The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-01-12


| apparatus and plumbing and furnishing.
| In other words, the Commissioners seem TO
have reasoned themselves into belief that,
the Legislature having appropriated s4OO, 600
| for the Northern Asylum, they are authorized
TO duplicate the Pontiac building regardless
| OF cost
Such logic would fail to satisfy business
| firm, and i call your attention TO it that a
| proper understanding of the intention OF the
| Legislature may be arrived at.
INSANE CRIMINALS
| think that in the vicinity of one OF our
| asylums for the insane, but separated from
it. there should be erected an asylum for
| insane criminals OF these there are two
| classes: First those who, having been con-
v1cted or crime, become insane while under
| going punishment; and second, those who
seek acquittal, or have been legally ac-
Quilted of crime on the ground of insanity
OF the first class quite number are con-
fined in the State Prison at Jackson, but
neither there nor ut Ionia is there any suit
able provision for them 1t Is OF course i'm
proper that they should be forced TO labor
with the others, or even allowed TO be at
| liberty among them, and nothing remains
but confinement in an institution which has
only punishment for its object, and where
facilities for the proper care of insane per-
| sons are wanting.
1t may be that very many OF the second
| class-those who seek acquittal or have
| been legally acquitted OF crime on the
X
| treatment, but some method should be de-
vised to prevent men-slayers from being let
! loose on society. Experts, apparently So
| called from their possessing less knowledge
than the average citizen, are ready TO testify
! in the interest OF the party that brings them
into court, and hypothetical questions and
conflicting decisions and precedents render
an intelligent decision OF the question of
sanity difficult If not impossible
III in cases of homicide the plea of insanity
| hat hxfc fn 10
before the examining Justice, who should in
| that case commit the offender TO the Grim
inal Asylum TO await trial, an opportunity
would be afforded its officers of observing
the conduct of the accused, and forming an
intelligent opinion as TO his mental condi-
ton. The acquittal by a jury on the ground
of insanity should be accepted as prima-facie
evidence of ncapacity, and the respondent
at once assigned TO the Criminal Asylum.
The safety of the public demands this for in
the case OF those who have committed homi-
eide there is danger of "A return of the homi-
cidal tendency The question OF the release
of insane criminals might be safely commit
ted to a board consisting of the Governor,
Attorney General and ali the Superintend-
ents of the State Asylums for the Insane. L
earnestly recommend that n special asylum
be provided for insane criminals
EDUCATION
The common schools of the State are sup
ported wholly by the public. The taxation
of others finds its justification in the fact
that, under our republican form of govern
ment, q certain amount or education Is
necessary for an intelligent exercise or the
elective franchise. The amount of educa-
tional instruction necessary to secure good
citizenship, and which the State is bound TO
supply, should be determined, az nearly rs
possible, in Justice to the taxpayers and all
concerned Ii the expensive graded schools
of our cities and villages, with their adj
of instruction, are necessary for the safety
of the commonwealth, they should at once
be established by law in the rural districts
of the State Intelligent voting and good
citizenship should not be confined TO cities
and villages If, on the other hand, the
ordinary common-school education afforded
by the district school is sufficient to meet
the demands that may be justly made upon
the State, the taxpayers or our cities ana
villages should be relieved of heavy
burden of taxation, which, In that case,
would be mere robbery under color OF law.
| must not be understood as underwriting
education. | only raise the question as TO
how much should be expected OF the public,
and how much left to individual taste ana
opportunity. i believe our educational sys-
TEN could not have attained its present form
and dimensions had not intelligent men been
deferred from expressing their views by the
charge so sure TO be made, that they are
opposed to education" and desire To
"break down the schools" / believe the
time for a calm and intelligent discussion OF
the question in all its bearings has arrived,
and commend IL to your consideration.
TEXT BOOKS.
OF the excrescences that have been forced
on our educational system, one of the most
annoying is the variety and multiplicity OF
ever changing text books While an en-
forcement of the present law against too
frequent change may do something toward
establishing a sort OF statu quo in the pres
ent confusion, might not more radical
measure in the interest OF uniformity and
economy be adopted? / am aware of the
difficulties in the way, and of the powerful
influence of the publishing trade, which
would be exerted TO defeat or render mop
erative such law. II in your wisdom you
can devise any means to remedy existing
evils, it shall have my hearty approval
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL
The State Normal School seems to be
prosperous as regards numbers and the eX-
cellence of it's corps of teachers In SO far
as Il makes prominent its peculiar work of
"teaching how to teach" 1t is a valuable In
stitution
THE UNIVERSITY.
The last year has been one of great pros
perty to the State University. Under wise
administration it has grown in strength and
usefulness with arapidity perhaps unequaled
in the history of similar institutions. It's
work and its scholars are mentioned with
honor wherever sound learning is respected
Its elevating and stimulating influence has
been felt through the intellectual life of the
State, and especially through our whole ed
vocational system
The new fire-proof library building is APP
preaching completion, and the authorities
of the University deem it very desirable that
a large addition be made TO their collection
of books They Justly say that university
cannot successfully do its work without
good library. They think that considera-
BILE sum should be expended soon in the pur-
chase of books, and commend their request
TO your favorable consideration. Other
needs of the University the Regents will
make known to you during the session
STATE LIBRARY.
The report of the State Librarian for the
years 1881 and 1882 is an intelligent state
ment of the present Condition and needs of
the library, and the appropriation of So 600
asked for each of the years 1888 and 1884 is
recommended
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
To amend the constitution of the State ii
is necessary that the proposed amendment
be submitted TO popular vote for adoption
or rejection Such amendment cannot be SO
submitted unless it is agreed TO by two
thirds of the members elected to each house.
In accepting the nomination for Governor
said: II cannot see how, in a republican
government like ours, there should be any