East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1865-01-11

your aucnflon. lhe appropriations Nhich were
ais ly the last Legislature n meet the necess-
Dry AM oriiluy expsns e the institution Tor
1853 AMI 1861, as also that which wa made tor
comp.eiing tho centre building ard ore q thu
vii q an IN connections, proved inadequate for
tluse % cts This bias been owing 10 the greatly
Increased c, 81 # everything since The estimates
were mnlo upon which the appropriations were
hased, and also 10 the fact that such nrpsopria-
tims were ma IA lt,s than tie estimates made ~
the lloarsi.
Tho Trustees rsl that fueieicu, appropriations
be- made TO saIsoF. aHi successfully caHy m the
rst.,atisn .os I6C5anl 1866, without having Hn.
j. isht6incss 10 be provided f'r by subsequent
J gsshth and to effect this o. Jet they ak that
>J6OOO hc appropriated Tor 1865. and els 600
fr 1916 AMI also the additional gun Of Sl00C0
t. ply tho present indcLtc,ness on account O.
d,hsits bath for support Of the ins;itu'ion anl
FIR bnilding purroies ILey also ask for such
mHher appropriation as mHy 10 suflccn, 10 com
Bsete he west wing AMI to Inlsh s'no portion Of
&c IA "a ouifco.
So h.ag as this m similar institutions are 20
ls sustained by the state vislom aud sound pod
icy require that ample and adcquate PROVISION
t..Oull Le made for their sugpoiti ard where such
!. not arr vi3el tie G6asl ar compelled either 70
d'smits end send home tho pupils, OF borrow
nancy, or otherwise create debts for The purpose
81 acc',s yiL,.ipg the very O. iec,s whih the leg
Rhta,e intended sholiid 10 done Prom such
practice enn see neithor aayaRioge, hcnehi nor
favihg but on the other hunl, serious lac n
Neuicnee AM loss. II would certainly lie wiser
rnd mich t':tc' 70 h,Yee e,aall balance on hand
NJ the clcse Of the GEAR, than deS1ii to be pro-
vidcd for. A delay IN Supplying means for pres
Al exp .n1itures does net, by any means, cancel
to Indebtedness arising fiom such expenditures.
would therefore hope that a SUN might be APP
prUpriated sufficient % cancel tho present indeht-
lncss AID also 20 meet the ordinary and nee
cssary eyQcr liirre IF the institution ,0r the next
two wears. In regard Ia The appropriation asked
for by the Boatd, ELL farther TO complete tho
iuil ling, have NJ doubt that such FTprcpriA e
ton Is very necessary 0Ed desirable, and thai the
efficiency OF the institution seriously demands IT
But in view of the numerous and excessive requi-
sitions upon The Treasury at the present time, 1t
Is n subject for the exercise of your discretion
how far and 20 what extent tbs work shall DO
prosecuted during tho next two years.
/ have no hesitation, however, in expressing my
opinion that tie policy heretofore pursucd by tho
State in the erection Of asyums for this and other
humane and benevolent objects is both unwise
and niulicious Their erection by piece-moal
riust necessarily nearly double their cost, besides
which their deterioration is very greatly enhanced
10 long us the buildings are left in an unfinished
state. As these structures were designed TO meet
tae wants # the future, and so far 10 benefit those
who come after us, il neither prudent nor just
TO require the present tax payers to sustain the
whole burden of their cost in addition to that OF
their ilnuNl support. III JuusilShN iilniiN1
necessary for their erection should have been bOr-
rowcd upon tho bonds Of the State, and the pay
ment of the interest with q small per centage Of
the principal orly should have been met By an
annual tax upon the people. But different
course having been adopted it only remains for
MS to DO what may seem for the best interests OF
the State under existing circumstances have
little doubt, however, that the economist, acting
solely with n view TO his interest, would complete
the buildings at the earliest practicable moment.
The ronrd, also ask that tho law, in relation TO
The clothing and other expenses Of the pupil charg-
able back to tho counties from which they came,
may he so amended, that sum not exceeding
forty doiiarSs instead Of treniy dollars, as at
present provided, may he used, il found necessary
for that purpose. TO this, can sec no objection
and would, therefore, recommend that such alter.
INSANE ASl LUM.
