Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-02-15

high position WHICH be holds .Aam aware that
the Judicial system provided for BY tie constiz
tuition will of Necessity be an expensive enc, but
with the many reforms which may and ought
to be instituted, itahsy belerendereds less bpra'
thensomefhan ourformer SYSTEM ~ Ezz
The expensesancident to >she administration
of the criminal laws have within the past, few
years increased enormously mainly due to the
larger increase in the number of petty offences,
such as larceny and assault and -battery--A
thorough reform not only in the laws them
selves, but in their mode of administration, is
imperatively demanded.5s1 a. 51 ~ u 5Lt
1t appears to me that all cases of petit larce-
ny, except for a second offence. and all cases of
assault and battery, except with deadly weap-
on; in fact, all crimes of a lesser grade than
felony, should be summarily tried by aijustice
of the peace, with or without jury, at the OPP
ton Of the accused, reserving, of course, the
right Of appeal TO the county court upon. cues
tons of law 2 and in cases of conviction, the
punishment inflicted to be a fine or imprison-
ment in Che county JAIL or hard labor upon the
public roads or elsewhere. iIeg99 3 gol aolia9Al
BY the adoption Of this system, and by re-
curing that the value of the property stolen
shall be at least thirty dollars to- constitute the
crime of grand larceny, you viii free the courts
of record of a very large proportion Of their
criminal business, and the Commonwealth from
fourth to third of its terminal charges ,,
Gases OF trial and conviction of larceny, with
mere suspicion of burglary have lately come
to my knowledge where the whole value of the
property stolen did not exceed one dollar, and
yet these cases went through all the fornalities
Of arrest, examination by a magistrate, COM
mitment in default of bail to the county jail, a
formal Investigation by the grand jury, result
ing in formal Indictment and trial by the
county court and a petit jury, consuming days
Of time and costing the Commonwealth from
seventy-Gye to one hundred dollars Now.
such cases ought to be summariy tried by a
justice of the peace In two hours eat an expense
not exceeding five dollars. Every county and
city should be compelled by law to establish, at
as early a day as practicable, poor house, for
the care and sustenance of the infirm and helm
less within It's corporate limits, and in connec-
ton Herewith, or with the jail, d work house.
where offenders OF the class under .consi6era-
ton may be compelled to labor upon the public
roads, or in filling the soil, or at such other EN-
+ pleyment as may be most profitable, thereby
contributing to5lighten rather than increase the
burthen Of the people. In all our courts, the
compensation of all officers except the judges,
should be only the fees appertaininga to their
respective Offices, to be paid in all cases by
suitors, except in criminal cases, where either
the prosecution fails, or the defendant has no
property from which'the fees can be collected.
While our courts should be freely open to all,
and the costs incident to litigation ought not to
be so high as to amount, in any sense, to a de-
NAL of justice, yet it is right that suitors should
bear, to some extent, the increased expenses
they occasion. [ would recommend that in
every civil case in court of record, fee or
tax of from three to five dollars be imposed to
be paid to the clerk at the commencement of
the suit, and before any papers are filed or is
sued and to be by the clerk paid into the Treas
ury of the State. r - +, 313sA
By such notifications of our laws as I have
thus briefly suggested, it is quite probable that
at least fifty thousand dollars can annually be
saved to the State in the administration Of our
civil and criminal jurisprudence
ASYLUM FOR INSANE coLoRED PEOPLE.
Soon after entering upon the discharge OF
my duties as Provisional Governor, [ ascer-
tanned that both the Eastern and Western Lu-
matte Asylums were filed to overhowing with
patients, and that there were many insanse peo-
pie, both white and colored, in the various
county jails, and other places about the State,
where they could not be properly treated or
cared for. 1t seemed imperatively demanded
that some measures should be promptly provi-
ded for the suitable care and custody Of these
unfortunate people. The propriety Of enlarg-
ing the Eastern Lunatic Asylum was first con-
| sidered, but the expense Of such enlargement
seemed too great to justify its being undertaken
| at that time. Besides it was deemed advisable
| that the insane Of the two races should be pro-
vided for separately. Subsequently the prop
erty lying Immediately east Of the city, known
as Howard Grove Hospital, through an ar
rangement effected by the Commanding Gen
eral, was turned over to the State, and it was
determined to convert the same into an asylum
for the colored insane, and to remove thereto
those of that race who were at the Eastern Lu-
matte Asylum, thus leaving in that institution
sufficient accommodation for the white insane,
who, as before stated, were in different jails
and other places Of confinement in the State
That arrangement has been carried fully into
effect. The property thus turned over to the
State, without cost, is of considerable value
It consists of eighteen acres Of land nov under
lease to the State for ten years, at an annual
rental of two hundred dollars, wherein stand
several wooden buildings worth five or six
| thousand dollars, one additional wooden build
ing has been erected, and some necessary inl-
provements and repairs made at the expense OF
the State Beds, bedding and other necessary
articles, which were in use or stored on the
premises were purchased from the Govern
| ment at nominal price. +4o.
The lease and a plan of the grounds and
buildings are on file in the Office of the auditor
of public accounts The report herewith sub
mitted of the superintendent of public build
ings, who at my instance has had charge OF
this property for the past month, contains a
statement of the expenditures made by the
State, the condition and capacity of the insti-
| tuition and the number of patients now under
treatment With the further expenditure of a
small sum it is believed that all the colored IT.
sane Of the State can be well and comfortably
accommodated at this asylum for the next ten
years. would respectfully recommend that a
law be at once enacted organizing this asylum
upon the plan of the Eastern and Western Ll-
natic Asylums, and providing for the care and
custody of all the colored insane of the State
at the same.
have been requested by the authorities OF
Randolph Macon College to submit for your
consideration proposition in writing, for the
sale to the State of the property of that insti-
tuition, situated in Mecklenburg county, for an
asylum for insane colored people My great
respect for the gentlemen who make this prop
osition, and my high appreciation of the uIti-
mate objects they have in view in making the
same, induce me to comply with their request,
although my sense of duty compels me to de-
cline to recommend this purchase at this time.
Having thus called your attention to some of
the most important subjects which demand
your Immediate attention, and the consdera-
ton Of which will necessarily occupy your time
for some weeks to come, shall bring this COM
munication to a close l shall at an early day
communicate to you statement of the finan-
clal condition and resources of the State, with
such recommendations as commend themselves
to my judgment, and some suggestions for the
amelioration of the condition Of the very large
debtor class in our State. Public improve