The Portland daily press., 1869-01-09
Terms $500 per amm,,n,, in adrance.

VINO rely upon the protection of the State
which they serve and adorn? Mercy is in.
deed a heavenly grace, but it should not be
shown TO crime. 1t is the crime and not tbe
man, at which the law strikes. 1t is not 10
| prevent that man a,one from repeating his
offence, but to prevent others from so doing.
| IL the wretch who meditates crime sees the
| sure and sharp penalty before him he NAV
| take better cOunsels. This is mereituI ~
him, to his intended victims and to society
in general.
And what convnces me the more that we
should retain our present penalty, is the fact
| OF which have had abundant evidence and
must admonish you to keep ever in view,
that the same parties who are so fierce for
mitigating the death penalty to imprison-
ment for life, are equally disconnected with
thlS, ana are quite as irepressible in the de-
mand that these criminals shall be absolutely
Paruoned and set at liberty. for the reason
Inat tney ~ nave Deen so long in prison. v it
ness tne ihorne case, where the virulence of
az aouSe use pSea9se d IIee pardon was not granted
| to the murderer ofhis friend and benetaetor.
| with this friends vile as a paramonr and acI
complice, was almost equal to- that with
which the virtues OF Harris the ravisher of
his murdered and dying victims, are mnar-
pared with the crime OF the stubborn xfcu-
tive in not Withholding thejust penalty OF the
law.
This shows whittier these things tend-to
the abolition OF all penalty-the consequent
contempt for law-the breaking down oI every
safeguard of Hberty-the resort to personal
vengeance-the utter demoriization OF socie-
ty-and universal Ieign of terror 1t is
that, rather than than the calm vindication
OF righteous law by a just penalty which
should properly be called "eoing back to the
dark ages" Therefore il is that | deem it
not wise TO listen when weakness usurps the
name OF mercy and pleads Tor the impunity
of crime.
PRoHIBIToRY LIQUOR LAW.
Legislation upon what man shall eat or
drink, is certainly a pretty strong assertion
OF "State rights" over those of the indiyjdu-
al. But every good citizen will admit that
drunkenness is an evil; a dishonor to man
hood, distur6er OF society and a de,riment
10 the state. 1t stands out from other vices
IN being the exciting cause OF much of the
costly litigation and criminal proceeding be-
fore the courts, and IN driving men to crimes
which they would not otherxise comm.
Henceiti is the duty OF theStlte to restrain EN-
from 1t, and protect the innocent from It's
depredations; and the DUTY OF the individual
to yield some OF his personal rights for the
general good. Out State has accordingly en-
acted the present prohibitary law as in ITS
judgment an adequate means to this end.
and wherever it has been executed il an.
pear to have been effective.
Since the repeal OF the Constabulary Act
there does not appear to have been much ef-
fort to make use OF the ordinary means Of en-
forcing the prohibitory and kindred laws.
In some localities the friends and guardians
OF good order have done their duty, and the
traffic in intoxicating liquors is efec ually
suppressed. But Tor the most Iart tLer5
seems to have been a reaction from the severe
measures OF the previous year, and also a
willingness on the part of some to let the re-
action do its worst, in order to give urgeney
10 the movement for more sring n.
legislation. Precisely what measure, 10
adopt to secure the more general execution
OF this law is question on which the wisest
and best Will differ. 1t may be Iroy POSED to
restore the late Constabuiary system, tut ex-
| perience found in that much that was oblec-
tionable. Ii was essentially repugnant 10
the deep settled notions OF munich al rights.
1t was an independent and abnormal power
IN the civil system. IL afforded peculiar LA
silitias to abuse and indiscretions in its exer.
else. We should be abe TO provide some
means which would more command the con-
sent and cooperation OF the people. think
II highly desirable to accomplish this end Il
possible through our establised civil officers,
but at all events let US execute our laws.
