The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1859-01-13

Refuge, or other Institutions, is estima-
ted at 2, 800; and the number of the same
class receiving outdoor relief, at 10000,
making the total number of poor sup
ported wholly or partially by the public
during the year, 148OO. Estimating
the population of the State to be 2,4O0,-
600, the proportion Of paupers is ono in
362 The proportion Of the same class
IN England is one in y; In New York,
according to the census of 1850, it was
one in 5O in Massachusetts, one in 65.
For the prevention Of its increase in
Ohio, we must rely on the aid of Edu-
cation, upon the influence of Religion,
and upon equal laws, securing TO labor
its just share Of production, There is no
reason to expect, however. that the poor
will ever cease out of the land Here
after 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, so honorably dis
tinguished for her Institutions of Be
neyoIence, will never fail 10 the just per-
fOrmance Of it.
To ascertain the entire number fthe
dependent classes, it will be proper to
add to the number of the Insane and
otherwise naturally Tnfrm 6,O4O and
to the number Of paupers, 14,8OO, the
average number daily in confinement
under charge or sentence for crime, es-
timated at 11,4OO; making the whole
number Of persons to be maintained
wholly or in part from public revenues
or by private aid, 1920.
This average includes all the Insane,
the ldiotic, the Deaf aud Dumb, the
Blind, the indoor and outdoor paupers,
and the imprisoned. The whole mass
may become at any time what much the
larger portion is at all times, a charge
upon the State. Tt is what may be
Justly called the infrm element of socie-
ty Its proportion to the whole consi-
tutcs an important indication of the NOR
al and industrial condition of State
That proportion in Ohio is as one to 70;
in Massachusetts as one to Al; in New
York as one to 20.
Under tue general name Of Crime, as
an element Of social condition, may be
comprehended all action, associated or
individual, which, violating moral obli-
cation, inAicts injury on persons or So
ciety. What l have to submit to you
relating to crime in our own State, will,
however, be confined to the proportion
Of oaonscs against positive laws to the
total population, aud to their retarding
and disturbing influences on the other
wise healthful and regular progress Of
society. The number of indictments
for crime during the past year was about
5000; the number Of police arrests for
crimes against the State not prosecuted
by Indictment was about 1920; the
number of arrests for oifcnses against
police ordinances 4, 6SG;making the nun
Der Of arrests for crimes and offeuses Of
lower grades ll,4SG. The convictions
carried into judgment, upon Indictment,
were 300. The murders during the
year were so, and the suicides G5. The
proportion of crimes aud o1enses to the
population was one in 20S; the proper
ton Of offenders being Of course some
what less. The proportion Of murders
was one to 10000; that of suicides one
to 36,923.
The iufroqucucy Of convictions as
compared with indictments will doubt
less attract your attention. 1t indicates
a defective administration Of criminal
justice, to be remedied not so much by
legislation, as by increased vigilance
and frmness on the part Of those to
whom that administration is committed.
1t is worthy your consideration, howey-
er, whether, upon convictions for muir
der in the first degree, it may not be
eXpedient to authorize the courts to
sentence at discretion to capital punish
ment, or Imprisonment for life. am
persuaded that, in many instances,
murder escapes all punishment, or all
adequate punishment, through the re-
luctancc of juries to find yerdicts which
must necessarily be followed by SEN
tencc of death.
1t is well ascertaiued that Of crimes
of violence, nearly one half have their
immediate origin in intemperance, and
that more than four-ffths of the police
offences are due to the same baleful
cause. 1t is the abundant source of
Pauperism, Lunacy and Disease, as we'll
as of crime. It's cost to society is be-
youd the power Of computation, and its
mutiform influences for evil beyond the
reach Of estimate. l again invoke your
attention to this vitality important sub
ject, and trust that your action in regard
to it may be wise and efficient
In this connection l think it my duty
to recommend to you the establishment
of an Asylum for lnebriates. Much
evil to individuals aud society may be
averted, and much positive good accom-
plished, by means of such an Institu-
tion If established on the State Re.
form Farm, upon a iudicious plan and
scale, its cost need not be great
The administration of civil, not less
than that of criminal justice, is inti-
mately related to social condition and
advancement, When cheap prompt,
unbiased and sure, it guarantees indus
try promotes enterprise, and ensures
progress. When dear, dilatory, partial
and uncertain, it impoverishes labor,
discourages useful undertakings and
introduces decline. In this State the
people elect their Judges, and thus di-
roctly determine, in large measure, the
character Of judicial administration
The results thus far especially in civil
justice, have not disappointed the ad-
vocatos Of an elective Judiciary. In