Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-01-23

However numerous our lines OF Rail-
way, even were they to penetrate every
county in our State, we could never dis
Iponse with this great artery Of commerce.
Il washes the borders Of six sovereign
States, with population Of near ten mil
lions; and bears upon It's bosom the fruits Of
their soil, the productions Of their manu-
factories, and the coal and minerals pro-
dueed from their mountains From reli-
able sources, It is estimated that tic pro-
ducts annually transported upon this great
highway Of commerce, is not less than a
hundred millions Of dollars. The most
strict coustructionist could scarcely raise
q doubt Of the constituIlonality Of appro-
priations by the General Government for
the improvement Of the navigation Of the
Ohio river; and earnestly recommend
you to call the attention Of Congress, thro'
your representatives, to the pressing ncces.
sity Of this important work.
Nothing, during my connection with The
government Of the State, has occasioncd
so much embarrassment in the discharge
Of my official duties, as the neglect Of the
last Legislature to make the necessary ap-
preparation for the support OF the State
Prison, and to appoint the directors for rs
management, as required by law This
neglect imposed on me the alternative, ei.
ther to appoint the directors myself, or to
convene the Legislature for that purpose,
at great expense to the State, and under
circumstances in which I could sec no
grounds Of assurance that tho members
would agree upon selection. In this
emergency assumed the responsibility Of
making tho necessary appointments and
selected as such directors, Mcssrs. Grafton
F. Cookery, of yigo, George +. savitz,
Of Clarke, and Samuel i. Owen Of Floyd
county.
The contract with the lessee Of the pris-
on, expired on the 18th Of June, 1867
On the next day, portion OF tho prison.
crs, having become ecited under the cihilam-
matory appeals Of o newspaper circulated
among them rose IN resistance against the
authorities and fred the Hospital. Thro'
the promptness and efficiency Of the fro
companies Of Jacksonville, and those Of
our sister city, Louisville, the FIRE was cx-
tinguishcd before itcauscd much loss, and
the mutinous conduct Of the prisoners
was promptly checked. The propricty Of
rendering the fire companies some suitable
testimonial Of thoir effective and disinler-
cstod services, Is respectfully suggested.
Tho Report Of the directors and officers
Of the Prison exhibits the workings Of tllc
system under the control Of the State, FOR
the first six months. During this period
Il has more than realized our expectations
In economy Of management and IN the
department Of the prisoners, In order and
cleanliness; in all Of which there 10 mani
fest improvement. Il is proper 70 say,
that whatever defects heretofore existed
in these respects, were the faults Of thc
law, and not Of the contractor.
Although Il is not expected that tho Pris-
on can be made, TO any considerable extent
source Of revenue, Il Is already apparent
that, even in this respect. with proper man.
agement, itSnet income VIII DO larger than
any amount which the State could realize
under the contract system.
The object Of all prison discipline sho'd
be, not merely to punish the offender for
his mIsdemeanor, and restrain him from
tho further commission Of crime, but, by
suitable reformatory means, BY virtuous
example and crislian counsel, to prepare
him for are-cntrancc into the society Of
his fellows. Should the labon Of the
prisoners DO productive OF an income
beyond the expense Of their imprlaon-
ment, portion.of such net proceeds might
with proprIcty bo devoted to tho support
OF their families; or distributed among
those who, on leaving the walls OF tho
prison, had, by thelrgood conduct render
cd themselves worthy Of such favor.
Under no clrcumst. aces should the
State again surrender her control Of this
institution (. nor revive a policy which
meets the condemnation OF tho civilized
world. As far as possible, the conyiclz
should bo kept within tho walls OF the
prison, and debarTed from Intercourse with
others. The effect Of the intermingling
Of hardened criminals with those not yet
inductcd into crime, Is highly pcrnicioas,
and the practicc..should berigidly discoun-
tcnanced.
The report OF the directors and officers
discloscs the fact, that moro than ono-third
Of tho present inmates Of the Prison wo'd
be proper subjects for the discipline of the
contemplated House Of Refuge. | CON-
mend to your special consideration this
valuable document, which exhibits, fully,
the details OF our system OF prison dis
ciplinc. No appointment Of Moral In-
structor has been made. This service has
been performed by tho Rev. Leroy Wood,
tho former chaplain. The list ofTpardons,
and rcmissions Of fncs and forfei.urcs, Is
herewith communicated.
Our Benevolent Institutions most dcscr-
vedIy command tho respect and confidence
Of the people. Their several reports win
present you with information, in detail
as to their expenditures. progress aud
management They arc entitled to much
Of your considerations. While our peo-
pie look with pride to these monuments
Of their liberalitics, they expect from you,
their servants. the utmost economy as to
thcr management.
Negotiations have not been concluded
with the President Of Liberia, for.the pur-
chase Of land for our colored population