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* * . jf \ Legal adrertiMmeoU at the L O A n 7 ) F F I C E ; W r o ton, Oct. 31, $00 00 1 OO 6 00 15,00 30 00 5 00 THE BINGHAMTON COURIER, PUBLISHKD BYJKRY THURSDAY AT TWO”DOLLARS A YEAR, IN ADVANCE. OjjUe d t J. R . Orion's Bookstore. RA T E S O P ADVERTISING. O m iquue one week, ** 3 « _ “ i.y e a r , Half column 1 year,. *• Wkole. eplamiv 1 year, - •-> *- Profaaaional Cards not exeMdiaf^g, lines, f ^ t f i e e d by law. . roonre wwanty, Bingham- , 1844 -fsiYhereasdelault has been m i e i a the payment o f the interest due upon mo- lie s secured to be paid to the commissioners for oaning certain monies ofthe United States, ofthe county g f Broome—Notice is hereby given that in pursuance of the act entitled “an act authorizing a loan of certain monies belonging to the'United States deposited with the\ State of New York for safe keeping,” passed April 4,1837, the following described piece or parcel of land will be sold at public vendue to the highest bidder, at the Court Hpuse in the village o f Binghamton on the first Tuesday of February next at 10 o’clock in the foreaoon of that day, that is to say—All that cer tain piece of land being the equal undivided one half part or moiety ot land lying in the village of Bingb amtcn, and described as follows, bounded on the east by W ater street, north by lands of John D. Smith) On the west by tbe Chenango River and south by lands of George Park, containing about one acre ofland more or less, together with all and singular, the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in any wise appertaining, nnd all the estate, right, title, interest, claim and idemnnd whatsoever of Horatio N. Smead and Clarissa his w ile, James G. Smead and Rhoda his wife the mo: tgagors. The amount due at the time of the first publication of this notice is, for interest, $14 70; principal, 310 00, T h e number o f mort gage is No. 31. 38 j e s s e h i n d ’s , | Com’rs of Loans. L OAN OFFICE, Broome Cuunty, Bingham ton, Oct. 31,1844.—W h ereas default has been made in the payment of the interest due upon mo- x.ies secured to be paid to the commissioners for ’uauing certain monies o f the United States, o f the rounty of Broome—Notice is hereby given that in / ursuance of the act entitled “an act authorizinga oan of certain mories belonging to the United 'States d. posited with the State o f New York for safe keeping,’’ passed April 4,1837, the following described piece or parcel o f land will be sold at public-vendue to the highest bidder, at the Court House in the village of Binghamton on the first Tuesday of F ebruary next a t 10 o’clock in the fore noon'of that day, that is to say—All that certain I iece Ol land lying in Sanford in what is called .tvingston’s patent, in sub Jot 45 formerly owned by John Reade and beginning in the southbound of said lot No. 45 and the south west corner o f Eb- *n Roberts’ 50 acre lot, thence north 3 degrees east along the west bound of said Roberts’ lot 40 chains to the north bound o fsaid lot No, 45 to a post and stones, thence north 87 degrees west 27 chains and 50 links to its north west corner to a post and stones, thence south 3 degrees west 40 chains to its south west corner, thence south 87 degrees east 27 chains «tld SO links to the place of beginning, containing one hundred and ten acres ofland more or less to gether with all and singular, th e hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in anywise appertaining, and all the estate, right, title, inter est-, claim and demand whatsoeverofLorenzoPin- ney the mortgagor. The amount due at the time ofthe first publication Of this notice is, for interest, $ 2 8 OOj p r i n c i p a l , ^ 4 0 0 OO. T h e number o f m o r t gage is N o. 51. _ 3a JEgSE^HiN^lS, } Cop>’rs of Loans. L OAN OFFICE, Brootfte County, Bingham ton, Oct. 31, 1844.