St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-10-13

/ coiilihoutIlon separate nre-prOOf
building, which should be kept open
throughout the year. The library is
now of such dimensions and Importance
that it should he readily accessible for
research and investigation at all times
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, MANUFAC-
! TUREs AND MINING.
The Secretary's report. with the ac-
| panying papers, will inform yOu of the
work accomplished during the past two
Years. Its work thus far has been con-
I fined to fostering the interests of agri-
culture. This doubtless has resulted
from the fact that agriculture is the
more prominent and general interest
! The Board is concerned with the three
great industrial pursuits of the state.
Each of these industries is essential to,
and more or less dependent upon, the
others for its best development, and
should be judiciOusly encouraged and
tostercd by the state. think that
these interests are sufficiently impOr-
tant to warrant the continued employ
ment of ii judicious and properly quail
flied Secretary that in collecting facts
and statistics. making experiments,
holding public meetings, suggesting the
best methods and bringing them to the
attention of the people, he can find am
pie work which can be done protitably
III the interest of the state.
would recommend larger apprO-
prlation than is asked for by the Board,
whose expenditure should be guarded
/ by suitable legislation and also that
the state geologiSt. whose official duties
lead him tn IL consideration of the mines
and minerals i'll the state, he made an
eN-ot1icio member of the Board.
THE INSANE.
/ This unfortunate class are peculiarly
the wards of the state. Bereft of rea-
son, and frequently of friends, the state
will he derchct in duty if its guardian
ship he not generous, active and vigi-
I liant.
have read the report of the com
missioner with interest. 1t is appar-
emily Il thoughtful and carefully pre-
pared document. commend it to your
careful perusal and study. The facts
and deductions therein stated are start
ling. | have not sufficiently examined.
and am not sufficiently familiar with
! the facts and circumstances either to
adopt or deny the conclusions of the
commissioner. If his conclusions are
we'll founded there is imperative need
of immediate legislative action.
That the number of insane under
treatment and needing relief should
have steadily year 10y year Increased
from the foundation of the asylum,
while the population of the state re-
mains comparatively stationary. is Il
matter that challenges attention and
inquiry into the callses of the increase.
/ May you carefully consider this impor-
/ tant subject. asctrtaluing as nearly AS
/ possible the exact facts as to the rela-
/ tive increase OF decrease of insanity in
our own state and other parts of the
country. and may your action in the
/ premises bc wise and just to the asylum,
( t" the state, and above all, to these un-
fortunate wards of the state. COM
mend to your consideration the sugges-
tions of the commissioner with reference
To the enactment of safeguards against
improper commitments, both to the
asylum and to the county jails.
STATE PRISON AND COUNTY JAILs.
! think it may be safely asserted, af-
| ter the experience of nearly century,
that the operation of our system of
prison discipline. both us practiced in
/ the state prison and the common jails,
I III us upOi lHt IllSoutl bN WAY
OF encouragement of virtue and pre-
Nrmtion of vice and immortality" has
been Il failure that the prisoner from
the effect of his Imprisonment. instead
Of having become Il reformed and better
man and citizen, with inclinations to-
wards virtue. has become discouraged,
hardened, and too often hopelessly fixed
III Il criminal couise of life. Too often
has il happened that the day of his dis
charge has Witnessed Il repetition of his
t"llner criminal act, OF some more helm
Gus crime.
This, to my mind, indicates that our
y stem of prison discipline is radically
wrong in principle. The state has, and
can have no feelings of revenge towards
an erring citizen. Her conduct towards
INN should not he such as to lead him
to feel that he Is an outc.st from her
care and protection. Neither should it
he such as would indicate Il disregard
tor his criminal act. Her treatment
should he such us evinces the utmost
ahhorrence and detestation of his crime.
but at the same time the greatest re-
gard and tenderest Solicitude for him
a> IL man and as IL citizen.
fear that while the state has been
most active i'll showing abholrencc of
crime, it has been lacking earnest efforts
/" save the criminal from his crime to
manhood and good citizenship. When
any person, old or young, is fully CON
Ninced that he is an outc;lst from soci-
ETY., and that there is no hope of his
ever regaining the good opinion and
esteem of his fellow citizens he is ire
vucably lost to Il virtuous life. Hope
Is the great stimulating motive to ac-
ton and to striving for better things.
When this is crushed out, the man once
bad Is bad beyond recovery. The ten
dency of our sN stem ot prison discipline.
To my mind, is to Danish from the con-
vict's mind all hope of ii return to a
ot the state towards this class of per
SONS.
y young man is accused of the COM
mission of Il crime. He is at once ar
rested and thrust into the county iail
No person on behalf of the state visits
him, save the .iailor to pass in his meals
three times Il day, and to lock him safe
~ in his cell, or the States ATTORNEY to
inquire whether he wishes to plead
guilty" or mot guilty" Not Il book,
nor Il newspaper does the state furnish
him with which To while away the te-
dious hours. If the jaiior ont of knd-
ness provides reading matter for his
prisoners, it is of favor aud not of right
His associates may he of any degree OF
cIimlnalitN. 1t is the common rrcep-
taclc foI all accused of the commission
of crime within th, comfy and awnit