hands of the free and independent citizen
S of the State. -s'. D. .a--
We receive annually large quantit
: of arms from the General Government
5 and. with suitable encouragement, thel
e would be organized line of uniorme
y volunteer companies that would inspir
= our young men with ludable spirit c
/ chiralry, and in the hour of necessity an
e peril reflect honor on the State
!, In closing the present communicate
g to the General Assembly, l may be allow
a. ed to advart with Snrna littla fa,l;,r =