Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-08

pSeh apie W eAamnne tnem; tney are healthy,
and the prisoners well fed and clothed, sup
piled with books, and are kindly treated.
The returns of these institutions, as to the
number and condition of the prisoners, which
are, in some respects of great value, if correct,
are irregular and defective. The information
required should be specified by statute, in
order that the returns may be uniform as it
regards prisoners, and, also, that the uniform
lty may extend to series of years. transmit
tabulated statement of such returns as have
been made for period of ten years, which
embodies important information The State
Reform School at Westborough, and the State
Industrial School at Lancaster, are represented
to be In very prosperous condition.
Ihe Commissioners appointed for the re-
vision OF the Statutes, have completed the
work assigned them. If the Revision shall
prove to be well executed-and the character
OF the Commission leads to that conclusion
1t Will be of great public service A work of
such extent and character calls for very care
full examination by the Legislature, and in con-
formity with established precedent, as well as
that 1t may receive exclusive attention, spe-
cal session will be necessary This revision
OF the statutes was commenced by authority
OF law passed in 1854. When completed, it
will serve as the general code of laws for the
next quarter century. There is no principle
OF justice, upon which the cost of this version.
either as it regards legislative consideration, or
the printing OF the work for the use of the peo-
pie hereafter, if the Legislature concur in the
revision, should be charged as the current ex-
pendltures of this year, and included in the
existing burdensome State tax. recommend,
therefore, that the expense of the work be
added to the public debt; and make this re-
commentator, not only upon the grounds /
nave stated, but also upon the ground that
payment of every dollar of the public debt ex-
lstlng is already provided for.
The statute of 1858, consolidating the Courts
OF Probate and Chancery, has operated favor.
ably. 1t has brought before the same tribunal
causes OF cognate principle and character,
heretofore separated; it will diminish the cost
OF suitors, and it will ultimately add to the re-
celpts OF the treasury. Itsecures to the Judges.
also, liberal and sufficient salaries. There is
no principle more important than this. Fixed
compensation for public services is one of the
important features which distinguish re-
publican from despotic form of government.
10 no class of public servants does it apply
with so much force as to judicial officers
The just determination of causes requires the
union OF rare abiities-the highest integrity,
great intellectual capacity, and extended and
varied mental culture. They are invested with
life tenures of office, and are expected chiefly
to abstain from active participation in business
transactions. 1t is not possible or expedient to
pay the most competent men as much for such
services as would be received by them in success
full professional life but they have right to
demand, accepting judicial position, that such
compensation shall be made for their services.
as Will enable them to maintain, with econo-
my, the dignity of their position and the honor
OF the State 1t will be manifest that salaries
established quarter of a century since, and
adequate when established, must be insufficient
now. suggest to you, therefore, the inquiry
whether the present salaries of the Judges of
the Supreme Court is a just and liberal COM
pensation for services rendered and if you
concur with me in opinion that it is not rec
that it be enlarged by the addition of
one thousand dollars to the compensation of
each Judge. make this recommendation, not
SO much for the judges as for the people, in or
''ss l"t for their service the
ana VINO, when thus seiovtvl, c>-tune
ened by experience and study for ttne, tifs~
charge of their duties, may be able, without
injury to themselves, to continue in service
and in the enjoyment of official honors with
which they may be invested by their own con-
sent and the choice of the people. But deem
it proper also to say, in reference to the con-
ditlon of the treasury and the taxes of the peo-
pie, that such increase of salary if established,
should be made to take effect on the first day
Of January, 1860.
The Report of the Adjutant-G General repre-
sents the department of the militia to be in more
prosperous condition, and the troops in more
perfect discipline, than heretofore The num-
Der of enrolled men is 1862. The number of
men in active service is 5,771. The expendi-
lures of the department for the past year have
been 500, 1856; nearly $1,000 less than in 1857,
aid $l4,0 900 less than in 1856 The division
during the past year were dis
tingnlshed by attention to discipline, and, with
one excepton-affecting only very small por-
ton of the troops-by unusual propriety and
decorum, result that is to be attributed in a
great degree to the excellent and manly exam
pie of the general officers, who prohibited in
toxlcating liquors in their respective camps.
When Napoleon thought it of sufficient impor-
lance to announce in his army bulletins, that
''the army of Italy bivouacked without strong
drinks" it would seem, as it has proved, that
holiday encampments among us could be con-
Quoted on the same principles While find
great pleasure in awarding to the militia the
highest commentator for its excellent condi-
ton, | also feel that it is my duty to suggest
that careful examination should be made of the
principles of organization upon which it is
based. Under the present system, the militia
consists, chiefly, when truly considered, of de-
detached and independent companies, brought
into line with brigades or divisions only thong
intervals Of time, and not in every instance
perfectly acquainted with regimental of
fcers or discipline. This system of in
dependent companies is departure from
the principles established in the original
of our militia, which was
effected at a special session of the general
court in 1886, when three regiments were
raised, of which the field officers were appoint
ed by the magistrates, and the company off.
GERS nominated by the troops. The regiment
should be the unit of organization, and COM
panies, subdivisions only of that unit. No Com
monwealth has better material than our own
for effective military organizations, and prop
erly established upon the regimental basis, it
T Pf9pd present citizen soldiers unsurpassed by
unteer service. There is necessity for more
clearly defined general regulations for the mil
itary forces of the State than now exists 1t
is proper that Massachusetts should have |
military code of her own, which while it should
and enforce the constitutional au-
thority of the United States, should be also
adapted to the conditions and wants of her
own service, and | invite you to consider the
of appointing commission of
military officers for the consideration of this
subject. The provision of the constitu-
ton which defines the power of the command |
over the military forces ofthe Strife,
IS inconsistent with the constitution of the |
United States, and should be amended SO as
to conform to the provisions of that instru-
nent upon this subject.
The Legislature of 1858 gave its approval,
to the acquisitions of the consttu-
ion 10 an amendment of that instrument do |
Dc entitled to vote, or shall be eligible to Office,
unless he shall have resided within the iuris-