Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-01-02
COLUMBUS. OHIO TUESDAY MORNING. JANUARY 2, 1866.


stain upon their truth or honor, are forever
debarred from testifying in courts, or yot-
ing at elections, simply because Of the art
lessness and playfulness OF their natures.
And, when It Is remembered that the exist
ence of this law misleads the public upon
this subject, that II has become so common
as to be an almost universal condition made
by judges, prosecuting attorneys, and 9th
ers, to their recommendations for pardon,
to add: "proyided his conduct in prison
has been good" it is very clear that the de-
liberate villains In the penitentlary, as
class, have too high reward for their
special talents in hypocrisy, self-poSsession,
ETC., and that the others are unduly de-
tanned In imprisonment, and unequally If
not unjustly punished afterwards. beg
leave here to say that this sort Of good con-
duct ought not to have much influence In
procuring par1Ons, and not at all in cases
where the crimes of the applicant Indicated
such sort of disposition and habits. i can
not believe that plck-pocket (who will
succeed In getting your money with your
eyes fixed On his) ought TO be SO very
highly rewarded for his knack of keeping
his countenance. The case Is not of easy
solution, l admit. But there seems 20 be a
positive evil In this state of the law, as to
each of these classes of offenders AS the
law now stands, prisoner who has passed
the whole time OF his sentence without
having any iniractions of discipline re-
corded against him, is restored to citizen
ship, notwithstanding it may have been his
second, third, or as is sometimes the case,
his fifth or sixth term; and this, too, when
his previous prison history may not have
entitled him to a restoration certificate.
Surely this needs amendment.
In Canada (as am advised by very high
authority in such matters) there Is Board
of Inspectors, whose duty it is TO inspect
and censure all the prisons and prison dis
ciplines of the government down to the
county and city jails; and it is, moreover,
asserted that the influence of this instttu-
tion has been found, in the practice. most
beneficial to all the parties interested-the
prisoners, keepers, and the State. When
we consider the especial liability to abuse
in all systems Of Imprisonment; how neces-
sarily complete the power of the keepers
must be; how silent and uncomplaining the
wretched and despised prisoners usually
are; how soon they are forgotten and for
saken by friends and how strong the ten
dency of these abuses is, therefore, to be-
come chronic--it would really seem as II
an active power of visitation and ameliora-
tion should be constantly kept alive, in Or
der to represent the mercy of the govern
ment, as well as the strong walls and hard
bars to represent its justice. AS it is, the
whole official mercy of the State is in the
pardOning power of the Governor. But
that divine attribute ought more to be ex-
ercised in those lesser kindnesses during
the imprisonment. 1t is but few who can
be pardoned. How terribly must the many
suffer in matters not intended by the law
for punishment? The Governor may set
h. f-nn DIT ha Of nIao
the filth and lice from all the prisoners
whilst confined. .." H.
Doubtless, too, this Board would in many
ways become an agent of economy to the
State, as we'll as of kindness and justice to
the prisoners. And not the least of its
utilities would be, the light it would afford
the Governor in his function of pardoning
The laws in torcG for the government OF
the Penitentiary itself seem to me to be
so generally judicious and complete, as a
system, that it may be safer not to interfere
with them by many changes. In some
doubt, however, beg leave to suggest an
other small matter for amendment.
The statute now permits new bidder for
labor to come into competition with a con-
tractor who is In operation in the prison, at
any particular business. Competition, as a
general rule, is healthy and safe proceed
Justice to individuals (who, by the way,
generally take care of themselves) the in
terest of the State is our sole business in
these cases. But if it shall turn out that
any insecurity in this investment of the
contractor shall directly tend to diminish
the sum he will pay the State for its con-
vict labor, it Is plain enough that the State
may thereby lose more from this considera-
tion going or gone into the contract, than it
would gain By the competition. Whether
the law shall be so changed as to give the
old contractor the righttO surrender hises-
tablishment to the new, at a fair valuation
of disinterested parties (the latter. it being
remembered, having free choice to choose
this or any other business), or else to pro-
hibit his competition with the vested right;
or whether other or any change ought to
be adopted-with these merest suggestions,
i submit to the deliberate consideration of
the General Assembly. / only think, as at
present advised, that it ought to be looked
into and thought over. . -
Without any reference to the present in
cumbents of those offices, towards whom
my impressions are yesy favorable, also
venture to suggest that the Steward should
not be the supervisor of the purchases OF
the Warden, from whom he receives his ap-
pointment. This law (if, indeed, such be
its true Interpretation, of which l enter
tain doubts should be changed one way or
the otherp Either some other. authority
should appoint the Steward, or some other
officer should inspect the purchases OF the
The absence, Of the new machines for
washing, ironing cooking, Sc, is positive
loss, each year, of their entire cost. Sure
ly the next appropriation ought to include
the cost of these articles. {, rsfr,l ts,,-t W.
.rOigiT-u. 20 "a ,PARDoNs. 4i'l 10 .goi9iu sg
The statement of the number of pardons
granted during the year by my predecessor
and myself is herewith attached according
to law The reasons given for each act OF
the Executive clemency are very briefly
perhaps too 1brieily--Set forth. Doubtless
(if the policy of thelaw would permit their
publicity the reasons given for those re-
fused, would be quite as interesting and
more instructive upon this important sub
ject. apprehend there must be. In the
community very erroneous,lit 1t not crudest,
ideas of the rights and duties of the Cow
ernor In the matter of this sprerogative.---
Certainly there is a very slight sense of the
due responsibility In regard to the in-
terests of the State felt by q majority of the
signers to the petitions, 1T is useless, how-
ever, to complain Of this. AS long as ghu-
man nature remains unchanged, people will
too readily sign petitions which can subject
themselves, personally and directly,t to no
loss or,lnc0nyenlenoe. .isgI1B sf1 HoQH Z
-19a ,IuiilUA RAILROADS. b93iYib o. yus'
The railroad interests of Ohio have be-
come of immense value to the stoc kholders,
the people and the State. ,'s The great