Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1862-01-09

AekisiatuIe VI &ooV'
I transmit herewith communication from
the Secretary of the Interior, in reference to
the new apportionment of members of the
House Of Representatives in the Congress Of
the United States. From 1t you will perceive
that the number Of representatives from this
State has been reduced to Ave, and that. there
fore, It will be your duty to divide the State
into the requisite number of congressional
districts. / transmit, also, II statement from
the same department in regard to the popu-
lation Of our State, which will be found Of
value in the labor Of forming tho new dis
trcts.
l herewith transmit copy Of the joint re-
solution Of Congress to amend the constitu-
ton of the United States approved March
2, 1861. submitted the same to the Leg
slatu,e at its special session in Frederick
city and believe it received action Ia one
branch thereof. But it was never finally
acted upon, and deem it my duty to trans
NIT it to you, and to urge the propriety of
giving it your prompt attention.
The National Sanitary Commission, at a
meeting held at Washington on the 18th Of
September, 1861, resolved that the sanitary
commission urge the adoption, on the part of
the several State Legislatures Of a uniform
system of medical examination for military
service" A copy Of this resolution has been
forwarded to me, and submit it for your
consideration.
The reports Of the CONT, .sioner on tho
part of Maryland to ascertain and define the
southeastern and northwestern boundaries
between Maryland and Virginia are here
with submitted. am informed by the
commissioner that tho tracing and marking
of the western line Of the State. from the
Fairfax stone" to the northern boundary of
Maryland, was completed during the sum-
msr OF 1860. The work was commenced in
1859, with the corporation Of Virginia, in
conformity with chapter 275 of the acts of
1862. The commissioner on the part Of
Virginia failed to join in the completion Of
the survey; but it being matter Of great
importance to Allegany county that it should
DO no longer delayed, the commissioner for
Maryland completed the work as required
by chapter 3s5 of the acts of 1896.
Tho commissioner for Virginia was invited
to Join the commissioner for Maryland in
marking the Southern line between the Po-
comoke and the Atlantic, the necessary sur.
veys for which had been made at the joint
expense Of the two States. No answer was
received to that proposition, and the ntsn-
tons of the Legislature, in this regard, have
not been carried out. All the details con-
Lected with the subject are fully set forth
in records and maps, transmitted to this de-
partment by our commissioner. | suggest
the propri ty of preserving those papers.
They have cost the State considerable sum,
and will be valuable in the future.
/ transmit herewith the report of the COM
missioners appointed by the act of 1860,
chapter l65, to define the boundary line be-
tween Dorchester and Somerset counties
The snm Of FIVE hundred and eighty-four
dollars and thirty-Seven cents was expended
in the prosecution Of this commission. and
the vouchers therefor are on che file in this
department. The map referred to in the re.
port is on file in the land office.
As incidentally connected with the subject
Of the southern boundary Of our State,
transmit copy Of petition Of the inhab-
itants of Tangier Island. asking for the an
nexation Of that Island to Maryland.
trust that tic condition of the Mary land
Penitcntary will receive due consideration
al your hands. The earnings Of the lnstitu-
ton do not pay its expenses, and it will be
necessary for you to aid it by suitable APP
preparation. Tho reports Of tho directors
and officers, with accompanying statement,
are herewith submitted
In my communication to the General As
sembly at its session in January. 1860,
suggested tho propricty OF Furnishing crimes
Of lesser grade by confinement in the peni.
Tertiary for shorter period than the mini.
mum then allowed by law. The experiment
has been made, and has not met my expec.
tation. The large number of criminals oil
this class sentenced to the penitentiary has
imposed upon its finances burthen which
they cannot we'll endure.
When tho convict is received at the insti.
tuition ho is provided with prison suit
When he is to be discharged he has to be
supplied with another suit, and with two
dollars in cash. Having been confined hui
short time, he has not earned sufficient te
pay the expenses of maintaining him. ant
the difference has to be betrayed from thu
funds Of the institution. 1t seems to b
necessary, therefore, to make some changes
in the existing laws on this subject. Whli'
it is manifestly cruel and unjust to punist
petty offenses by long terms oil mprison
ment, it is certain that the present mode o
punishment seriously interferes with tho eff
6ciency Of the penitentiary. Perhaps tn
ends of justice might be fully attained b.
Furnishing this class Of offenders by shor
terms Of imprisonment in the jails or aims