Let no one imagine that with the severest
exeeution-eitber OF the liquor or the murder
laws, all crime and all evil are 10 lie ex-
peLed from among men. The most We can
nope 70 do Is to intimilate and restrain them,-
the DIVINE law has as yet achiyed no mute
These are important matters, and / am
persuaded that you viii deal with them with.
out rashness or fear.
SPECIAL REPORTS.
There were several special duties laid on
the Governor and Council at the last session
OF the Legislature In regard to which Il Is
proper that make report.
Immediate measures were ordered 10 be
taken to enforce the collection OF the claim
against the sureties OF ID. ID. Peck late Treas
luer Of State. The Attorney General was
accordingly instructed to proceed with the
case before the court, but this officer appears
to have found some embarrassment in the
matter, which will be laid before you in his
report.
Some complications having embarrassed
the Legislature in regard to the bids Tor the
public printing and binding, the matter was
referred to the Governor and @, I'll who
were directed to contract therefor WIN SINE
responsible party. 1t appeared that more IA
vorable terms could be made with the old
contractors than with any ether parties, and
contracts were accordingly made with them
at rates considerably reduced from those of
last year.
The Governor and Council were also dirac-
ed to investigate the condition OF ineurable
idiotic and demented inmates OF the Insane
Hospital, with view TO separating classes Of
patients; and also TO exam ne localities proper
tor an Asylum, with the cost of building to be
erected or purchased for this purpose. In at
tending to the first portion OF this duty it was
necessary to consult the experienced Super
intendent Iof the Hospital, aud the REPORT
submitted by him will be laid before you
| Alter iull consideration OF the subject it
has not been deemed advisable to recommend
| the erection OF separate Asylum at present,
inasmuch as our existing Hospital building
is not yet completed in accordance with the
the original plan, and it is thought best to
bring our established Institution into as per-
| feet condition as possible before the cree
ton OF another. We would further recon-
| mend the purchase of the lot OF land adjoin-
| ing the Hospital on the South, as a measure
necessary not only to the symmetry OF the
grounds but to the convenience of the Hos
| pital as it stands, and to the welfare OF the
| patients themselves.
| In obedience to the direction of the Legis-
lature, the arsenals at Portland and Bangor
| have been examined with view to the expe-
| dency OF disposmg of the present sites and
| erecting State Arsenal in the vicinity OF the
| Capitol. After careful consideration OF the
matter, it was thought most advantageous
tor the State to retain the arsenals or the
/ pIcSeuJ DIS Iuey are. AlIuOugu we nave now
| so little Of military material in a servceable
condition that we actually require no arsenal
at all, still it Is not likely that such will long
be the case. 1t is unsafe Tor the state TO be
without moderate supply OF arms and
| equipments, and our territory Is so extensive
that probably it will always be found neces-
sary to have two arseDals at points so remote
| from each other and so central within their
respective sections as Portland and Bangor.
In accordance with Resolve to that effect
| commission was appointed TO obtain iDior-
nation as to the practical operation OF Asy-
lums for Inebriates, the report Of which is 10
be submitted TO you.
By the same authority proposals were in.
vited from cities and towns desiring 10 CO.
operate in The establishment OF a State In
dustrial School foT girls. No responses have
as yet been received. l trust no ordinary OBJ
stacles will be allowed 10 delay an institution
prompted by every humane and Christian
consideration, and iraught with so much good
TO society. Upon an accidental visit 10 the
Little Wanderers Home" IN Boston, iound
TO my surprise that more than hundred
children IRON this State, most OF them girls,
had been gathered rom devious ways into
this kindly iold. So impressed am with the
good which this institution is doing, and such
Confidence is commanded by the broad and
hioh basis on which it S built that | think il
would be proper to pay certain subsidy tor
each child maintained there, until we can
| furnish some CORES, onding means of recla-
| nation in our own State.
cannot forbear to call your attention to
| the lmperiections OF our present Jail system.
Besides being insecure uahealthtuI and ex-
| penslye, 1t is attended BY moral evils which
are disastrous in the extreme. The jails are