Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-01-09

our councils In the decision of the question
OF what their punishment shall be-
Practically, common sense determined th,
question OF their right so to participate
when Congress proceeded in the enactmen
OF laws, after the surrender of the last reb
ell military force. 1t was determined again
when the now pending amendments were
proposed by Congress- If two-thirds o.
Congress, as now constituted, could lawfully
propose those amendments, then three
fourths of the States, not excluded from
representation in Congress, form sufficient
majority to effect their lawful adoption. Ii
was determined again by the formal sane
| ton of both the great political parties, when
! Congress, by an almost unanimous vote, de-
clared the rebellious States without the right
| of representation in the Electoral College
In 1864.
We ought to go on resolutely and rapid
ly, with all measures deemed necessary to
the future safety of the country, so that all
parts OF 1t may, at the earliest day, be re-
stored TO just and equal political privileges.
The annual report of Hon. Thomas II.
BurroWes, Superintendent of the mainte-
nance and education of the soldier orphans
will exhibit the present condition and result
thus far of that undertaking. Nearly three
thousand of the destitute children of the
brave men who laid down their lives that
the nation might live, are now not only com
fortabIy provided for and guarded from
temptation, but are receiving an education
which will fit them to repay the care of the
S,2te.
The appropriation made for this purpose,
at the last session, has been sufficient to
meet all expenses of the financial year just
closed. And [ recommend whatever appro-,
priation may be necessary, to continue and
perfect the system under which the schools
are conducted.
There can be no doubt that the appropri
alton will be made Were | to select any
State interest which | would more warmly
commend to your prompt attention and lib
erality than another, 1t would be this. All
Pennsylvanians are proud of it, and 1t lies
near the hearts of all true men.
Owing to their greater destltutlon and
want OF information on the part OF their
relatives the orphans of our colored sol
diers may require some special attention.
Perhaps authority to the State Superinten-
dent, to use, for short time, the services
of an agent, to ascertain their number and
may be provided for them, will be sufficient.
The whole number in the State is not large,
of whom few have already been Temporal
rily provided for.
| recommend that provision be made for
the maintenance of such of our soldiers as
are in poverty, and have been so manned
as TO prevent them from securing ilveli-
hood ~ their labor, by renting buildings at
once, or such other means as you may deem
wise and proper, until the arrangements
proposed 10y the National Government for
irsupport are completed. They are prob
ably few in number, and it is due to the char
acter of the Commonwealth, that they should
not remain in, or become the III mates OF, poor
houses, Or pick up a precarious subsistence
by begging Patriotic and charitable citl
zens have done much for them, but speedy
and proper relief can only be given them by
the systematic and continued benevolence OF
the Commonwealth The Legislature can "a
lone afford immediate relief to all of this class
of our citizens, and in thus exhibiting graf
itude to heroic and faithful men, who did so
much for the country, the burden will fall e.
qually on all her people.
By our existing laws jur!es are selected by
the sheriff and commissioners of the respec-
tive counties. As these officers are gener
ally of similar political afinities the system
has always been in danger of being abused
for partisan purposes. During the last six
years, it has been frequently SO abused, IN
many of the counties.
To secure, as far as possible. the admins
tration of equal justice hereafter, | recon-
mend that jury commissioners shall be cleo
ted in each county, in the same manner as IN
spectors of elections are chosen, each citizen
voting for one jury commissioner, and the
two persons having the highest number OF
votes to be the jury commissioners of the re-
spective county, to perform the same duties,
in the selection of jurors, that are now i'm
posed upon the sheriff and county commits
sloners.
1t is impossible to provide, in all respects,
for the increasing and changing interests of
our people, by the enactment of general
laws, but to large extent it is practicable
to relieve the Legislature from special leglS-
lation which is demanded and occupies so
much of it's sessions. Special legislation is
generally passed without due consideration,
much of it at the close of the session, and is
chiefly Objectionable from the partiality with
which powers and privileges are conferred
[ again recommend the passage of gener-
al laws, when it is at all practicable, and in
this connection, recommend the passage OF a
general law, regulating railroads now exist
ing and the incorporation of new companies
SO that so far as possible there may be just
uniformity in the franchises granted, and e.
quail facilities afforded to the people of all
sections of the commonwealth.
There are at this time, in the various pris-.
ons, number of persons under sentence OF
death, some of them for many years, and as
it has become a custom that an incoming
Governor should issue warrant of execu-
tion in cases unacted on by his predecessor,
it not unfrequcntly happens that in many ca
ses, some of which are recent, while some
punishment should be inflicted, that ofdeath
may appear to the Executive TO be too severe
l earnestly repeat my recommendation
heretofore made, that provision be made for