The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1861-01-16

and inCurabte cases 10 give place, When
necessary to those that are resent and
hopeful, 'i
b While this is = gratifying evidence Of the
wisdom OF our State policy 10 respect to the
administration OF our Asylums fer the In-
sane, does not the fact that the chronic in
cursble cases mpst give place to those that
are recent and more hopeful, suggest the
duty of the State to make some suitable pro.
vision for the custody and care OF the incu,
rabie insane Would not the erection and
maintenance OF an asylum for so beuificent
a purpose be in accordance with the humane
spirit OF our Constitution, and the benevo~
lent sentiments OF the people. ..--
| beg leave to call your particular atten-
ton to the accompanying Report OF the
Trustees of the Medical College Of Ohio. ~.
The finances Of thet,iDstiiptiona are seriously.
embarrassed; and 1eaisidiion Is Ssked for bv
the Trustees, to enable them to relieve the
college OF its difficulties.
1t gives me much pleasure to call your
attention to the Report Of the Directors end
Warden OF the Penits ntiary, The manage.
men. of the Institution during the ppst year
has been highly satisfactory. The law re-
warding the good conduct of the convictS,
by shortening their trrus Of sentence, has
been attended @gith encouraging results upon
the discip iiua OF the institution Under its
stimulating influence the prisoners, Tor the
mlet pert, cheer Uiiy perform the task as
sgnad 70 them, Ggd IlHhtuI.y discharge 4 i!
their duties ta the institution.
The number of ccnvicts ia The Peniten-
'iary or the first day of November las: was
932; 0 whom 379 were received during the
year. In the same period 1888 were dis
charged By he expiration oI their eentonce,
b. pardon. and by judicial process. Five
were sent to the Rec:m School, and ninc
died,
The cash receipts and cash enrnnqs oi
the Institution ior the year were $97 905 60
The aetua expenditures during tha -ene
time were $97 $40 rs, leaving cash b,,
anre in Iavor Of the Prison OF 1926 81 -
Tae labor perform by the aoDvets ia the
construction Of shops ann other buildings,
we're valued at SO OH g.. This added to
she pr fits, IS it should be TO make proper
exhibit OF the ability o. the Pri on for sci
support, hn"s N GggTegste profit ior the
year OF $9,366 SO. Thee results SHOW
that the Prison. when finished, will not only
realize the reIormatory purposes ior which
il was established, without being peeunig
ry Ghafee upon in Deupla, but that il may
be msdo t pormaEcat source OF revenue to
the State.
In connection with this subject, venture
to suggest for vour consideration, in case
pou determine upon the cr3cti00 Of new
prison. that provi,ion be mtde for such
Construction OF il g will admit OF a complete
separation between the minor and adult con-
victs. The humane considerations tsVoring
eush a separation are too obvious to need
stat8Gtent "i thamI
Bv rejoSenue the. Wsrden's RepeEt it
will be seen tirat OF the nine huodred md
.hrty.two ConviCta in prison, only one hun
drod end ninety seven OF them profess to
have been temperate in their habits, while
| three hundred and seventy NJ ackrowled.e
that they had been intemp rete. The pro
portion of the crimes committed under the
Influence OF intoxicatioD dues not appear,
bu, trom the statement OF the habits o these
convcts, and from other well known facts
relating to the subject, there c9r be little
doubt that very much OF the crime for which
they are imprisoned, was not oHiy commit
kted, but elso originated under intoxicating
Influences.
And this is but the history of crime every
where. Gould any fact furnish more earn
est oppelI to the Legislature to exert ali its
constitutional authority for expressing the
evils Of intemperenee | trust you will
give this subject your prompt and serious
consideration, and that you will devise some
| l., for 1iDni nj Vi
evils, which will address itself Iavnrlbiy to
the people of the State and thereby secure
their earnest support tor its entorHemnnt.-
1t would be OF little practical benefit fo'
your legislation on this subject to DE IN ad
vance of public sentiment, but it should jul
ly meet the demands OF that sentiment
have much salts ction in communiest
ing 10 you the official report of the pas
years operations OF the State Retofu
School Many material improvements il
regard to economy, general management
and discipline have been introduced into it
; administration. The enterprise should nt
, niger be regarded as an experiment. Bria
] a. is its history it has established its claln
j upon the public confidence. It's snecess ha
realized oil the reasonable expectations o
its early advocates. The practical kan
pies ol reformation, which it has furnished
, give the most gratifying assurance OF 1t
permanent usefulness. Its adminsiratio
: is excellent. | commend th0 Institution t
n your fostering care.
b refer you to the report OF the Andito
i tor det i.ed exhibit of the financial cOndi
b ioH OF the State, aud earnestly recommen
c 10 your approval the plan, which with tn
\ concurrence of the Fund Commissioners. h
j submits for the payment Of our entire publI
= debt by means OF taxation, without the re
o newal OF any of the existing loans. Th
= reasons presented by the Auditor in favor o
c the Immediate adoption of this policy are, i
al nv Judgment, unanswerable The whol
5 amyunt of our reducibe debt, foreign, do
: mestic and temporary, is $l4,260, ,233,5e
= which sum but little exceeds one and hal
G per cent. of the taxable values of the State
: amounting to 100000, 900, in round nun
bers. With such resources at her commanc
g it does not seem reasonable that OH
: should look to loans to meet her aGcrun
t iiabilities-so inconsderable when compar
# ed with her resourCss-unless the increase
!, tax over the present levy which will be re
It quired to meet those liabilities within rea
.onable time, would impose an undecessaril
d heavy burden upon the people. Such d
- not think would result from the adoption {
= the proposed plan.
d The levy tor the year 1851 for the pay
0 ment of the interest and the gradual reduC
}, ton of the public debt 10 one and tour tenth
il of mill on the dollar. The same lev
continued would result in the reduction &
' the public debt in January, 1871, to the sui
q OF 81 CTS, 1892 90 The amount to be rails
% ed in the meantime to meet the accruing il
a terest and principal OF the debt by taxatio