Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-01-03

of the United States Of the passage and rati, OF
firation of nm amendment to the Federal 81
Constitution, alolishing slavery wherever "
existed In this country, has rendered this y
mos, salutaiy provision OF our state laws Y
nunatory; there ~ consequently noprovlsioh
in our criminal code for the adequate PUNISH !
ment OF this class of persons Tor some OF tut 7
most serions oilcnscs known TO our ia"s. y
In addition to thia, the enactment ~ Con y
crcss of what IL known as the "Civil Rights q
BILL" DESTROYING all distinction in the punish !
nent for the same oilense whether commit
ted h, whites or negroes. has, II TINS law
shall l,e held ts the courts to he consiitu'ionai
and valid, exempted the free negro popuia-
lion Of this State altogether from PUNISH
meni for certain oilcnscs The laws oi tnis
State have wisely denied the colored popua-
ton certain rights and privileges accorucu 10
white people nhaliling the state. Among
these Is the right to own or have IN ineir
posscssiop firearms and ammunition. lhs
\ npli,y. which the well being Of society de-
inundcd has. through u long period OF our
| history. MT only received the sanction OF
legislative wisdom and approval oil pno,lc
sentiment. bu, has proved salutary IN me
preservation OF public peace and good ordef
OF society. Earnestly commend ms su,lect
10 the deliberate and thoughtful considers
lion of the General Assembly, and earnestly
recommend Il careful revision of the whole
criminal code of the State as II is apnlicaDlc
to this class Of our population. NO INV
should remain upon our Statute Book that
cannot he executed. The constitution Q,
the State provides that the Governor "shai'
take care that the laws he iaitliiuiiy cAccu
led shall no, shrink from this duty, hut
shall feel il incumbent upon me TO insist mat
all laws of this State, moi adjudged ny COM
peient authority unconstitutional, or IN con
4. iiitt with some constitutional law OF 'oh-
. rrcss. ic faithfully enforced and executed.
/ Proper restriction upon the Immigration
= 10 this Slate OF negroes from other portions
Of the country is demanded by me interests
of all classes Of our people. we nave III
: ready II large negro population III our nius''
I many Of whom are indoent and worthless,
4 sui,sisting upon the labor of others and CON
tributing Int little to their own support.
e Observation has taught us that WIN lew cN-
e ccptiops the negroes coming from Diner
i States are such us have fled from justice, or
I who add hut little to the industry ana iahor
II Of the State. The laws upon our s'a'u.e
% hooks. upon this subject, have not been en-
d forced, and have deemed ii my duty to pre-
il sent il Tor your consideration.
e In calling the attention Of the Gcneral
l. Assembly to the condition OF our criminal
;. Code. rs applicable to our negro population,
= would not suggest the enactment Oh laws
r unnecessarily harsh or severe 10 remedy We
F.. detects pointed ont On the contrary, wh,le
% il is paramount duty ON the part Of the
Ii Legislature to provide for the proper and
T. adequate punishment Of crime by law, IL
a. w,uid not be in consonance with the dictates
& of humanity or the sentiment OF our people
n that puniSiments disproportionatc to the
,g o,l,nsc committed should he inflicted on any
T. class Of persons in this state.
Ne In this connection desire to submit To the
o. Legislature whether the wants and interests
-. 81, .,ft In
is and the claims of humanity, would moi all
he be promoted by the establishment oi Peni-
~ icniiarv of moderate dimensions and cost.
T. and At some convenient point, where con
1t. yictcd criminals. hy IL judiciOus system OF
u labor, might he made 10 contribute to then
he own support. where their physical and men,
tai condition might be better cared Tor, and
d. where moral instruction and discipline, witt
liz Il view to ultimate reformation, might b'
he more advuntagcollsly administered. There
nd are now confined in the county jails OF thu
he several counties in this State, a number o
lie persons under sentence oi Imprisonment
he some for life. others for II term oi years
he Thus situated, they cannot he madt To con
OF triiintc. by labor, to their own support, M
gh live life Of idlcncss, confined to the limit
ne of narrow cells badly ventilated, and calcu
be lated to engen,lcr disease and impair the gene
.te raj health. Experience has proved that con
di- yicis thus situated after having served out !
