The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1856-07-19

The Constitution oonters upon the
Governor Of the S,a'c, the power to
gran, reprieves aud pardon AMI commute
punlShnents after conviction for ohen-
ces agains, the laws. la large pro-
portion Of cases the friends OF persons
convicted endeavor to procure the exer-
else OF this power, and as few If any of
the judges preserve minutes OF the tes,l-
mony taken on the trial Of criminal ca
ses, these efforts are, for the mos, part,
based upon erpdrte statements, made
without the sanction Of an oath, and OBJ
tanned without notice to the prosecuting
attorney, or other persons representing
tho Government. II is frequently alleg-
ed that there was error in the trial, that
the Judge mis,ook the law; that there was
a mistake Of fact by the jury; that there
is newly discovered evidence show ing the
sentence to be unjust; or that the case al.
though within the letter Of the law was
not within tho spirit OF ii.
The interests of society require that
this great power should be exercised with
humanity lut at the same time with the
greatest discrimination and caution.-
Justice to the officer who is compelled to
Investigate each case presented TO him
as well as the parties more Immediately
interested, requires that every fact pro-
ved upon the trial should be accessible
TO him, 10 the condemned and TO the pros.
ccutors.
therefore recommend that the JUDGE
Of the several district courts he required
TO reduce the evidence given in NIL crimi.
nal cases TO writing, 10 be preserved as a
permanent record in the County, where
the trial was held:-and tina, before any
application shall be made to the Cover.
nor for pardon, . notice OF the time and
place, when and where the application
will be presented, shall be SC rved upon
the prosecuting attorney Of the county
where the offence was committed.
II is TO be regretted that the joint reso-
lutions passed by the House Of Repre-.
senta,ives a, each Of its two last sessions,
authorizing revision by board OF COM
missioners, Of the laws in relation 10
schools and school lands failed to receive
the approval Of the Senate. No one
who gives the subject moments consid-
GRAFTON can doub, the necessity for q
thorough revision OF the whole subject
With large and constantly increasing
school fund, our school system is without
unity and efficiency, and is, in my con.
viction, discrediiable to the State. I,
reaches 50 many interests, II runs into 50
many details, and il is so important in its
influences, that il SCENE 10 E,e impossible
for the General Assembly to perfect the
necessary amendments and reduce them
TO harmonious system in the limited pc.
riod Of fifty days, and | therefore recon-
mend that three competent persons be Sc.
lected TO revise all the laws on the SUBJ
ject and submit their revision 10 the mex!
General Assembly. Should you, how.
ever, net deem this advisable, then
submit tho, ], is expedient at once TO di
vest the Superintendent Of Public Ins,ruc-
ton Of all control over and responsibility
for the school money and school lands -
When his office was created it was new.
er contemplated that the Superintendent,
should be burdsned with the custody of
public monies, with the sale oil public
lands, and with the revision of the acts OF
eighty School Fund Commissioners. II
was designed that he should have charge
OF the Instruction Of the State and not OF
the money OF the State. II was Intended
that he should keep alive the ln,eres, in
the subject Of education, that he should
hold teachers institutes in the several
coun.ics,-.hat he should determine the
text books to be used in tho public schools
and that he should settle all appeals
growing out OF the management of the
numerous school districts. The kcgt,.
mate duties Of Superintendent OF Pub.
Inc instruction are sufficiently oneIous TO
engage the attention Of one man.
The subjec, Of tho Des Moines River
improvement is entitled TO more eonslde.
ration than it has hi,hertoo reserved.
A contract was made between the
agents Of the State and company OF
gentlemen for the prosecution OF the work
by which the navigation Of the river was
to be completed in the year 1853. and
for which the company were to receive
Des Moines River lands at $I % per
acre. |, is reported that this contract has
been materially changed during the las,
year, bul by wha. authority or IN wha,
manner am not informed. Although
the gran, TO the State has never been fl
nally adjusted by the Department a,
Washington, ye, certificates have been
issued TO the company by the State olli-
GERS connected with the improvement, TO
the effect tha, the company is entitled TO
about 300 900 acres OF land along the
river, which lands the company now pro.
pose 10 sell. am informed tina, many
OF the tracts described in these cer,ti.
Gates, are claimed by the State as school
lands, and that many others have beeu
already sold and patented by the Gene
raj Governmc III to actual residents
thereon. !. will b. seen that the issu-
ance of these certificates will entail gre at
trouble and perhaps litigation upon indi-
vlduals and upon the State, and no more
should be allowed TO issue until the grant
IS finally adjusted by the Secretary OF the
Interior, and the title vested IN the State.
Ihave received seventeen hundred and
ninety muskcts, fifty Colts Reyolvers and