Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-01-20

0ln0 IN t0elr OioCuoT&os Au0 uumOoT par
Toned for offences punished BY fines and by
imprisonment in The county Jail, was six
There was one case Of commutation and
none Of rsprieve.
The applications for pardons were nume
roas-often informal and loosely made /; to
secure On intelligent consideration of these
as well as greater certainty and
10 their presentation, and to
guard against imposition and an abuse of an
important trust, when required to be exer-
cised, Iproposed series OF rules. which,
together with that provision of the consti-
tuition which relates 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 pardons, is appended
to tho report alluded to, and to which your
attention is called. 1t will be perceived that
tina constitution clearly oontsmplates the
enactment of law regulating the exercise
of tho pardoning power.
. This as yet has not been done. l now
recommend the passage OF such law, and
that it shall in its provisions embrace the
substance of the rules which l have estab-
lished, and which found from experience
to work we'll, and adequately to guard
against an improper use of this high prerog-
alive power, whilst under them the rights
of the convict are also duly protected.
STATE REFoRM SCHOOL.
MANY States of the Union have established
these institutions, They are regarded as
tokens of an advancing civilization, and
have proved q success. From 70 to 80 per
cent. of the juvenile offenders who have
entered them have been reformed, and given
back to society useful and honorable MEM
bers. They are placed in an institution
where the requisite means are employed to
transform their moral constitution, where
they are compelled to listen to the appeals
of virtue and right action, instead of i'll.
generation in the penitentiary, where they
are subject to tho rnalign influence OF the
vicious and depraved.
learn that the records of onr peniten-
tiary exhibit the remar kable fact that fifty
juvenile convicts between the ages of IA and
81, have been imprisoned within it walls
during the last three years, and that three.
eighths Of our convicts have, from the be.
ginning. been of this description. The
legitimate place for this class Of offenders
is in reform school. In the civil and
domestic relations of life, the law, out OF
q tender regard for their inexperience and
supposed want of mature judgment, affords
them immunities and privileges not extern
ded to the adult citizen. Why should moi
this distinction be made in our criminal
jurisprudence 1t can be demonstrated that
the prosecution and maintenance in prison
of these juvenile offenders have cost the
State in all probability, more than theil
moral discipline would have done in al
institution of the description named.
The Rev. Thomas E. Csrkhill OF Keokuk
has addres sed me q long communication
filled with valuable statistics and informa
ton on this subject, which l should have
been pleased to have published and lait
before you had possessed the power under
the law to have done 50. 1t is, however, a
your service. In his name and that o
common humanity, is the necessity ant
propriety of establishing State Beforn
School urged upon your consideration.
INSANE HOSPITAL.
The condition of this institution will b
found in the reports OF the Commissioner
and Superintendent, and little need or Cal
be added to the questions there made
Should it take 800, 900 more to complet
! GllS STRUCTURE Ii Will COSG AOSo lJau iIS plo
totype at Northampton, Mass; willis
those acquainted with both buildings vii
be constrained, perhaps, to admit that our
is, by SIS, 900, the better of the two. 1t i
difficult for those not acquainted wit
structures of this description TO cenceiv
why their cost should reach so bigh..a figure
a visit. however, to this institution, woul
reveal to them this mystery. When com
pleted it will occupy the first rank of al
similar institutions in the world, and be
beautiful as well US shining illustration q
the philanthropy and enterprise of til
people of Iowa. am inclined to think til
revenue resources of the State, as estimate
for the next two years (although the Audito
in his estimates proposes to reduce the tax
esq will justify an appropriation sufficier
to complete this building, which is SO muc
needed to satisfy the appeals of humanit
as they come up from different parts OF tn
State.
DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM.
This institution is located at Iowa Cit
OCCUPIES q rented building sufficient
large and commodous to answer, in til
main, its present purpose-is in tiourishin
condition, and under the charge OF Pro
liams a competent and successful instructo
of mutcs, and is building up an institutio
credi,able alike to himself and the State. TIL
time is not distant when the Site mus
locate this institution manently, an
erect suitable buildings to etfectuate its aim
and usefulness. This, in my opinion, shoul
be done at the capitol of the State, where
in the end, it will be more accessible an
under the more immediate supervision Q
the Legislature and State authorities.
bespeak careful reading of the annual RI
port of the Board of Trustees, which need
no enlargement from me.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
A very brief statement Of what has bee
done under an act passed at your last SEES
sion, providing tor the establishment of
State Agricultural College and Farm, ma
justly DO expected. The Board of Trustee
st their session in June last, located tli
institution and model farm in Story couaty
upon 6493 acres Of land in township 8
range "a west, being Il central as we'll as Al
eligible site for IN institution and farm q
the description indicated by law. Liberia
donations were made by the counties o
Story and Boone for the support of tn
same. The Board established the profes
sorships and prescribed the studies best ca!
culated to educate agricultural and mechan
ical labor, all of which will be mole full
set forth in the report of the Executiv
Committee or Board of Trustees. Connect
ed with this institution is an Agriculture
Bureau under the charge and control u
Gen. WIN. Duane Wilson, its Secretary
whose unremittiuy attention to his duties
and great energy, has rendered it Of yer.
great service already to the State, as hi
valuable and interesting report demonstrates
and to which youe attention, and especial!
that of the farmers of the State, is mos
respectfully requested.
BANKS AND BANKING.
The acts incorporating State Bank ant
authorizing free banks in this State, wer,
severally accepted and ratified by the people
at an election held for that purpose. Tit
State Bank was organized on the 9th day
of October, 1858. There are now twelve
branches established at the following points
Muscatine, Dubuque, Keokuk, Mt. Pleasant
Davenport, Iowa City, Des Moines, oska'