On long term of Imprisonment. were general,
" discharged broken down in health, and will
he ruined constitutions become public charge
on during the balance Of their lives. ! submit
oh this subject to the General Assembly N tn
ISIS belief that they will give TO il the intelligen
ms consideration which its Importance demands
res deem il my duty to present for the con
ri sidtraion of the Legislature the condition q
of the State Library, and office OF the Secretar
tes of State The capacity Of the room appr'
he priaicd for the purposes Of the Library is en-
SEES ircly insufficient. There are now packe
up and deposited in the garnet OF the Stat
Ola House. large numbers Of valuable books, IL
en- the want Of space in the Library to rcceiy
We them. | suggest that the interest of til
Ugh State demands that such additional room l
the provided as will enable the Librarian to kcc
the The keep the books in II proper state OF PR
: to seryation and convenient for reference All
A ol usc
lese The Office of the Secretary of State, whit
by is the only room appropriated TO the Exec
iose tive Department OF the State, has also b
hem come 50 crowded us to render il impossib
ware for that officer to keep the records and 9th
tern State papers in proper condition, and
the ccsshlc for reference. | therefore recoi
laily mend the Legislature to make such prov
the sion for this department ms the interest
NOT the State demands.
i ,, The defensccss cond;,inn of the people
q ny this sta. &c subject Of frequent remark
WI. many Of our mos, thoughtful citizens. II
and known to the members OF IN. General A
ltan scmby that I'LL the arms OF this state VT
meet during the late civil war, taken beyond
'oun limits of the State by the armed agents
New the Federal Government, and that they III,
Nv in not been returned. ! commend the subj
shall to your serious and thoughtful deliberate
shall and recommend such legislation as may
when found necessary to the best interest and 81
ace of ty of the people of this State.
rncss In obedience to the requirement Of
iinga ninth section of the third article of the &
these siitution. herewith transmit to you
,epre- of the pardons, rcprieves, and renissi
lpor- granted by me since became charged "
prac- the duties of the Executive Office of
estore State, in March, isG5.
o sec Congress, at its last session, passed q j
ions, resolution proposing an amendment to
State, Constitution of the United States, cert
utility copy of which has been forwarded to M.
the Secretary of State, which at an early
I'd has shall cause to be laid before you.
9TH in though the Executive of the State has
struct- voice in the ratification or rejection OF
to in proposed amendment, that question b.
TN the one exclusively for the determination OF
eason- Legislature, il may not he improper III
I great should indicate the views ! entertain II
of the the question submitted TO your consideral
passes indeed should hui lily discharge the d'
'ork OF of the position occupy, and he wantl
Ne SEC fidelity 10 the people of this State, II Ia
in their name and in their behalf, to
is an o' hsa,lisl i''esSue So ,ia ~, ~, y,
of rail M ~ ~ ~ peopc Oh zen o,a.es vi .,,u ~
II is ;n 'c e,n y, ol .e aons',u',p M,sdg
N !, IN, scrihcd in the instrument, in order that
~ ra,;i fccts ascertained bv long experience to
by its ,ms p , wv ;,,;,, H., h'' oo
ty In , ,nu ne'n W w., ro NV" ,a, "
nd will u n",d o, W. 'l II" aIe cycen, ,nnn Nv
which Will ,,ss i ,,,,oh Iose for the mn
,nre are of comforting upon one portion Of the
nprove ,un,a Nv, I.,Vri,,;n,, .o,hcr nor,iop
may he u ,,,'s, " r;',I,,a inS,, "n,nyad and nss
by cor ~ W he;,a and e9us,v In The +
garding ~ Wv d;nicnl,v and emlarrassmcnt n
mi ms Of an,,,,an,;nn ib.t framed thr Const;t,