The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1860-01-19

class Of vagrants and destitute children,
social orphans, who cannot be
brought into the Common Schools, and
/ from whose numbers the ranks of crime
are continually recruited The Institu-
ton at Cleveland, Offering not only some
measure of instruction, but employment
and food as inducements to attendance,
has been, thus far, extremely useful,
and gives promise Of yet greater utility.
Vagrancy pillering, and more serious
crime, have sensibly diminished under
| it's influence. That at Cincinnati, more
recently begun, is yet to make proof
Of its efficiency for good.
Upon examining the Reports Of the
various Institutions, you will doubtless
observe considerable difference in
amount and value of information, and
lin modes Of treatment I have here
toGore suggested, and now renew the
suggestion, that the several Superin-
tcndents or Presidents Of Boards Of
Trustees be required to meet at least
once a year for consultation upon plans
Of management, and on modes of max
| ing up Reports. / do not doubt that
such consultations will promote econ
omy in administration, and secure much
clearer and better statements Of its
theory, history and results.
The administration of the Peniten-
tiary, during the last year, was eminent
! ly successful While the number of
convicts increased from G93 to S53, ex.
ceoding the number of available cells
by 1853, and compelling the use of the
chapels and hospital as convict quar-
ters, the iudicious discipline Of the
prison was such that industry, order
and health prevailed in unusual de-
groes within It's walls. It was impOssi-
bic, at once, to find profitable employ
ment for so numerous q body of pris-
oners, and yet, though expenditures
necessarily increased with numbers,
they were exceeded by the earnings of
the year. The two additional buildings
directed by the last General Assembly,
are nearly completed, at cost consid-
erably reduced by the employment Of
convict labor in portions of the work.
When finished, they will supply 75 ad-
ditional cells. But the number will
still be far too small, and, if prisoners
continue to multiply at the present rate,
the disproportion, already inconvenient,
must soon become dangerous.
Under a Joint Resolution Of your
predecessors, l appointed a Commission
Of three citizens to enquire into the ez-
pediency Of further charging the pres
ont prison, or constructing a new one
in some other part Of the State. Their
report, L presume, will soon be sub
mitted to you, and it will be for you to
determine what action is required by the
public interest.
I have thought it my duty to ezer-
else the power of pardon somewhat
more sparingly than most of my prede-
cessors. No light reason has been con-
sciously permitted me to induce inter
ference with the verdicts Of iurics and
the sentences of courts. Still, the
number of cases in which 1 have felt
myself bound to intorpose, has not been
very small. In some, the innocence of
the prisoner has been made manifest;
in others, mitigating circumstances have
come to light, which, if known, would
have abated the rigor of the sentence;
and in others clear evidence of reform
alton, and exemplary conduct in prison,
with other circumstances, seemed to re-
quire my action. A report will be i'm
mediatoly laid before you, stating fully
each case Of pardon, with the reasons
which decided my Judgment.
The state Of the law in respect to tho
collection, safo-kooping and disburse-
ment of revenue, will necessarily com
mand your attention. The FIRST consid
Grafton, without doubt, in every discus
sion concerning public moneys, is safe
ty If safety can be combined with
general convenience and advantage, few
will question the wisdom of tho COM
bination. Such a combination, in my
Judgment, may be obtained by proyid
ing for the payment Of all dues to the
State, in coin or the notes of the specie
paying Banks Of Ohio; by authorizing
the selection of depositaries by the
State Treasurer, under suitable guards
and restrictions, and by requiring am
pie and unquostionable security for
prompt payment of all deposits, on de-
mand in specie or specie notes. No in
terest should be taken on deposits, OK
oopt for the State. All use Of public
moneys by public officers, and all at
tempts to secure, in any way, private
advantage from the deposit or other
disposition of public funds, should be
strictly prohibited under the soverest
penalty.
Such o system will approach as nearly
to the Independent Treasury Of the
Federal Government as a due regard to
the welfare of the people will admit;
and much nearer, in my opinion, than
the system recently adopted The act
Of 1858 by which that system was in
troducod, contains many useful proyis-
ions; but their value is greatly impaired
| by its virtual sanction Of the receipt
Of whatever the several County Treas
urers may choose to take in payment
of taxes; by tho absence of all provis-
ion in relation to tho exchange Of funds
and by its omission TO require bonds tC
the satisfaction Of State officers for Oh,
safe-keoping and transfer Of money!
/ belonging TO the State In the proclioa
execution Of the act the County Treas
urors have generally received for taXe
/ whatever was current IN their COMMITTEES