Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-12-10

built all OR prisoners could re employed with
in the penitentiary to ! much greater advan-
tace to the State, the people, aud the corvicls
than by thu present contract sys-
tenn. The prison could thus be made SELF
sustaining and compile realization of the idea
of a pcnitentiary-' place where offenders
arc confined Tor punishment and reformation,
and compelled to labor.
Another change is required in our prison
system. Now the youth OF twelve or fifteen
years, sent to the pcnitentary Tor year, per
haps, Tor larceny, may be inoarcerated in cell
with a wretch hardened by twenty years Of
crime. At the end OF twelve months the youth
graduates from prison perfect master Of all
the arts and appliances of an accomplished
thief and burglar, ready and eager perhaps to
put in practice the knowledge acquired during
his years association with the depravcd COM
panion Of his cell. This may be an extreme
case, but not at all an improbable one. There
are many cases now ia our pcnltentlary differ
ing from this only in degree. Now, prisons
should be relormatoIy as well as punitive.
While the criminal is punished Tor violation
OF law and for its vindic.tlon, as well rs Tor an
example to others, no { forts should be spared
TO reform aud elevate his moral nature Par
tcuarly should all instrumentailtles possible
be used to reform the young, impresslbe and
inexperienced. They should be removed from
the coDtamiDatiDg Influence and association OF
older, more experienced and hardened crimi
mails We ought to have rclormatory prison
for youths under IS years OF age, separate and
distinct from the pentcntlary, to be controlled
and managed upon somewhat different prncI'
PIES and under different rules and regulations;
ard trust that whether the present buildings
be remoGeleG or new pcnltentlary construct
ed, this idea will be carried into practical effect
by the erection of another and separate prison,
or by division Of the penltentlary In such
manner that youths under IS years OF age may
be assigned to section completely isolated
from the rest OF the prison and prisoners.
SPECIAL LEGISLATION.
Onc of the wisest provisions OF our constltu'
ton is contained in the twentieth section OF the
sixth article, which declares that general laws
shall bo passed for the organization and gov
ernment Of cities and no special act shall be
passed, except in cases where, 10 the judgment
OF the General Assembly, the object of such
act cannot be attained by general laws. The
principle here applied to the laws Tor the or.
ganization and government OF cities ought not
to have been imited 10 its scope to one subject
but should rather have been extended so as to
cover every subject OF legislation. Special
legislation has grown to be un evil OF gigantic
proportions and in some States aud lees alive
bodies has become the prolific source Of demo
ralization and corruption. As general rule,
no special act should be passed upon any sub,
jcct. the object of which ian be accomplished
by general laws. 10 determine. in part, the
extent Of the evil Of speciaI legislation, 50 lar
as we are concerned you have but TO rcIer to
the published acts OF your last session. Some
of this special legislation was absolutely neces'
sary, owing to the abnormal condition OF our
affairs. But look at the number OF special acts
of incarceration, including cities and towns
and the acts relating TO or for the benefit OF
private corporalons alone. Compare the
space which these acls occupy in that volume
with the total legislation of the session and lts
cost, and The result will astonish you. And
yet there arc very few OF these acts, the object
of which might not have been attained by gen
era LAYS. General laws for the organization
OF towns and cities, and stock companies. Tor
mining and manufacturing, banking and IN
surarca, and all other kinds Of business Tor
which stock companies are organlZed, should
be passed, if those We have already are lnSutl-
oieut l o alno ia favor ct n general Tree
railroad law. Wherever q railroad, or u cana =,
peopc can be found who will invest the neccs-
sary capita let the enterprise be organized and
complctcd. No fears necl be entertained that
we shall hare too many of either. Our ses,
sion laws for years past are hIIcd With SPECIAL
charters many Of which remain unused to this
day, and, perhaps, il many cases. were never
Intended to be used, except tor the purpose OF
speculation or for the exclusion OF others VINO
might desire 10 occupy the same field OF opera
tons. sincerely believe that the enactment
CT general laws OF the character named, and
the establishment IF an reversible rule,
never TO grant any special charters, would
not only annually save to the Commonwealth
large sums CT money, but would tend very
largely TO the development OF our agTcul-
turaI. Mining and commercial resources.
PRESENTATION OF BILLS.
The late constitutional convention, 10 its
profound wisdom, among sundry other lnno-
yations heretofore unknown in the civil pollty
OF this State, imposed upon the Executive the
duty Of examining aad approving or disap-
proving of every act passed by the General
Assembly. This is technically known as the
veto powcr ard it's exercise by the Executive,
at any time and under any circumstances, is g
duty of peculiar dclicacy and Importance
Without here discussing the wisdom or neces
sity OF the Judgement Of this power in the
hands of the Executive, am free to say that,
personally, I should rejoice to be relieved from
the labor and responsibility which it imposes
upon NE but while it remains one OF the con:
stitutional obligations devolvcd upon me, |
shall fulfill it 10 manner at least satisfactory
to nv own conscience, and nefcial, trust,
to the Commonwealth. It is the sworn duty
ofthe Executive ito take care that the laws
be faithfully executed" and the like obligation
rests upon him to iDterpose his objections to
the enactnen Of either hasty, corrupt or IN
constitutional laws. Fortunately, it is matter
of pride and profound congratuIation that We
have little of the first, none OF the second, and
an irconsderable amount Of the last Nom
toned species oflegislation. Questions as to
the meaning and true Interpretation OF the
constitution have arisen on which the Legs!a'
ture and the Executive have arrived at differ
ent conclusions, but each being actuated by
the sole motive and desire Of reaching the
correct conclusion, there has been little dlttlcu-
ty in harmonizing conflicting opinions.