The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-01-11

IL is but a few who can be pardoned
How terribly mist the many suffer in
matters not intended by the law for
punishment The Governor may set
the prisoner free, bat he could not clear
the filth and lice from all the prisoners
while confined. -
Doubtless, too, this Board would in
many ways become an agent Of econo-
omy to the State, as we'll as Of kind
ness and justice TO theprisoners. And
not the least of its utilities would be,
the light it would afford the Governor
In his function Of pardoning
The laws in force for the govern
ment Of the Pcnitentiary itself seem
TO rae to be so generally judicious and
complete as system, that ii may be
safer not 10 intcrfcrea with them by
many changes In some doubt, how
ever, beg leave to suggest another
small matter for amendment.
The statute now permits'a new bid
der for labor 10 como into competition
with contractor who is in operation
in the prison at any particular busi-
ness. Competitor, as general rule. is
a healthy and safe proceeding for the
State. And consistently with Justice
to individuals (who, by the way, gen.
orally take care OF thcmseIves) The in.
tercst Of the State is our sole business
in these cases. But If it shall turn oat
that any insecurity in this Investment
of the contractor shah directly tend to
diminish the sum.he will payihc State
for its convict labor, it IL plain enough
! that the State may thereby lose more
! from this consideration going or gone
into The contract, than il wonld gain
by the competition. Whether The Law
shall be SO changed as to give the,old
contractor the right 10 surrender hi,
establishment to the new, at a fait yalu
alton Of disinterested parties (the lat.
ter, il beingSemcmbercd, having . free
choice 10 choose this or any other bus
mess. or else 10 prohibit lis competi.
tion with the vested right; or whether
other or any change ought TO be q.
dopted-with these merest suggestions
q submit TO the deliberate .considera.
tion OF the General Assembly. only
think, as at present advised, that il
ought to be looked into and thought
J over.
Without any reference to tie pres
ent incumbcnts Of those offices, I also
venture 10 suggest that tho Steward
should not be the supervisor OF
the purchases of the Warden, from
whom he receives his appointment -
This law Gf, indeed such be its true
Interpretation, of which | entertain
doubts should be changed one way CT
the other. Either some other author
ity should appoint the Steward or some
other officer should inspect the pur-
chases OF the Warden. a.t
The absence of the new machines
for washing, ironing, cooking. etc, is
a positive loss, each year, of their en-
tire cost. Surely the next appropria, +,
ton ought 10 include the cost of these
articles. i15d.iGV .-tt- e4s gar
..ur il5l PARDoNs. ..-li f..t..t.. ...
| The statement of the numberof par
dons granted during the year by my
predecessor and myself, is herewith
attached according to law. The rea-
sons given for each act Of this Execn-
tive clemcncy are very briefy-per-
haps too brieRy-set forth. Doubt
less (if the policy of the law would per-
NIT their publicity the reasons given
for those refused, would be quite as in
teresting and more instructive upon
this important subject. i apprehend
there must be in the community very
erroneous, if rot crudest, ideas of the
rights and duties of the Governor in
the matter of this prerogative. Ger
tainly there is very slight sense o.
the due responsibility, in regard to the
true interests of the State, felt by ma
jority Of the signcrs TO the petitions
1t is useless, however, to complain of
this. As bng as human nature re.
mains unchanged, people will too read
lily sign petitions which can subject
tbomSelvns nersopoIIv ond d;rn.tIv IN
NO loss ~ ;nrontcnic1cO -
nv '''' - lueO', '''I"|1'
AdhiV | LIZ HAA LANp;'hANI'
The Committee appointed by the
Ia'e I governor, lo, u, u'der tne "1tmor'ly an ol
'ne Ac. l'aSsca PIIl 10, io1', I"iter
ei'relu, eN"n'.ua.'oli . anu co9s!uer".ioh' !,s H
mas maze ltS report, ~ w''l , DC SUP
Ih,''cd , ~ o'' .ii III " l'ccEu messaSe--
oc! le"No y say Una; ,;s, s'.llns, IN IN .he
nrst ,, ins.airc' rs. very u'nrr"n' view OF
inc matter l a'n na, now now PGrSHaoeo G mat