The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1859-01-14

lnfrmaries and Asylums, in which there
is reason to believe many will be main.
tanned by their own means or by relatives
and friends, and that others, needing help
from the State, can. in many cases be
provided for at much less than the pres.
ent cost. They will also, it may be hoped
recommend to all entrusted with the ad-
ministration Of these distributions, the
duties Of economy in expenditure and
vigilance in oversight. ...
Many individuals Of the classe partial
ly provided for in the State Asylums, are
inmates Of the County Infrmaries. This
fact imparts additional force to the gener.
al considerations which suggest further
legislation for the regulation Of these In
stitutions. l regret that the Commits
sioner appointed under the act Of your
predecessors to examine the reports re-
quired by it. and prepare a bill for the
better endowment, regulation and man
agement Of Infrmaries, has as, yet been
unable to fulfil the duty imposed by his
appointment. trust however, that the
preparation of proper bill, and the nee
essary legislative action upon it will not
be long delayed. ~.
Another important element, entering
into every adequate estimate Of social
condition, is that Of Paupcrism. In Ohio
the pauper class is less numerous than in
many other states;but is yet large enough
torequire thoughtful consideration. The
number Of poor, well or i'll provided for,
either temporarily or permanently,in In
fimaries, Houses of Refuge, or other In
stitutions, is estimated at 1900; and the
number Of the same class receiving out
door relief, at $4,000, making the total
number Of poor supported wholly or par
tally by the public during the yoar Ia;
0oo. Estimating the population Of the
State to be 2,4oo. 900, the population Of
paupers is one in 1862. The proportion of
the same'class in England is one in l9; in
New York, according to the census Of
1850, it was one in SO, in Massachusetts,,
one in So. For the prevention Of its in
crease in Ohio, we must rely on the aid Of
Education, upon the influence OF Religion
and upon equal laws, securing to labor It's
just share Of production. There is no rea.
son to expect. however, that the poor will
ever cease out Of tie land. Hereafter, as
heretofore. it will be the duty Of States
and individuals to open wide the hand to
the needy. Let US hope that our own
State, 50 honorably distinguished for her
Institutions Of Benevolence, will never
fail in the just performance Of it, lffii
10 ascertain the entire number Of the
dependent classes, it will he proper to add
to the number of the Insane and other
wise naturally infrm, 6, ,040. and to num-
Der of paupers, 14,800, the average num-
Der daily in confinement under charge or
sentence for crime estimated at II 400;
making the whole number Of persons to
be maintained wholly, or in part from
public revenues or by private aid, 80,
240.leg s dora 81 71lh ylIp9 Rn iE
This aggregate includes all the Insane,
the idiotic, the Deaf and Dumb, the Blind
indoor and outdoor paupers, aud the i'm
prisoned. The whole mass may become
at any time what much the larger portion
is at all times, a charge upon the State.
tbs what may be justly called the in6rm
element of society. It's proportion to the
whole constitutes an important indication
of the moral and industrial condition of
State. That proportion in Ohio is as one
to 75; in Massachusetts, as one to IL; in
New York as one to 20. 4~u o.
Under the general name Of Crime, as
an element Of social condition, may be
comprehended all action, associated on
individual, which violating moral obliga-
ton, inhicts injury on persons or society,
What l have to submit to you relating to
crime in our own State, will, how ever, be
confined to the proportion of offenses a.
gainst positive laws to the total popula-
ton and to their retarding and disturbing
influences on the otherwise healthful and
regular progress of society. The nun
ber of indictments for crime during the
past year was about 8, 900; the number of
police arrests for crimes against the
State not prosecuted by indictment,
was about 5000; the number Of po-
lice arrests for offenses against police
ordinances 4.686; making the number Of
arrests for crimes and olfenses of lower
grade 1856. The convictions carried into
judgment upon indictment, were ,300.-
The murders during the year were 80, and
the suicides 65. The proportion of
crimes and offenses to the population was
one in 208; the proportion of offenders
being of course somewhat lefs. The pro-
portion of murderers was one to 10000;
that of suicides one to 36,923.
The infrequency of convictions as COM
pared with indictments will doubtless at
tract your attention. 1t indicates a
defective administration Of criminal JUS
tice, to be ren.edied nos so much by legisla-
tion, as by increased vigilance and firm
ness on the part Of those to whom that
administration is committed. 1t is wor-
thy your consideration, however, wheth-