Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-02-18
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

ssThe world is what we make it,
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of DEL
egates:
On entering upon the discharge of my
duties as the Chief Executive of the State
under the constitution on the 9th day of
January last, Excepting that of Attorney
General, I found nearly every office in the
Commonwealth either vacant or filled by a
military appointee. The office of Lieuten-
ant Ex-Governor, made vacant by the resigna-
ton of the Hon. John f. Lewis, was filled
by the appointment of John L. Marye, ESQ.,,
who duly qualified on the 9th day Of Janu-
airy last. The authority for this appoint
ment is contained in the fifth section Of the
fourth article of the constitution. The ne
cessity for the prompt exercise of this au-
thority was SO apparent and pressing that I
was unwilling to assume the responsibility
of delaying it. Twelve days would elapse
before the assembling of your honorable
bodies, and probably several days thereafter
before you could make suitable provision for
filing the Office. In the meantime the death
of the Governor would have left the State
without an Executive head, and inevitably
thrown its affairs into confusion fraught with
the greatest dangers. The commission of
Lieutenant Governor Marye will expire
thirty days FROM the commencement of your
present session, and it will be the duty Of
the General Assembly to make timely pro-
vision for filing the Office thereafter. The
Secretary of the Commonwealth, the First
and Second Auditors and the Register of the
Land office severally rendered their resigna-
tons to me, to take effect on the LIST instant.
For many reasons I did not deem it advisa-
Bile to accept any of these designations, and
the duties appertaining to those Offices have
continued to be discharged by the former in
cumbents. To solve all legal doubts as to
whether these officers could hold over after
the restoration of the State to civil govern
ment, as we'll as to perfect the prompt or
ganization of the State government, l trust
the General Assembly will proceed at once
to fill these offices, as we'll as that of Treas
grer. -a
P-ENITENTIAEY.
You have also to elect a Superintendent
and a General Agent and Storekeeper Of the
p%enitentiary, and the earlier you perform
that important duty the better, both for the
interests Of the State and the safety and we'll
being of the prisoners. The acting General
Agent and storekeeper has already rendered
his resignation, but the Superintendent has
not. The condition of our penitentiary de-
mands your prompt and serious considera-
ton. During the past year the number of
%convicts has increased to an alarming extent.
On the 1st of January, 1869, the number of
prisoners remaining in the institution was
357, while on the LIST Of January, 1870, the
number had increased to COL. The expen-
ses for the fiscal year ending September 80,
1868, were $65,201 SO, while for the fiscal
year ending September 80, 1869, they had
increased TO 1908 70. Most of the pris-
oners are able-bodied men, and ought to be
employed at some mechanical business, thus
tightening the burthen which this institution
has always been to the State and beneftting
the prisoners themselves by providing them
regular and healthful exercise for both body
and brain, and by teaching them some useful
occupation. But the experience. of other
similar institutions as well as our own, |
believe, has demonstrated that this cannot
be Gone with any profit by the State. Hence
in most of the States the contract system"
has been resorted to, and, so far as [ am in
formed, with good success. The c%onvicts
are employed under contracts with persons
not otherwise connected with the prisons
extending from three to five years, at a GER
tain stipulated price per day, in the manu-
f%acture Of articles of merchandise, but prin-
cipally boots and shoes. In such cases the
State furnishes only the necessary room for
the accommodation Of the prisoners and the
power (steam or water) necessary for the
propulsion of the machinery required, and
guards or keepers in sufficient numbers to
prevent the escape of the prisoners and to
preserve order and discipline among them.
I am strongly of the opinion that the State
can be relieved from a very large portion Of
the expenses of the penitentiary BY the prop
er introduction of this system. I have al
ready, in my possession, one OF two propo'
%sitions from entirely responsible parties, pro.
posing to employ all the able-bodied male
prisoners in the institution in the manufac'
tire Of boots and shoes. [ have delayed
accepting any proposition thus far, because,
among other reasons, the State government
had not been fully organized under the Con:
stitution, and because it appeared to ne thai
some additional legislation might be requir'
ed The present buildings are old, much
out Of repair. unsafe, and not well adapted
for a prison with the necessary workshops.
It must be repaired, and ought to be remod-
cled and enlarged, or a new new penitentia'
~ built,
The lands occupied by the institution al
this time are too valuable for such a purpose
A new location can undoubtedly be obtained,
easy Of access and possessing equal or great
er advantages than the present, and new.
more suitable and complete buildings erected
thereon at an expense not very much IN
excess of the value of the present penitentia-
ry property. If your Honorable Bodies
should agree with me in this view OF the
subject | would recommend that immediate
action be taken for the sale Of the present
and the purchase Of a new site. Repairs Of
a temporary and inexpensive nature can be
made upon the present property SO as ts
render it comfortable for occupation unit
the new buildings are completed. n a cheaI
wooden structure can be erected within the
open area enclosed by the present buildings
for the temporary accommodation os@the
contractors for the prison labor: The con
tractors themselves would doubtless make