The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-01-16

49,
been gratiied, they have been instru
ments of copferring the greatest bless
ing upon the unfortunate class who havl
been inmates of them. The Institution
for the Deaf and Dnmbsand the Bin,
reach a class of children for which on
public schools had not provided. Tht
success in imparting moral and intel
l~ectual training has been equal to the
highest expectations of their most arden.
friends,
The prosperity of these Asylums ha.
been uninterrupted during the last two
years. They have been cminently sue
~ccsstul in fulfilling the objects of then
establishment. Owing, however t.
the rapid advance in the price of provi
sions, the appropriations made for their
support have not been adequate to meet
their expenses. To keep them in ope-
ration, the Board of Trustees have been
compelled to contract heavy debts, fol
the statement of which l refer you Il
their report. These debts are due prin,
cipally to tradesmen and others who
have furnished provisions for the in.
mates of these institutions. They are,
therefore, entitled to your early eonsid-
GRAFTON, aud as prompt payment as is
consistent with the interests of the
State.
The two Luatic Asylums at Newburg
and Dayton have been completed, and
opened for the admission of patients
within the last year,-the former on
the 5th of March, and the latter on the
LIST September. The cost of erecting
and furnishing these institutions bias
greatly exceeded the amount appropri-
ated. In tho opinion of the Board of
Trustees the interests of the State re-
CURED 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 o be
increased beyond the clear demands of
humanity and justice.
The Report of the State House Com
m~issioners will advise you of the pro-
gross or the work under their charge
the past two years. It is to be
regretted that the means placed at the
of the Commissioners by the
late Legislature were not sufficient to
have the Halls of the Senate and house
of Representatives ready for occupation
by the present General Assembly. The
so far appropriated for the erection
and completion of the New State House
amount to 70t,575.
Every department of the State Co.
vernmept is deeply interested in the
completion of this building
The health and convenience of the Gen
cFal Assembly, and the Judicial and
Officers, and of the people
doing business with them, and also the
of the public records, demand
that 7FerE proper effort should be made
to prepare it for Occupation within the
practicable period.
Under these circumstances, the Com
felt it to be their duty, even
after the appropriations we're exhausted,
to continue operations on the heavier
portions of the work. The Liabilities
incurred, being chiefly due to con-
and mechanics, will receive, l
trust, your early consideration.
The affairs connected with the Peni-
have been conducted during
the past two years with unusual care
and success. From the Reports of the
Dir ectors and Warden it will be seen
that the receipts of the Institution from
the labor of eonvicts and otherwise have
been more than adequate to meet all its
expenses.
Although the number of convictions
FOR the last year is considerable less
than that of the year previous, it is gen.
orally believed that the dimensions of
.he present building will not be suff-
,ienr much longer for the accommoda-
ion of all the criminals of the State.
A large proportion of those who are
Convicted CT crime in this State, belong
o that class of persons who are usually
Juvenile offenders" the
most of whom, under suitable manage
lent and care, might be thoroughly re-
and returned to society as use
citizens. The erection of a House
# Refuge aud Correction, therefore,
would be much preferable, in my judy
rent to any enlargement of the present
establishment. OF the six hundred aud
TX couviets now in the Penitentiary,
me hundred and t~hirty-six are under
he age of twenty-oue years. The
-outhful offender should never be placed
IN an equality of treatment with the
criminal, or compelled to re-
ume the career of life under the odium
hat almost necessarily attaches to a
Peuiteutiary convict"
l called the attention of the General
Assembly on a former occasion to the
condition of the militia of
he State. The present Constitution
reseribes a different mode for the cleo
ion of general and field officers from
hat contained in the former, and re-
called all laws and parts of laws that in
my way conAieted with its provisions.
The terms of the officers chosen under
he former Constitution have nearly all
xpired, and there is no law through
Thich the vacancies can be supplied or
he requirements of the present Consti-
ution be carried into effect. All cleo
ions that have taken place since the
doption of the present Constitution,
iaying been held and conducted under
he provisions of the former, and in
of the laws hat were thus
epealed, are, in the opinion of the At
orney General, Illegal and void. If
UGH be a correct Interpretation of the
Constitution, there are no Gep
raj or field officers in the State, aud
be whole system has been rendered az
entirely useless.
The public arms are in danger of be-
Ig lost. they are scattered over the
tate, and many of them in the hands
{ persons, who, according to the opinion