Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-02-17

AL6 - VII
by the fact that this Legislature was
the first one for a series of years to
discard religious opening service, in
troduced a resolution oil Saturday to
restore the amicable relations between
the clergy and themselves. The res
olution was amended so as to extend
the privilege to the clergy of the city,
the terms preacher" and minister
not being satisfactory to n member Of
the Catholic persuasion) and as
amended the resolution was adopted.
Taking a review of the question, the
Democrats were astounded to learn
that the resolution in admitting all
the clergy of the city, necessarily in
cluded the two or three colored preach
ers, residents, and that they had been
thus unwittingly admitted by a
''cursed be Canaan" Legislature to
the privileges of the State Library.
To say that the Democracy were dis
gusted at their own stupidity, on
veys no adequate de- of the manner
in which they relieved themselves in
great swelling imprecations full If
sound and fury.
AN AMENDED LAW.
Both Houses have passed a bill
amending section ninety-three of an
act relating TO the jurisdiction and
procedure before justices of the peace"
&c. The original section read that
ain all cases which shall be tried by a
jury before a justice of the peace"
either party shall be entitled to a bill
Of exceptions to the opinion of the
justice on a question of law arising
during the trial of the case. The sec
ton as amended provides that in "all
cases before a justice of the peace,
whether tried by a jury or a justice,
exception may be taken to the opin-
ion of the Justice"
ANTI-LIQUoR.
Mr.. WooDwoRTH has introduced
into the Senate a bill to amend section
eight of the act to provide against the
evils resulting from the sale of intox-
icating liquors in the State of Ohio,
passed May /, 1854. This bill changes
the present law in the following par
ticulars: 1t gives one-half the fine
imposed under the fourth section OF
the original act to the person conn.,
planning. 1t provides that under the
plea ofguilty 0 fviolation of said fourth
section, it shall be the duty of the
court to inquire if the place for the
sale of liquors described in the indict-
ment is still kept open by defendant,
and if so, requires an order of abate-
ment. Itconstrues the word keeper
used in said fourth section, to apply to
clerks, agents, p~roprietors, and every
person interested therein. 1t also
takes all wines manufactured from
fruits raised in Ohio from the opera
ton of the law. The object of the bill
is to give greater effect to the saio
fourth section.
PENITENTIARY SYSTEM.
The belief is rapidly obtaining tina
the State prison system needs over
hauling so as to inaugurate a graded
system of punishment and disciplin,
proportional to the offence committed
and the disposition of the offender
Looking to a move in this direction
Mr.. DENNIS, of Cuyahoga county
drew up q petition, which is now be
ing circulated throughout the State
Observation-Disclosures the pun
ishment of criminals should be &C
companied by humane effort for thei
reformation, respectfully ask that tn,
Penitentiary system of the State be s.
amended, enlarged and r~eorgenized a
to adequately provide for the prope
classification and treatment of con
victs with respect to age, sex, char
acter, and probable reformation" !
can not be doubted that the tendenc.
of the present system of indiscrimin
ate mixing of all classes of offender;
the young man in for his first Offence
with the hardened and incOrrigiblt
is to work everlasting injury to tn
former; and, further, the fact that b
is thus legally degraded to the 10y
level of the vilest desperate, it is I
be feared too often brushes out tn
last particle of desire to attempt to II
gain lost honor and to lead a new an
better life. If a man is PHYSICAL
sick, the physician does not try
cure by aggravating his disease, bu
aims to restore the functions I
healthy and natural action. TIL
same rational course should be pursue
toward men morally diseased. The
treatment and surroundings should /
such as would tend to strengthen th
moral faculties, inculcate self-respe'
and manliness. But prison disciplin
may be so cruel and vindictive as I
keep alive and intensity revengefl
feelings, making the unfortunate col
Wet feel as though he was socially a
Ishmaelite-"his hand against ever
man, and every man against him."
BILLS PASSED.
The House has passed the followin
bills, which are yet to be acted on b
the Senate:
MANUFACTURING COMPANIES.
A bill amending the law regulatin
manufacturing companies, providin
that any manufacturing company o
ganized, or hereafter organized, und'
, the laws of this State, may discontinU
their business by an affirmative vo
of two-thirds of the bona fdc stool
I holders, each bona tide stockhold'
i, being entitled to n vote, irrespecti'
of the number of shares of stock he
by such stakeholder, at a meetir
, called for that purpose, each stool
holder having due notice thereof.
, AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.
a bill to allow persons or assoei
tons other than county agricultur
societies to lease, rent, purchase Al
e hold in fee simple grounds for agI
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