Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-01-12

Should yuu decline 10 act upon this subject,
would then +, commend that an adequate APP
preparation be made to the Western Pennsyl-
vania Hospital for the purpose of extending
its Accommodations for the care of the insane,
as distinct as may he practicable from the
other class Of patients and inmates. The
charter Of this Institution is liberal in its pro,
visions, and comprehensive in the objects liza.
bic to bc brought under its care embracing
the insane, as well as the sick, helpless and
iniirm.
In this connection | would commend to yonr
attention the PENNSYLVANIA Training School for
Idiots and Predetermined children The aid
of the Commonwealth has heretofore been eX-
tended to this institution. 1t is a noble chart
~, and appeals to the best feelings OF the
heart. 1t deserves to share the bounty Of the
State.
The House of Refuge in Philadelphia, and
the Western House Of Refuge near Pittsburg,
arc institutions of great excellence, having for
their object the retaining Of maynard and
crring youth-thc employment of the idle
the instruction of the ignorant-the reforma-
ton of the vicious and deprayed, and the re-
lief of the wretchcd. hey are schools, not
prisons-homes, not places of punishment I;
they are a refuge to the neglected and out
cast children and youth of our Commonwealth
The success of the past is a sure guarantee of
their future usefulness. They should receive
your aid and encouragement
The "Blind" and the Deaf and Dumb
Asylnms," in Philadelphia, invite our sym
patty, and ask to share the benefactions of
the Commonwealth. They should not be dis
appointed. The blind, in their darkness-the
dumb, in their silence-will cherish the gift,
and bless the generous donor.
Legislation, in relation to all questions Of
moral and social reform, should be carefully
and wisely considered and maturcd. On no
subject within the constitutional authority of
the Legislature, are the people so sensitive !;
and no one more deeply interests every class
and condition of society. Sumptuary laws, as
a general rule, are of doubtful expediency ;
and as Arrangements Of the liberty and priyil-
eyes of the citizen, can only be justified OH the
ground of necessity. Whilst this is admitted,
it cannot be denied that the evils resulting
from intemperance, create a necessity for rcgu-
lating and restraining by legislative acts, the
traffic and sale of Intoxicating liquors. To
what extent this traffic should be restrained
by positive law, must depend upon the will of
the people, determined by considerations Of
their own moral, physical and social welfare.
Whatever may be my own opinion, or that Of
the Legislature or the people, in reference to
the law of the last session ito restrain the
sale of intoxicating liquors. it must be admit
ted that o full return to the license system, in
operation prior to the passage of the present
law, is not demanded by enlightened public
sentiment, and would not promote the good
order or happiness of the community. That
the laws then in existence were imperfect, and
failed to check or control the evils of intern
p%erance, is a proposition too plain to be doubt
ed-that they need revision must also be con-
coded. In our large cities and towns the
evils of the system were more severely felt
The facility and cheapness with which licenses
were obtained, operated as q premium to vice
and immortality, and multiplied tipping houses
and places where intemperance, under the
authority Of the law, was not only permitted
but encouraged. My immediate predecessor,
in his last annual message to the Legislature,
in reference to the then license laws, says !:
$50 far as relates to the city of Philadelphia,
they are peculiarly prcjudicial to public morals,
and seems to have been constructed to promote
the convenience Of drinking far more than to
restrain it's evil consequence In this opin-
ion I fully concur. That a remedy was de-
manded, all will concede. Whether the law
of the last session was the proper remedy, it is
not my province now to determine. Enacted
by the representatives of the people, l gave
that act my official approval. Recognizing
the people as the source of all political power,
and their representatives as the immediate ex-
ponents of their will, upon you will deyolve
the responsibility Of further legislation, if any,
on this subject. mall its relations, economi-
cal, political, social and moral, the question is
important, and its proper determination in
wolves fearful responsibilities. 1t deserves,
and should receive your serious consideration
If action is had, may we not hope that it will
be such as will promote the virtue, morality,
and true interests OF our people and Common
wealth. Of .-.. tr
Legislation, 80 far as practicable, should be
general and uniform. Local and special legis-
lation should not be encouraged, when the de-
sired object can he obtained by general laws.
Such legislation is not only local and special
in its character, but frequently temporary
the act of one session being repealed by the
oct of the next, and perhaps replaced by one
still more Objectionable, which, in turn, soon
shares the fate of it's predecessor. 1t crowds
the statute book with useless and unnecessary
laws-violates private rights-creates confu-
sion and uncertainty-destroys uniformity of
practice and decision-prolongs the sessions of
the legislature, and increases the public expen-
ses. Our general laws regulating roads, high
ways and bridges, and providing for the sup
port and employment of the poor, constitute a
well diSested system for the accomplishment OF
those objects and yet, under the system of
local legislation heretofore practiced, we fire.
quently find ia different townships of the same
county, local laws regulating these subjects,
not only differing materially from the general
law, but from one another. Reform in this
regard is required, and to this l respectfully
ask your attention.