Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-05-13

fo-rn s~heol. where the young conyicf, separated
from yiscious associates. NAV. by care nl. phyi.
ca intellectual and moral training he reformed
end restored to the community with principles
and character fitting him for good citizen. an
hor s-ibis and honest man"
Tits seems 70 be on the right path. The true
la-gIver viii seek 20 destroy the sources of
crime. By destroying the root the growth of the
frui, Is prevented By rearing the youth Of the
land in intelligence and virtuous principles all
else can almost be left % itself.
"Our Constitution provides that The penal
code shall be founded the principles Of re-
formation ard not of vindictive justice This
is noble provision There is wisdom and good
nes-, head and heart embraced in that provision.
Punishments should not be designed merely 20 n
fct differing the guilty for the sake OF suffer
ing, but inducement TO prevent us repetition
by the offender himself, and 10 operate a warn
inc 20 deter Others. aud eyerv effort should be
employed TO render such punishment reformatory
in IT, character To imprisOn boy IN our cOun
~ jail among felons. is poor school OF reform.
That he IS vicious is often more his misfortune
than his fault. Perhaps an orphan, or worse, he
grows up neglected and ignorant, and exposed to
the worst influences, and that he should likewise
grow up criminal should not surprise any one.
Society which permitted il. il the worst. if not
the only criminal OF the two. 1t Is easy TO deal
with the mere surface of crime-to hne and i'm
and ever remember that the most valuable police
regulation is that which stands guardian over the
morals of tho Young
No police regulations can preserve peace and
good order in a vicious and ignorant community.
Our charter authorizes the establishm ent of such
an institution, and it would enable the benevolent
amongst to find their unfortunates and give
direction TO that benevoence which at present
cannot find or exercise control or influence over
its objects.
Ii might embrace. too. within lis provisions
those given 10 habitnal intoxication | have
long entertained the conviction that this should
be treated as disease. If not an insanity. rather
than crime. Ii is perhaps generally
garded. The victims themselves do not so re
gard it: but test the question by the logical fact
whether or not their conduct is rational. and
have an answer at once. Men sacrifice every
thing for dr'nk--thev drink themselves into pov
srty, disgrace and ruin for themselves and fami-
lies-cast away everything desirable in life.
hope. ambition health and even life itself And
can IL be that this l. not madness? Call il what
we may, il is wicked spell->o strong rs 10 des-
troy self control. moral, or physical restraint
And must one like this be left to destroy himself
without an effort TO save him. No more than
the maniac. who has repeatedly attempted suicide
Sometimes il is the poor and frieudess alone in
the world drinking 10 drown his sorrow. IL is
not usually the mean. selfish or niggardly that
become drunkards-such a temperament is the
best security in the world Ii Is usually the gen
erous and the social. whose verv genality
seeking society and being sought has been his
RUM aud vet such, though they may
be lost to the reforming influence of
blows, and of the worlds neglect. or scorn
are vet not lost to the influence of
sympathy for oftentimes gentle word of
advice. one soothing tone of hope may do more
to reform and encourage the wicked and despair
! ing than all the manacles that ever we're forged,
and all the solitary dungeons that ever were
builded.
Separated for time from vicious associates.
surrounded BY good Influences. encouraged to
regain his self resrect. and debarred from access
| to his cups until consciousness has been restored
he may 90 forth clothed in his right mind 10 a
future of hope and happiness, Where should we
seek the most TO effect reform! Of course where
: it is most needed-among the worst; and atho'
we may not always succeed-thougl it should
not always do Others good. or make them better,
il will ourselves. The heart always comes purer
and better from n labor of love The highest
and purest enjoyment is the consciousness of do
| ing good and ne is the wisest man who most cul-
tivates this sublime and Heaven born sensibility.
Each noble and generous Impulse grows stronger
with its exercise. each blow upon the anvil
makes the that struck it stronger TO strike
the next and the true philsnthropist will never
cease To labor or to hope for his
] will call The attention of the Council to
another subject. although it is one you cannot
remedy, as it is provision of the charter
| 1t is provided that the Mayor shall, as part of
| his compensation. receive fees which depend
ent upon conviction. Our laws make similar
provision tor the fees OF Justices of the Peace.
This is wrong in principle. to make the compen
sation of judicial officer dependent upon his
! own decision. Ii there il ANYTHING in the world
that should be removed. in the remotest degree,
from every corrupting influence. il is the judi
ciary from the highest To the lowest for even the
lowest acts uDou the property and liberty of the
! citizen. And although gre 4 should be ex
ercSed in the selection of pure men. Vet the best
are subject to improper influences and the era
wings of avarice iuvidiou>. and often exercise
mn Influence unconSciouslv evei 10 the party in
fuenced 1t would be 1T letst well not to
hold out the temptation.
Ny own conviction is. that courts are but sell
dom If ever influenced nv such temptation but
this is not all, courts of justice should be so ad
ministered that their purity should ever remain
above suspicion.
/ Violations are often committed of ordinances
not important in their character. by parties too
entirely ignorant and innocent OF intention
and the consequences of the act almost if not
wholly harmless. Yet coming within the prohi-
bition of the law officer sworn execute the
laws, mot tn make them not responsible for their
wisdom.) is obliged 10 inhct the penalty. and the
accused looking at II from his stand point of sci
ishness and irritation and feeling too innocent
| of intention md that the act harmless, goes
out feeling hat he is wronged. charges il at once
to motive and with his respect for
courts impaired, and prepared more than before
to commit wful violation in spirit of defiance
| Courts should be administered. If possible
that even the verest criminal should be convnc-
/ al fl,ata ne "a
thatthe court impartial
/ Our city finances have become important
/ feature. Our expenditures are annually a large
| sum aud necessarily increasing with our growth
Our people are willing to pay taxes literally bu
they expect and have a right TO expect, that il
will not only be honestly but udiciouslv expended
Let US see to it that these expectations are real
lied
And now. gentlemen let US enter upon our du
ties actusted by but one impulse. but one ambi
tion-the welfare the perpetuity and the hon
or Of our beautiful city; and when she shall have
become the proudest and purest metropolis Of
the West. NAV each OF Us he able to point to he
with pride aud exultation and truthfully say. Wha
! she is. in her greatness and goodness. I helped
make her. JoHN GAVIN
/ Mr. Brown moved that so much Of the messag
rs referred TO the House of Re uge be referred
to the Committee on Public buildings: that {,
the violation of Ordinances TO the Committee on
the Revision of Ordinances that to finance {,
the Finance Committee. &c, which prevailed
Mr. Thompson moved that FIVE hundred copie: