Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-01-19

highest, interests and most sacred duties Of
States as wellas Of individuals.
10 secure domestic order, essential to
peace, thoroughly organized system of
police is necessary; and as part Of this
syssem of police. Il disciplined military
force is often indispensable. / do NOT
doubt that you will cheerfully sanction
such amendments as will best subserye
the general purpose TO be fulfilled. a
Some progress has been made. under n
resolution of the last General Assembly,
in the collection and sale of public arms
unfit for service, of which detailed state
ment will soon be submitted to you.
THE PENITENTIARY, REFORM SCHOOL, ETC.
! The remarkable immunity from disease
Of the convicts; their regular instruction
in useful knowledge and in moral and re-
lligious duties; their general good conduct
and steady industry, evince the Judgment
and fidelity with which its concerns are
administered. The recent loss sustained
by fire was serious injury to the Insti-
tuition, and accounts in part for the slight
excess which appears in its expenditures
over its receipts.
The Reform School, authorized by the
last General Assembly, has been estab-
: lished in the county Of Fairfield, and is
now ready for the admission of inmates.
The report of the Commissioners charged
with its organization will be found inter-
esting and satisfactory.
1 The reports of the different Asylums
exhibit in the main, satisfactory results.
4 The management has been marked in gem
leral by ability, energy, fidelity and sue
cess. The large average cost of each in-
mate, however, and the large aggregate
expenditures for these institutions, suggest
the necessity of the strictest economy, and
the expediency of 80 modifying their reg
ulations that payment shall be required
for admission and maintenance, in cases
where the circumstances of the inmate or
his parents seem to justify it. 1t is highly
desirable, also, that provision be made, as
far as practicable, for the instruction and
employment of the inmates in such indus
: trial occupations as may be suited to their
capacities and abilities, for the double pur-
pose of diminishing the cost of their main
tenance, and of preparing them for self
support in after life. ~
The conspicuous fact that in numerous
instances the causes of the Infrmities, and
especially of the idiocy, lunacy and crime,
which fill our Asylums, our Penitentiary,
and our Reformatory Institutions, are to
be traced to the violation of natural laws,
and especially to intempeance, cannot
fail to attrac. your notice. More general
instruction in the physical laws of life
and wellbeing, and in the moral and re-
ligious obligations connected with them,
must be relied on for the diminution and
prevention of these violations The Con-
stitution of the State authorizes the Gen
eral Assembly to provide by law against
: the evils resulting from the traffic in in
toxicating liquors.
While intemperance crowds our pris-
ons, desolates our homes, robs society of
its brightest ornaments, and proclaims
itself everywhere the foe of virtue, of
peace, and of security, all right-minded
men will agree that whatever can be right
fully done to protect the community from
such an evil, should be done. 1t will
be your duty to consider this subject with
a wise reference to the demands of pub
lie sentiment, with a sincere respect for
personal rights, and with an honest pur-
pose to accomplish the end indicated by
the Constitution.
The condition of the Public Works of
the State is fully stated in the report Of
the Board charged with their supervision.
1t will be seen TIL at the nett income of the
Canals during the past year has fallen
short of the expenditures, including Com
missioner's salaries, by the sum of $I3,
615 6l It will also be seen that the ac-
tual cost of repairs upon two sections, ex-
ceeds the contract prices by $1,000 90,
while the contract prices upon four Sec
tions exceed the actual cost by $s45, ,567 43;
making nett difference in favor of actual
cost Of $27, 472 81. Under these cir
cumstances, the sale of the canals will
doubtless be urged upon your attention.
1t may be admitted that the true policy
requires the total separation Of the State
from the control and management of pub
lie works of this description; but as the
canals were constructed when different
policy was strongl recommended by the
circumstances of the people, and have
thus become the property of the State at
immense cost, am clearly of opinion that
they should not be sold except for their
actual value, and under such restrictions
as will secure the ends of their construc-
ton. 1t will be for the General Assem-
bly,, if disposed to authorize sale, to de-
! termine the necessary restrictions, and
how far the results of the last year are to
be accepted as an indication of value. In
Fmy judgment those results are to be as
cIibed mainly to the temporary causes in
dicated in the report of the Board, and l
have little doubt that the income in future
! years, under prudent and economical man
agement, will realize their anticipations
Under these circumstances, it will proba-
bly, be safest, in case sale be contem-
plated, 10 take the average nett income of
; the last ten years as a proper criterion,
and to estimate the value at the principal
of which that income would be the inter-
est at six per cent. ,@ y
1t gives me pleasure to state that the ex-
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