—'Whereas default has been m ade in the pajuneni of the interest due upon mo nies secured to be paid to the commissioners for loaning certain monies of the United States, of the county of Broome—Notice is hereby given that in f iursuance of the act entitled “ an act authorizing a oan of certain monies belonging to the United States deposited with the State o f New York for safe keeping,” passed April 4, 1837, the following described piece or parcel of land will be sold at public vendiie to the highest bidder, at the Court House in the village of Binghamton on the first Tuesday of Febriiary nekt at 10 o’clock in the iorenddh Qf that day, that is to say—All that cer tain piece o fland lying in Triangle being in lot No. 60 in township No. 2 in the Chenango T rian gle, so called, beginning at a hemlock post and stones standing at the north west corner of the lot, tnence east along the lidrlh line 37 chains and 5 links to a hemlock stump being the old corner, the south p arallel with the west line of the lot 54 chains hnd 72 links to the south line of the lot, then west along the south line 37 chains 5 links to the south west corner, thence north 54 chains 72 links to the place ol beginning, containing two hundred and tWo aeres of land more or less together With all and singular-, the hereditaments and appiirtenances thereUnt# belonging, or in any wise appertaining, and ail the estate, right, title, interest, claim and demand wha!soever of Asa Taft and Lucy his wife and John W . Taft and Electa his wife the mortga gors. Thd aiftotirtt dud at the time of the first pub lication of this notice is, for inteiest, $120 00; principal, $1,720 00. T h e number of m ortgage is No. 60. N. V . RACE, U JESSE HINDS, “ Equal Protection to all Classes.” — J a m e s K . P o l k . VOL. VI. NO. 44 ] BINGHAMTON, N. Y., THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1845. [WHOLE NO. 696. GOVEMOB’S MESSAGE. To the Semite a n d Assembly. T h e [ concluded .] Literature Fund is also devoted to the F Com’rS o f Loans. L O A N OFFICE, Broome Cotinty-, Bingham- toli; Oct-. 31, 1844.—W h ereas default has been inade in the pay me ht of the interest due Upon mo- hiessecurdd to be paid tothe commissioners for loaning certain monies d f the United States, o f the bounty of BrOome—Notice is hereby given ’hat in pursuance of the act entitled “ ah act authorizing a Joan of certain monies belonging to the United States deposited with the State of New York for safe keeping,” passed A p ril 4, 1837, the following described piece or parcel of land will be sold at. public v8nuiie to the highest bidder, at the Court House in tbe village df Binghamton on tile first Tuesday of February next at 10 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, that is to s»y—All that cer tain piece of land lying iu Conklin and being the south half of lot No. 14 and the north half of lot NO. 7 in the great lot No. 7 in the fourth tract in Bidnev, so called, containing one hundred acres Ot lahd together with all and singular, the heredit a m e n t s a t t d a p p u r t e n a n c e s t h e r e u n t o b e l o n g i n g , o r in any wise appertaining; and all the estate, right, titfe; interest-, claim and demand whatsoever of Kacliariah Ciittih and Amanda his wife the mort gagors; . The amount due at the time ofthe first publication of this notice is, for interest, $18 37£; principal, $262 50. The number of mortgage is No. 105. N. V. RACE; 1 . T 32 JESSE HINDS; J u m i 8 01 Loans. L OAN OFFICE, Broome County, Bingham ton, Oct. 31,1844.— W hereas default hasbeen made in the payment of the interest due upon mo nies secured to be p aid to the commissioners for loaning certain monies of the United States, ofthe county of Broome—Notice is hereby given that in pursuance o f the act entitled \an act a u t h o r i z i n g a loan of certain monies belonging to the United States deposited with the State of New York for safe keeping,” passed April 4, 1837, the following described piece or parcel o f la n d will be sold at public vendue to the highest b i d d e r , at the C o u r t House in the village of Binghamton on the first Tuesday ol February next at 10 o’clock in the forenoon o f that day, that is to say—All that cer tain piece of land lying in Union and being the south east corner of lot No. 167 in the grand divis- ' ion ofthe Boston purchase, so called, containing twenty five acres of land,being the 25 acres as near as may be, in a square from the south east corner- of lot' 167. bounded north by lands of Rovswell Lewis, east by the highway leading up Choconut Creek, south and east by land of Justus Lewis, to gether with all and singular, the hereditaments and appurtenances thereuxto