This institution, also, claims your fostering cart
md the Constitution has not left il to voluntary
legislation, hut has made il imperative upon 700
t. grant il ample support
An appropriation was made by the last legisa-
ture Of $4,000 for the payment of arrears existing
at the close Of the year 1862, and also appro-
priation Of S29 900 for 1864, and Of S29 600 fol
1865, for the purpose of completing the erection
of the north wing, and finishing the erection Of
the same. What the precise condition Of its fnan-
ces may be, am unable to say, not having seer
tho Biennial Report Of the Board Of Trustees
nor do know what sum will be sufficient to meet
its future wants.
trust, however, your appropriations in behalf
Of this Institution will be such as to meet the
claims which its unfortunate inmates have upon
u., and such also as was Contemplated by the con
stitution.
STATE PRISON.
The condition Of the State Prison, financially
and otherwise, is infinitely and clearly shown by
- 10, .f fIof nj
10 which 1 respectfully refer you.
The number OF convicts on the Both day Of No
yomber 1884, was POP showing decrease in two
years Of 49, This continued reduction in the
number OF inmates in that institution is undoubt-
edly owiny 20 the fact that the rcpeton'of ON
armies has had tendency to draw into the ranks
many of those restless and lawloss spirits who mol
unfrcquenty ARE led to the commission Of crime
in more wnnonncss This diminution, however
! fear csa only be regarded MS temporary, and
that rs soon as the causes which have produced i
cease 10 operate, We may again look for u rapid
increase. find by reference 10 the records o.
the past thqt the increase from December l. 1919
when the number only 10, reached tho enor
nous number Of 62l on the lst day of December
1860, being ratio Of increase infinitely greater
than that Of the population Of the State for tbs
same period
In regard TO the real condition and want, Of Oh,
prison, financially and otherwise, beg TO reie
YOU to the reports of its officers, believing tina
your action thereon will be such MS 10 meet all II
Just and reasonable demands. | may be permit
ted however to say that every subject connected
with our criminal Jurisprudence is worthy of you
most careful and patient deliberation Tho saiet,
of society requires the punishment Of crime nn'
this punish,ncnt has in view both the reformation
Of tho criminal aud the influence his fate ma.
have in lettering others frVm the commission 0
like offences
Although Il may not be strictly in place here
vet 1 beg your Indulgence while referring brefl
TO the exercise Of tho pordonmg power in the ex
ccutYo. IL has been said that Justice tempered
with mercy is an attribute II tie deity, aud thl
executive who refuses TO entertain application
for pardon becauoe he Is liable TO be imposed up
on shuts bis heart 70 all the better feelings Of
hatlre." This may 10 true in an abstract sense
but when considered in connection with all tha
is involved in the principle which recognizes
necessity for the inliction Of punishment Tor thl
commission Of crime, IL should be remembered
with some cnution. The first object which society
hes in Furnishing criminal IL the prevention 0
crime; and there is no doubt that certainty o
punishment Is more powerful corrective thai
severity. But, IL Is manifest that certainty o
punishment is Incompatible With too liberal ex
ercise OF the rGr'oning power on Tho part Of tbs
Executive. Such power is given TO hun, ap
rrehend not that he may, at his pleasure, anI
upon, perhaps er parte investigation, reverse m,
oyerufe the proceedings Of courts and the verde
OF juries, had upon a full and fair hearing Of al
the testimony and circumstances, but that lie ma,
IN extraordinary eases exercise IL AS q remedis
measure, warranted only by an unusual state o
facts, and 10 be always used with the greatest cir
cumspeclion. II, in the future history of tn
state, we should insensibly drift away into to-
frequent exercise Of such cemency, it is not diff
cdlt 10 imagine that men tempted TO crime wou
calculate upon il as ono of their avenues Of er
cue lrOm penalty. Nor II it impossible that tn
rigid enforcement of the rules and practice Of ia
dicial inyettigatlon might become relaxed upo
t.ie ploa th't mistakes could easily lo remedie
ny fxecnive interference, IL II sjtomo loo fre
dacnt upon prisoncis nnd tho discipline Of pris
ons Tho only way to dctor the lawlcss AMI vic
i0gs from the commission Of crime, is-io lot ,hcr
understand that punlshmcit IL certain, and tlia
no fictitious plea Of reformation and regret i
view OF such punishment, after their eohyctio
flr tho nmnishment Of such crme can rceAs