The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-01-14

his appointment. trust. however. that
tho preparation OF proper bill, and tho
necessary legislative action upon it will not
be long delayed.
PAUPERIsM.
Another important clement, entering into
every adequate estimate of social condition.
10 that OF Paupcrsm. In Ohio tho pauper
class is less numerous than in many other
States but is yet largo enough to require
I thoughtful consideration. Tho number Of
poor, we'll or i'll provided for. ciihor tempo.
/ rariy or permanently. in InGrmarius. Houses
of Refuge or other institutions, is estimated
at $500. and tho number of tho same class
receiving outdoor relief, at 200, making
the total number of poor supported wholly
or partially by the public during the year.
l4S0O. Estimating the population o: tho
State to DO 2 100000. tho proportion of pau
pers is in 1872. Tho proportion of tho
same class in England is | in l2; in New
York. according to the census in 1880. it was
| in so; in Massachusetts | in 65. For tho
prevention of its increase in Ohio, We must
rely on the aid Of Education, upon the inilu.
once OF Religion. and upon equal laws, SO.
curing to labor its just share of production
There is no reason to expect, however, that
the pOnr will ever cease out of tho land -
Hereafter. as heretofore. it will DO tho duty
of Statos and individuals to open wdo tho
hand to tho needy. Lot us hope that our
State. SO honorably distinguished for hor In.
stitutions of BonevolGncc, will mover fail in
tho just performance Of il.
To ascertain tho entire number Of tho dc.
pendent classes, it will be proper to add to
tho number OF the Insane and otherwise
naturally inform G,04O, aud to tho number
/ Of pRupurs, IA 500, the average number Gai.
| " in confinement under charge or sentence
for crime. estimated at ! | 400; making tho
whole number Of persons to bo maintained
wholly, or in part from public revenues or
| by private aid, 80 2i0.
! Tho aggregate includes ali the Insane.
/ the Idiotic, tho Doaf and Dumb, the Blind.
the indoor and outdoor paupers, and the
/ imprisoned. The whole mass may become
at any time what much tho larger portion
is at utl times, a charge upon tho State. IL
is what may be justly called tho infrm ole
mcnt Of society. It's proportion TO the
whole constitutes an important indication
of tho whole constitutes. an important
indication Of the moral and industrial cou-
dtion of State. That proportion in Ohio
as to IS; in Massachusetts as to Al in
| Now York as ! to 20.
CRIME.
| Under the general name of crimo, as an
element of social condition, may be compro
honded all action, associated or individual,
which, violating moral obligation. intl cts in
jury on persons or society. What have to
submit To you relating to crime in our own
State, will, however, bo confined to otfun-
! 90 -.-;..at t,~sifiun laws and THAR raiardinr
influences on the otherwise hoalthiul and
regular progress of sncieIy. The number OF
/ indictments for crime during tho past ycar
was about 5000; tho number of police ar
rests for crimes against the State not prose-
cuted by Indictment, was about $500 the
number of arrests for Offences 46S6; ma.
king tho number of arrests for crimes and
offences OF lower grade IL 4S6. Tho con.
vic,ons carried into Judgment, upon indict-
mont, were 800. The murders during tho
year were SO, and the suicides 65. Tho pro.
portion of crimes and offences to the po2u.
iation was in 2Os; the proportion of often
doris being of course somewhat less. The
proportion or murders was l to 10000
that of suicides to SO 923.
Tho nircquency of convictions as com.
pared with indictments will doubtless at.
tract your attention. 1t indicates a de-
fec,ive administration OF criminal justice to
bo remcdied not So much legislation, as by in.
creased vigilance aud firmDess on tho part
of those to whom that administration is
committed 1t is worthy your consideration,
+ however, whether npon convictions for mur-
der III tho first degree, II may not he Cxpe.
( dent to authorize the courts to sentence at
discretion to capital punishment or inpris,
onmcnt for life. ! am persuaded that, in
many instances, murder escapes all punish
, mont, through tho reluctance of juries tC
, find verdicts which must necessarily be fol
1 lowed by sentence OF death.
, 1t is well ascertaned that of crimes O.
!, violence, nearly ono.half have their immcd
alto origin in inicmperancc, aud that NOR,
5 than tour-Giths of the police offence, ar,
. due to the same banetul cause. 1t ia tn,
G abundant source of paupersm, iunacy, ant
disease, as well as of crime. Its cost TO so
cic:y Is beyond the power of computation
p and its multIturm influences of evil beyonl
y tho reach of estimate. again invoke YOU
. attention to this vitality important subject
y aud trust that your action in regard to j
= may bo wise and efficient.
y In this connection | think it my duty t,
;, recommend to you the establishment of al
Asylum for Iuobriatcs. Much evil to indi
II yiduals aud society may DO aycrtcd. an,
:, much positive good accomplished. by mean
= of such an Institution. Ii established on th
5 State Reform Farm, upon Il judicious pIal
. and scale, its cost need not DO great.
y JUDICATURE.
y Tho administration of civil not less thai
= that of criminal justice. is intimately related
TO social condition and advancement WhcI
. cheap, prompt, unbiased aud suro, il guar
/ antics industry, promotes enterprise, ans
ensures progress. When dear. dIlatory
5 partial and uncertain, it impovcrsbes labor
$ discOuragCs useful undertakings and intro
\ duccs decline. In this State tho people
: elect their Judges, and thus directly deter
/ mine, in large measure. the character of ia
+ dicial administration. Tho results thus ia..
especially in civil justice, have not disap
u pointed the advocates OF an elective judica
, ry. Incompetent judges havo, it is true
! been sometimes elected, aud tho evils Of
. mai administration havo been sometimes
S talt; but tho Courts of Ohio, considered ia
general, have nothing to apprehend from a
comparison with those of any other State in
! respect TO intelligence learning or efiicicn.
, cy. The amount of their labors may be in.
lerred from tho act thrt the number of civil
suits last year was about 10000, in Is. .OOO
of which Judgements were rendered. The
number OF suits involving serious cOntrover-
sy of law or fact bore, however, a small por-
ton TO the whole. Much tho larger num-
Der were prosecutions for the collection of
claims, and it is estimated that nine.tenths
in amount of tho debts unsecured by mort
gage or otherwise, which class constituted
-. L.. A