The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-05

appointed 'fo visit for phIlanthropc purposes, the
prisons and almshouses in the various counties OF
the Commonwealth His second report which is here
with presented, embraces a vast amount Of useful
Information, and Will be found highly interesting
and worthy OF mature consideration II will be
seen that while some OF our county prisons have
been constructed and are being conducted with
strict regard TO the proper objects OF punishment,
others utterly unit for any such purposes, aud
are disgrace and reproaeh to a civilized age and
Christian people. The Commissioner, in regard to
some of these, describes them Gas being unsafe
where prisoners could not be held unless loaded with
chains, where the sexes were not separated, where
there was no discipline, or any effort made towards
the moral or religious Improvement OF the inmates;
the buildings totally unit for the purposes OF
prison and where the prisoners become schooed in
vice, and eventually graduated prepared for life OF
awessness In some of the prisons the cells are re-
presented as contracted dungeons into which not
ray OF sunshine draftof pure air enter and In
which human being could not possibly live through
lengthy term OF sentence. And in still others, In
consequence OF the want of proper accommodations,
all classes Of criminals from the most hardened and
aged TO the youth OF tender years. are permitted to
congregate, and indulge In card playing, profanity,
Under such circumstances reformation, which Is the
grand object OF divine and should be OF all human
laws and punishments, Is rendered impossible;
to be practised when future opportunity occurs.
This ia all wrong, and remedy for the evil should
or legal right to nlict punishment a mere retalia-
tory measure or in such manner as to endanger
the health and life OF the criminal to deaden him to
all the better sensblites OF his nature and to abso
lutely harden him to the commission Of crime
The commissioners appointed ito inquire
practsed in other States and countries, as COM
pared with what is known as the Pennsyl-
vania SYSTEM" will submit you their report at an
early day. from which you viii learn that the capacity
of our pententares is at present competent for the
safe keeping and proper punishment OF all Offenders
OF the higher grades, and that warehouses; and
houses OF correction are needed for those whose
crimes are of more trivial character and whose
reformation and future usefulness may be accom-
pshed by humane system OF discipline, such as
will be recommended
THE JUDICIARY.
Communications have been received from various
parts Of the State, representing that the present
Judicial force is inadequate for the purposes de-
signed. Since the number of judges was fixed, the
business OF the courts has greatly increased with
our rapidly expanding population, and the multiple
growing Commonwealth. How far relief should be
afforded is well worthy Of careful consideration.
In one district OF the Supreme Court over seven
hundred new cases have been dOcketed within one
year. Many OF these involve very large amounts,
and important legal principles; and their proper
and responsibility In the other districts of this
Court the argument lists are also becoming so
crowded that it is impossible to dispose OF the bust
ness with that promptness and Intelligence de-
manded by the public interests; and especially with
to duty in the Court of Nsi Prius at Philadelphia. 1
therefore earnestly recommend an additional Judge
for this Court, believing IL public necessity, in JUS
tce TO the many sors, and to the judges, who have
more work than should be required OF the present
number of men, let them be ever so laborious and
efficient.
1t has grown into custom to regard an applica-
ton for Executive clemency an indispensable
part OF the machinery of criminal Justice. Because
the Executive is invested with the power to pardon,
it ia by many supposed that he has not only the
right but that 1t is his duty to examine into every
allegation of error, and give favorable response to
every application; and hence, petitions for pardon
are becoming SO numerous that the mere examina..
ton OF them is exhaustive of large amount OF
valuable time, at least an hour in each case, eXcl-
sive of the time occupied in correspondence with
tho Judges district attorneys, and other parties.
Criminals are no sooner convicted than their friends
and other Interested parties, who to think that
ii is the Governors constitutional duty to nullify
the laws instead OF seeing that they faithfully
executed, prepare a raid upon him, and employ
in their opportunities for pardon every device tina
human ingenuity can suggest and II but tlthe OF
the representations set forth were believed, one
would be led to suppose that our courts are daily
guilty of he grosscst blunders and that justice is far
more bliud than she has ever been painted by the
most skilliul artist.
During the year ending December 81 1862 there
have been fifteen hundred and fifty applications for
pardon, OF which sxty-two, or four per cent,
granted, eleven hundred and eight rejected, and
three hundred and eighty are still under advise
ment.
that public sentiment has become perverted on this
important subject OF pardons. The trainers OF our
government, as | understand it, never contemplated
or intended an indscriminate use OF the pardoning
power 1t was only designed for the correction OF
manifest errors or expressions, papable mistakes,
cases Of after-dlscovered evidence, and others OF
exceptional character Both the theory OF our gov
ernment and pubic policy require that the pardon
Ing power should be Kept within these reasonable
limits and not be made instrument to defeat the
execution OF the laws and the administration of
public justice. Ali ordinary cases, therefore, are
wholly outside OF and In conflict with the principle
on which Executive clemency should be based, and
none such should be presented for consideration. 1t
is earnestly hoped the public VIII understand and
act in accordance with this view OF the subject as
due alike to the Executive and proper regard for
the execution OF the laws.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
Having laid before you a general survey OF the
affairs and condition OF the State, which relate to
the common welfare it affords me also the highest
qualification to add that the amcable intercourse
and pleasant relations which have so long eX-
isted between the government of Pennsylvania and
the governments OF all the other States and OF the
Union, continue unimpaired; and consequently. our
resolution to preserve, protect, and defend" these
fundamental principles OF humanity, equal rights
aud equal justice to ALL universal freedom and
united country, is greatly strengthened.
The general relations OF the National Government,
as set forth in the recent annual message OF the Pre-
sident continue to be ''peace at home and without
entangling alliances abroad" the reconstruction of
the States lately in rebellion is being rapidly accom-
plished-the revenues are faithfully coected-the
national debt is being liqudated a the rate of about
one hundred million dollars per annum, and repu-
diutlon has been emphatcally repudiated. A strict
and uncompromising adherence to this policy by
prudent and economical administration has already
restored the national character to the fullest conf
dence in the minds, not Only OF our countrymen but
foreigners, and has allayed all spirit OF discomfort
that might have been dangerous to the stability OF
our Institutions
4 here is another subject also OF national import
aEce claiming our attention. because 1t directly
affects the industrial operations In which Pennsyl-
vania Is 30 largely Interested. Movements, charac-
terized with the greatest energy, are now being
made by these interested in free trade, to induce
Congress to take such action as will permit the free
Introduction OF steel, iron, and iron materials for
shlpbuding, and many other notifications OF the
tarln laws. Should such efforts be successful the
result must prove disas to the great COAL rOn
and ether interests OF our State diminishing the
PRODUCTION OF iron and other manufactured articles,
and consequently the consumption OF coal, and be
destructive to our valuable home markets. It would
also prove disastrous TO of our oapitalists and