Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-01-18

der years. 10 reclaim him from vioe and
train him to a life Of usefulness aud res
pectsbiity.
The .llouse Of Refuge, as II has long
existed in many Of the older States. is a
vast improvement upon tho Jail and the
penitentiary; but within the last few years
great progress has been made in elevating
the system, and results have been obtained
in the reform aud education Of juvenile Of
tenders that arc truly wonderful.
The Introduction of the Reform School
is in many respects great Improvement
upou the old House Of Refuge, and has
been attended with success which itwould
be hard to believe. were it not attested by
lindnbitable evidence.
Darnabas G. Hobbs and Charles L. Cof.
fin. distinguished members Of tho Society
OF Friends, have bestowed much attention
and labor upon the subject. aud have ad.
dressed 10 me valuable communications
which herewith lay before you, together
with reports and documents setting forth
the character aud operations Of the Reform
Schools Of New York, Ohio and Illinois.
As the subject Is one Of no ordinary
magnitude, aud requires for It's full under
standing much thought and investigation;
aud as the system you may adopt will be
intended not fer a year only, but for oil
time, and should DO wisely considered |
recommend that committees DO appointed
At an early day, with full powers TO inyes.
,gatc the subject and report plan, II pos.
sible. for your consideration and action Ut
the prescott asssicn.
srrnLhE COURT.
deem il any duty to direct your allon-
ton 10 the fact that no provision has boon
made for tho accommodation OF the Su.
prone Court. Tho State House does not
afford sufficient room at any time, and dur.
ing the sessions Of the Legislature none Of
tho judges can occupy rooms there for
chambers. The large aud increasing busi.
ness Of the Court cannot be promptly dis.
posed Of unless the Judges have eomfor..
able chambers, with eonyenient access 10
the law library and tho judicial records.
The Importance aud dignity Of tho Court,
the necessity for the prompt dispatch Of iIs
business, aud a proper regard for the com.
fort and convenience OF tho Judges, re-
quIre that the court room, clerks Office,
law library, and tho chambers, should be
situated adjacent to each other. IL IL not
becoming or excusable, that the judicial
department Of the Government should be
neglected and left TO fhift about for To-
cal habiiation, deprived Of those convent.
ences necessary 10 the speedy and com.
fortStls performance Of its duIies.
ENUMERATION AND ArpoRrfoyMrSr.
At the Special Session Of the General
Assembly, In 1865, an net was passed di.
recting that an enumeration Of the white
male inhabitants over twenty.one years Of
age, be made in each county in the State,
aud prescribing rales aud regulations
therefor.
The enumeration has been made and
properly returned TO the Auditor Of State,
who has caused it to be published.
Section 8, article 4, Of tho Constitution
Of the State, declares that "The number of
Senators and Representatives shall, at the
session next following the period Of max
ing such enumeration, be fixed by law and
apportioned among the several counties
according 10 tho number Of white male in.
habiianis above twenty enc years Of age in
each"
This provision Is positive and manda-
tory in its character, and requires this
General Assembly to apportion Senators
aud Representatives among the several
counties in tho State, according to the
number of white male inhabitants above
twenty -one years Of age in each.
The State for full six years has been
without law spportioning Senators and
Representatives in the several Counties
During that time members Of the General
Assembly have been elected BY common
consent, and from necessity, npon the ba-
sis Of the old law.
While these elections are really without
authority by law, but from necessity must
be received rs legal the basis made by the
old apportionmOnt' has by lapse of timo
and changes Of population become grossly
inequitatle.
The relative population Of counties and
Senatorial aud Representative Districts
has in many cases become so generally al.
tered as 10 conflict utterly with the theory
Of representation prescribed by the Con.
stituton.
AS the General Assembly 10 now in pos.
session Of the proper data upon which to
make an apportioumcnt, trust that duty
will be fully performed before your final
adjournment.
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