The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-03-01
The Branch State Prison.
WHITNEY JONES.

The Branch State Prison.
On the 2lst inst, the Committee on State
Affairs, OF the House, made q report TO that
body upon the biz introduced by Mr..
OGrady Of Marquette, for locating. es-
tabllshing and erecting I branch State Pris-
on in the Upper Peninsula. The report ap-
pears in the legislative Journal Of tHat day,
and although it does not recommend that
the biz pass, yet the facts presented therein
to the House are Of so positive a character
in behalf and support Of the measure. that
we are constrained TO express our surprise
that the committee, IN view thereof did not
feel warranted in adding the recommends
ton. But we quote from the report:
" From the Information presented, your
committee became fully impressed with the
importance Of the provisions Of the bill 49,
The unqGestiOned fact that the prevention
and punishment OF crime is Of the first i'm
portance 20 a community without the
mans for which no state can long exist
Society, property and the public peace alike
depend upon the safeguards that ought 10
De provided for It's prevention and punish
ment.
Experience has demonstrated that the
best mode Of prevention is the sure and
undOubted means Of punishment. without
these means, laws 10 punish crime would be
" little or no avail. The principle OF re-
wards and punishment Is the true basis up
on which all laws for the restraining and
governing Of men are founded.
Section Of article 10, of the cOnsti-
tuition provides that the State Prison NAV
be removed from Jackson 10 the Upper
Peninsula
As the bill does not contemplate such
change reference is only made to the sec
ton TO show that the subject OF a prison in
the Upper Peninsula had been mOoted in the
convention which formed our present con-
stitutiOn. That body 10 doubt had the sub
ject under serious consideration, and had
that provision provided for a branch Of the
prison, Instead OF its removal, there would
have been less ambiguity in the meaning
and intent, than in the language as therein
expressed. Your committee are clearly OF
the opinion that there is no written or i'm
piled objection in that provision TO the es-
adjustment Of a branch prison at some
I 4
/ ton then arises. shall it be established. and
/ if so, when2 Does the necessities of the
/ case demand II az this time, Are the finan-
/ ces of the state In a condition 10 afford the
necessary appropriations for the object con-
/ templated in the bill?
Your committee are Of the opinion that
/ It should be the policy Of the State TO es-
tablish branch prison in some part Of the
/ Upper Peninsula, TO be located by COM
/ missioner or commissioners, appointed by
the Governor for that purpose. Upon this
point your committee is unit; upon the
question OF when this should be done, your
/ committee are not agreed.
We have not seen the bill, nor have the
committee in their report stated the amount
Of the appropriation asked for We have
heard, however, that the sum appropriated
+ by the bin is $50, 900. The amount is large.
in the opinion Of the committee, for these
times; but in our opinion not too large
when viewed in its true relation to its OBJ
ject This structure must of necessity be
large; must he strong and secure: must he
durable; must be enclosed and il should,
in anticipation, conform in all respects to
the rapidly increasing numbers of the pop
ulation Of that very important part Of our
great State. Again we quote from the re-
port:
THE real merits OF this question. howev-
or, aside from all other considerations. IS
the difficulty under which the people of the
Upper Peninsula labor in regard 10 crimi-
mails. Deprived, as they are, during large
portion OF the year from all or nearly all
direct Intercourse with the lower portion OF
the State, they are compelled from necessi-
", 10 let many OF their criminals run al
large, rather than I've at the expense Of
securing and keeping them in the insecure
and temporary iails. such as are usually %
be found in new counties: from which cause
many of the convicted cases it is impossible
10 hold until the means Of sending them 70
the Penitentiary are open 10 them.
" Your committee fully appreciate the
hardships under which the authorities
Of the Upper Peninsula labor, in maintain
INC proper administration of Justice.
" The Inconvenience and DELAYS which
have TO be submitted 10 in conveying con-
victs 20 the present State Prison. after the
close OF navigation on the lakes recurring
n long and tedious trip through the terrific
~ of several different States. imposes hard
ships and impediments on the proper ad-
miuistration Of justice, from which they
ought 10 be relieved"
The report omits mention Of 4 very i'm
portant fact, viz: that the average distance
from the State Prison at Jackson is etqht
hundred miles which in our opinion is one
OF the strongest reasons why the bill, as it
is-or. if the appropriation is deemed too
large Tor the times, the bill amended. 70
remove all objection - should pass We
have ever regarded the interests of the Up
per Peninsula with favor; we desire their
successful accomplishment and realization;
and that c0nsummatiOn will be arrived. in
our opinion. only when person and prop
erty shall Be made safe BY indicating the
honor, integrity and majesty Of the law.