The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-01-02

Sseif-suStaln and hrSt the history OF
own State, that Priseas paid its way. Thi- wholly
owing to the fidelity and lily of its officers who have been
interchangeable Ill their to make Prison model
institution of its kind
AT the meeting Of legislature in 1889 four hundred and
sevenythree convicts confined in the Prison, Of
which number twentyf in solitary cells for willtul
and deliberate murder pains 10 inform you, tha; since
that time. this nunbeas greatly increased There are
now confined in the son, six hundred and tweny-one
convicts out of which ber twenty-five solitary
fnement for murder in s degree In my message of Jan
uary, 1855 made oe following language: Let crime
continue increase for the three years the
same ratio the p: and Prison the end of that
period will be full capacity One year and
our Prison will be full rue may go charging it, but
doubt the policy of King further appropriations for that
purpose The Legislat 1859 made appropriation OF
twentseven thousand hundred dollars principally for
strucng two hundred fifty cells in the wing of the
Prison The Act makEhe continued the office
of Building Commission (creaed by the Legislature of 1855
for the period of from and after February 18TH 1859
By the different legislation became the duty of this
officer TO see that the aspirations the Prison prop
ery expended in the contemplated by law The cond
ton OF State nancvas such that became mpraccabe
to pay consderablrton of this appropriation until after
the receipt of the taxe 1859 therefore delayed making
the appointment of sliding Commissioner" until in Febru
ay 1860 thereby saw the State the of years
salary of that officer Big nine hundred and ynine dol
lars The two hundreod fifty cells have been completed and
portion OF them occupied The Prison &C
comnodate six hundeand nnetywo convcts. This is its
utmost capacity.
The experience of oers of similar institutions throughout
sister States, provahe mpocy of confirming time,
than from six tdght hundred convcs Prison
One set of officers well manage than that number
and pay regard the great object of punishment
the economy and prunt management Of the Institution
recommend that you immediate towards build
ing Prison Th'tate will need before can be got
ready for wouocate the Capital somewhere
upon the line of the oit and Milwaukee Railroad leaving
It's definite locality fixed by commissioners appointed for
that purpose clothed N power to receive gifts Of suitable
SITE and building maes for the work is important that
ha.. bx-y pf
the appropriation necery begin such work will depend
much upon the plan tn be adopted but under circu
stances would invcc the State debt, either for
Prison for any necessary work In every instance
where becomes neceary and proper make appropra
ton it should be mac earessly and matter of duty
the time std be levied upon the people sufficiently
large it,
Since entered up the duties q: my office have pardoned
from the State Prisoseventywo convicts Out of this
Der twentyx have ZEN recommended executive clemency
by the Judge who prunced the sentence and sixteen by
Prosecuting AttorneJwho olciaed the trial In almost
every instance the REPENT of cemency by his good conduct
while prison. merrill the appreciation and received the
ommendaon of the gent Chaplain. Whenever | could
learn that the convictad been i'll the habit Of nuging in
temperance, impose upon his pardon the condition that he
should forever after tan from the Of intoxicating drinks
beverage. One nd only, has violated that
dion and for such Walton serving the balance
her Over Inbred and fifty applications for pardon
have been made thn the past years and from this
large number have seed such thought deserving Ny
information OF the merit of each necessarily had be Oh
tanned from others anoit is not be wondered III
instances may have Ten imposed upon Justice tempered
with mercy arbu Of the Deity and tie Executive wht
refuses entertain APPLICATION pardon because lie is liza
bic TO be imposed uponuts his heart all the better feeling
OF our nature and equny conunds the ertoous and de
serving with the harden criminal Accompanying this
sage list OF my pards with the that influenced
my action in each particu.r case
For detailed statelnel of the condition of the Prison.
commend you TO the annua.reports of its officers
In 1857 the Legislature PISSED law authorizing the Agen
Of the Prison make dedtion time sentence
the convict OF one day m for the first lays
month for the second year an days per month for the
Of his term long as " should observe all the rules
the Prison This statute has lad saluary eject tn
conduct Of the prisoners 1t hccs them to good behavior
Each feels that the duration Of lis punishment depends in
measure upon his own good CCndct believe that kdnes
towards the unfortunate cOnvit will have its effect softer
ing and subdung his rugged nature 1t appears from the
ports OF the Agent for the last years that large
OF the convlcts received within that period Of time teoy
the OF thirty These young men, and than
enhs of them confined in Prison for first ofnc
We have law that authorizes the Agent upon the dschar
u convict to pay him sum Of money exceeding do
lars. The reports Of the Agent Of the Prison past
years show that during hat period of time three hundred
fifteen convlc have bee discharged from the prison. and thu
the of only twelve hundred and ftytwo dollars was
virtue Of this law, distributed among the whole of them Tn
trife below four dollars piece, barely sufficient
take them to their respective homes if indeed they FORT
enough TO have hone believe it would be better
the discipline of the Pr,on and have benign influence upo
the cOnvcts pay then larger of money upon bei
discharged Many OF then out of the Prison frendes
Their spirits broken They apt think that II
world cold and unorgving and that the finger Of
constantly pointed at then The pttace which the State
them barely sufficient take them back their old haun
and associates, but not enough keep them from destitute
until they can seek elsewhere would
larger OF money the convict, who by his good
duct while in Prison. entities himself the benefits Of the la
of 1855. would increase the to be paid at least t
dollars a