St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-01-19

/, rendering the confinement OF so large
number Of COnvicts exceedingly I'M
safe and dangerous, and should be re-
placed with II stone wall at as early a
day as possible. The cell-room ac-
commodations are inadequate and
should be enlarged. recommend as
large appropriations for these objects
as the revenue resources of the State
will justify.
The Inspectors have procured a
plan for the enlargement Of the Pcni-
tertiary, through the assistance OF a
competent architect, which cmbra-
ces all the modern improvements,
will accommodate some 800 or 400
convicts, and ought, in my Judgment,
to be adopted and carried out if the
financial condition of the State will
admit of it.
PARDoNING POWER.
1t is my duty under the constitu-
ton of this State to communicate to
the General Assembly all cases of par
don, rcpricvcs or combinations grant
ed 10y me during my term of Office,
which have the honor Of doing in n
separate paper accompanying this
message, in which is shown the name
and crime Of each convict, the SEN
tcncc, its. date, and the date of the
pardon, and the reason therefor.
The whole number of pardons in
two years, from January 10th, 1853
to January 9th, 1860, for pcnitcntiary
offences, was fifteen. OF these three
only were pardoncd before their i'm
prisonmcnt-the remaining twelve had
suffered imprisonment greater or
less time-some of them sufficiently
long to satisfy the ends of justice, in
: dependent of the other causes which
operated upon my mind in their dis
: charge. The number pardoned for
5 offences punished by fines and by i'm
: prisonmcnt in the county Jail, was
s six. There was one case of commuta-
l. ton, and none of repricvc.
I. The applications for pardons were numer-
IS ous-often informal and loosely made: to Sc
e cure an intelligent consideration of these APP
plications, well as greater certainty and uni
: formity in their presentation, and to guard
t against imposition and an abuse of an import
: ant trust when required to be exercised, pro-
n posed a series of rules which, together with
r that provision of the Constitution which re-
u lates to the subject, caused to be published
and sent to all the counties for the information
, of those whom it might concern. A copy OF
/ rules presenting the mode of applying for par
: dons, is appended to the report alluded to, and
: to which your attention is called. 1t will be
perceived that the Constitution clearly con.
4 templates the enactment of a law regulating
= the exercise of the pardoning power This a.
E yet has not been done. l now recommend
u the passage of such law, and that it shall ii
Il its provisions embrace the substance of thu
l. rules which have established, and which
= have found from experience to work well, ant
adequately to guard against an improper lis
i of this high prerogative power whilst undo
G them the rights of the convict are also dul,
l. protected.
V STATE REFORM SCHOOL,
!. Many States of the Union have establshe,
n these institutions. They are regarded us token
E of an advancing civilization and have prove,
u Il success. From 10 to so per cent. of the in
l. vcnile offenders who have entered them have
l. been reformed, and given back to society use
n, full and honorable members. They are placed
;, in an institution where the requisite means
l" are employed to Transform their moral consti
IS tuition, where they are compelled to listen t.
J." the appeals of virtue and right action, instea
W of incarceration in the Penitentiary, wher
=. they are subjected to the malign influence {
10 the vicious and the depraycd. | learn tina
DC the records of our Pcnitentiary exhibit the II
of markable fact that fifty Juvenile convicts, b,
tween the ages of IA and u, have been i'm
prisoncd within its walls during the last thre
III years and that three eights of our convict
III have, from the beginning, been of this d'
VIC scription. The legitimate place for this clas
tn of offenders is in a reform school. IN the civ
~ il and domestic relations of Etc the law, OF
W. of tender regard f5r their inexpericnce an
on ,f ,ptturp juIymsut afford
DO them immUnitics and privileges not cXtendc
IN to the adult citizen. Why should not thi
- distinction be made in our criminal jurispru
~ dencc! 1t can be demonstrated that the pros
III ecution and maintenance i'll prison of tles
tie fifty Juvenile offenders have cost the State II
,f all probability, more than their moral disci
. pline would have done in an institution OF tn
~ description named.
lie The Rev. Thomas F. Corkhill, of keokul,
k has addressed me Il long communication file
N. with valuable statistics and information O
. this subject, which ! should have been please
lc- to have published and laid before you had
IN possessed the power under the law to ha
ey done SO. 1t is, however, at your service.
mr. his name and that of a common humanity,
- the necessity and propriety of establishing
rs State Reform School urged upon your consi
IT'S Grafton.
.et INSANE HOSPITAL.
he The condition of this institution will
nd found in the reports of the Commissioners al
H. Superintendent, and little need or can be a
I'll ded to the suggestions there made. Should
mt take SlOO, 900 more to complete this structu
of it will still cost less than its prototype at Mort
pr alnpton, Massachusetts, ; whilst those acqail
% ed with both buildings will be constraine
r., perhaps. to admit that ours is, by SIo,00o, Z
se better of the two. 1t is difficult for those
acquainted with structures of this descripti'
to conceive why their cost should reach so hi4
= t,t. ,t,Cf, t.,t,.
would reveal to them this mystery. Wh'
completed it will occupy the first rank of q
similar institutions in the world, and be
a n, beautiful as well as q shining illustration
}. Gl the philanthropy and enterprise OF the Poop
- of Iowa j am inclined to think the revenl
80 resources of the State, as estimated for Il
le- next two years although the Auditor in Il
he estimates proposes to reduce the taxes,) w
IL Justify an appropriation sufficient to compile
JIG this building which is so much needed to 81
&C isfy the appeals of humanity as they come 1
Ter from different parts of the State.
eX- DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM.
Ior This institution is located at Iowa City-o
ng cupies rented building sufficiently large al
of commodious to answer, in the main its preset
M purposes in Il t1ourishing condition, and III
~ =, der the charge of Prof Ijans, competent ar
III successful instructor of mutes. and is buildn
IT, up an institution creditable alike to himsc
nd and State. The time is not distant when til
all State must locate this institution permanent
VS. and erect suitable buildings to cficctuate il
.c- aims Of usefulness. This, in my opinion
he should be done at the Capital of the Statt
I'd. where, in the end, it will be more accessible
,st and under the more immediate supervision
49, the Legislature and State authorities. / b.
oh speak careful reading of the annual report
OK the Board of Trustees, which needs no CT
ire largement from me.
cd AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
Jo very brief statement of what has be-
:: done under an act passed at your last sessio
NJ providing for the establishment of State A
IN ricultural College and Farm may Justly
Id expected The Board of Trustees at their S,
n sion in June last, located this institution al
Model Farm in Story County upon 6i9J aG
r. OF land in township SO, range "a west beil
is central as well as an eligible site for an ins
IS, tuition, and farm of the description lndicat
no by law. Liberal donations were made by t
\. counties of Story and Boone for the support
YIN the same. The Board established the profcs