M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-01-17

health and CONVENIENCE OF the Gener
al Assembly and OF the Judicial ant
Executive Officers, and of the peopl,
doing bnissiness with them as also tn,
safety Of the public records, demant
that every proper effort should be made
to prepare for occuption within tht
shortest practicable period. Unde
these circumstances the Commissio on
felt 1t to be their duty even after the ap'
FpFepriations were exhausted, to contin
ue operations on the heavier portions
Of the work. the liabilities thus incur,
red being CHIEFLY due to contractor.
and mechanics, will receive, trusI
your early consideration,
The affairs connected with the Pen.
ltenIiary have been conducted during
the past two years with unusual care
aud success, From the Reports OF the
Directors and Warden it will seen that
the receips oil the institution from the
labor OF oonyicis and otherwise have
been more than adequate to meet all its
expense.
Although the number oil convictions
Tor the last year is considerably less
than that OF the year previous, it is
generally believed that the dimensions
OF the present building will not he sui
ticlent much longer accommodation OF
all the crimi nails Of the State. A large
proportion ofthose who are convicted
of crime in this State, belong to that
class oil persons who are usually demo.
minated "juvenile offenders" the most
of whom, under suitable management
and care, might be thoroughly reclaim
ed, and returned to society as useful
citizens, The erection of the House
OF Refuge and Correction, would be
much preferable il my judgement to
any enlargement of the preseut estab.
ishment, OF the six huadred and SIX
convicts now in the PenitenIary, one
hundred and thirty.six are under the
age oil twenty>one years. The youth
lu offender should never be placed ON
an equality OF oftreatment with the con-
iirmed crimina, or compelled to resume
the career ofl life under the odium that
almost necessarily attaches to 'Pen.
itentiary convict. called the a!Ien.
tion Of the General Assembly on a
lormor occasion to the disorganized
condition 1.-THE militia of the State
The present constitution prescribes
difteren. mode Tor the election OF gener.
al and field officers from that contain
ed in the formor, and repealed all laws
and parts OF laws that in any way con-
Aicted with its provisions. The terms
Of the officers chosen under the formor
constitution have nearly all axpired,
and there is no law through which the
vacacies can be supplied Or the require.
ments Of the present constitution be car.
ried into effect. All elections that have
taken place since the adoption OF the
present constitution, having been held
aud conducted unter the provisions ol
the Iormor, and IN Pursuance Of the
laws that were thus repealed, are, ia
the opinion OF the Attorney General,
illegal and void. It such be the cor.
rect Interpretation Of the present Const.
tuition, there are no general or field Of
iicerS IN the State, and the whole sys.
tenn has been rendered almost entirely
useless. The public arms are in dan
ger OF being lost. They are scattered
over the state, and many OF them in
the hands Of persons, who, according
to the opinion ofthe Attorney General
reierted to, are in no way connected
with the militia of the State.
A well regulated militia system is al
most essential to the preservation of
an efficient military spin! among the
people Standing armies in time OF peacs
are viewed with great distrust III all
Republican Governments, and it is up
on an intelligent and well orgrnized
militia that we must rest our defence.
to great extent, even in war.
In other Governments. the military
force is organized for the support OF
tyrany, and the mass Of people are nei'
:her trained or allowed to possess arms.
Here the military force 10 organized
Tor the supper! Of popular Government.
and the right of the people to bear arms
is an express guanty Of the Constitu.
tuition. The protection of the liberties
Of the country the main;aiuance OF the
public uider, GIs. conlied to the hands
Of the flee and inIe pendent citizens OF
the United States,
We receive annually large quantity
Of arms from the General Government,
and with suitable encourage there
would be organized liae Of uniformed
volunteer companies that would inspire
OuI young meu with a Laudab'e spirit
of chivairy, end in the hour OF necessa'
ry and peril, reflect honor on the State.
In closing the present communication
to the General Assembly, | may be al
10 we'd to advert, with some little feel.
lug Of pride and cougra !ulation, TO the
high position wiHeh our stale has &c
quIIed, and the brillian future that is
still beiore US. The public debt, under
the policy that has been recently pur
sued, is rapidly diminishing Our credit
is unquestioneG on either side oI the At