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

JART l8, LIB.
portion of their criminal business, and the
Commonwealth from a fourth to a third Of
its Criminal charges"
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 formalities of arrest, examination by
a magistrate, commitment in default of bail
to the county jail, a formal investigation by
the grand jury, resulting in a formal iudict-
ment and trial by the county court and a
petit jury, consuming days of time and cost
ing the Commonwealth from s%eventy-fve to
one hundred dollars. Now, such cases ought
to be summarily tried by a justice of the
peace in two hours, at an expense not ex-
ceeding five dollars. Every county and city
should be compelled by law to establish, at
as early a day as practicable, a poor house,
for the care and sustenance of the infrm and
helpless within its corporate limits, and in
connection Herewith, or with the jail, a
workhouse, where offenders of the class I'M
der consideration may be compelled to labor
upon the public roads, Or in tilling the soil,
or at such other employment as may be most
profitable, thereby contributing to tighten
rather than increase the burthens Of the
people. In all our courts, the compensation
Of all officers except the judges, should be
only the fees appertaining to their respective
Offices, to be paid in all cases by %sqitors,
except in criminal cases, where either the
prosecution fails, or the defendant has no
property from which the fees can be collec-
ted. 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 denial of justice, yet it is
right that suitors should bear to some ex-
tent, the increased expenses they occasion.
I would recommend that, in every civil case
in a court of record, a 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 issued and
to be by the clerk paid into the Treasury Of
the State.
By such notifications of our laws as |
have thus briefly suggested, it is quite prob
able that at least fifty thousand dollars can
annually be saved to the State in the admin
i~stration of our civil and criminal jurispru-
dence.
ASYLUM FOR INSANE COLoRED PEOPLE.
Soon after entering upon the discharge of
my duties as Provisional Governor, I ascer-
tanned that both the Eastern and Western
Lunatic Asylums we're filed to overlooking
with patients, and that there we're many in
sane people, both white and colored, in the
various county jails, and other places about
the State, where they could not be proper
ly treated or cared for. 1t seemed impera-
lively demanded that some measures should
be promptly provided for the suitable care
and custody of these unfortunate people,
The ~propriety Of charging the Eastern Lu-
matte Asylum was first considered, 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 provi-
ded for separately. Subsequently the prop
erty lying Immediately east of the city,
known as Towards Grove Hospital, through
an arrangement effected by the commanding
General, was turned over to the State, and
it was determined to convert the same into
an asylum for the colored insane, and to re-
move thereto those of that race who were at
the Eastern Lunatic Asylum, thus leaving
in that institution sufficient accommodation
for the white insane, who, as before stated,
we're in different jails and other places of
confinement in the State. That arrangement
has been carried fully into effect. The prop
erty thus turned over to the State, without
cost, is of considerable value. 1t consists
Of eighteen across of land now 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
building has been erected, and some neces-
sary improvements 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 Government at a nominal price.
The lease and a plan Of the grounds and
buildings are on file in the Office Of the audi
tor of public accounts. The report herewith
submitted Of the superintendent of public
buildings, 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
institution and the number Of patients now
under treatment With the further egpen.
diture of q small sum 1t is believed that al
the colored insane of the State can be well
and comfortably accommodated at this asy-
lum for the next ten years. [ would respect
fully recommend that a law be at once en-.
acted organizing this asylum upon the plan
of the Eastern and Western Lunatic Asylums
and providing for the care and custody Of
of all the colored insane of the State at the
same. 5+ %.t,'
l have been requested by the authorities
of Randolph Macon College to submit fol
your consideration a proposition in writing
for the sale to the State Of the property O
that institution, situated in Mecklenbnre
county, for an asylum for insane %coloreo
people. My great respect for the gentlemen
who make this proposition, and my higl
appreciation Of the ultimate objects they
have in view in making the same, induce
me to comply with their request, although
my sense Of duty eompels me to decline X
recommend this purchase at this time,
Having thus called your attention to some
of the most important subjec which den1ane
your immediate attention, and the consider.
alton Of which will necessarily occupy you,
time for some weeks to come, I shall bring
this communication to a close. l shall al
an early day communicate to you q state
ment of tie financial condition and resourc.
es of the State, with such recommendations
as commend themselves to my judgment.
onG gna Al auaal.aa a. q