belonging, or in any wise appertaining, and all the estate, right, title, interest, claim and demand whatsoever of James Johnson the mortgagor. The amount due at the time ofthe first publication of this notice is, ior interest, $4 20 ; principal,\-$60 00. The number of mortgage is No. 108. N. V. RACE, •%„ , , 33 JESSE HINDS, j Com rs of Loans. ties; it a p p e a rs to m e that the a u th o rity to re loan these m o n e y s should be restored. O u r p en itentiary system h a s been a subject o f prim a r y solicitude a n d d eep legislative c a re , for a long series of y ears. In its e a rly stages, n ex t to t h e p revention a n d p u n ishm e n t of crime, the heavy b u rd e n u p o n the public treasury, a n d the rem o v a l o f that burden, by m a k in g the labor of tbe convicts p ay the expenses of their punish ment, was the object most a n x io u sly sought. It was finally reached through radical c h a n g e s in the construction o f o u r prisons, and the im provem e n t in prison discipline w h ic h those changes rendered practicable. I entertain the impression that o u r S tate was the' first to b ring about tbe accomplishment o f these great im provements in the construction and police of prisons, -and w ith them the equally im p o r t a n t result o f m a k in g them s u p p o rt themselves. V a rious accidents, since that d esirable point was first reached, such as the construction of new buildings, additions to, and im p ro v ements of, the old, a n d a necessity o f c h a n g in g the labor of the convicts from e m p lo y m e n t to which they had b ecome accustomed, to that w h ic h they w e re to learn, h a v e created c alls u p o n the treas ury for aid to support th e S tate P r i s o n s ; but, as an o rd in a ry rule, when the labor o f the convicts has been directed to support alone, it is believed that it h as fully met that c h a r g e , and, for some years, ii has yielded a v e ry considerable surplus. The report made to me by the inspector? of the p risons at A u b u r n and M o u n t P le a sa n t, p r e sent both of these institutions at p resent in a sound and prosperous state, the health o f the visoners o rd in a rily good, the discipline careful- y preserved, and ihe avails of the labor of the convicts for th e c u r r e n t y e a r, promising to meet the expenses of tho prison, T h e n u m b e r of m a le prisoners in the M o u n t Pleasant Prison has increased one hundred, com p a ring tho y e a r 1844, w ith 1843, b u t m o -e than half that increase is accounted for by the transfer of thirty prisoners from A u b u rn , and the addition o f e ig h t counties lo that prison dis trict. T b e whole n u m b e r there confined on the 30ih S e p te m b e r lust, w as e ig h t h u n d re d andsix- ty-three. T h e num b e r ol female convicts at Mount Pleasant, at the same period, was seven ty-two, four Jess than the n u m b e r at the close of the preceding year. T h e whole expenses of the prison, for the last fiscal vear. amounted to 964, 2 1 5 03. which the inspe ctors say is less, by from two to fourteen thousand d o llars per y ear, than the expenses of the three preceding' years, and they anticipate that the avails of the labor of the co n v icts, for th e c u r r e n t y e a r , will be equal lo the support o f the prison. T h i s re port make? m a n y important suggesiions for di m in is h in g the expense and im p ro v in g the con dition of th is prison, and especially a s to a suffi cient supply o f p u re w a te r ; but as theannu- al report of th o inspectors to the Legislature will doubtless present these subjects, together with all the statistics in reference to the prison, m o re fully than I could do in this c o m m u n ic a tion, I respectfully refer you to that document, w h e n it shall be laid before y o u , a n d invite y o u r attention to it3 statements and recommendations. The. n u m b e r o f prisoners confined at A ubnrn on the 3 0 th of Novem b e r last, was seven h u n dred and fifty-five, b eing but twelve m o re than at the close o f the previous y e a r, but it should be borne in mind that th e transfer to the Mount Pleasant Prison, o f thirty o f the A u b u r n c o n victs, probably dimini>hed the num b e r remain- of instruction in those schools. These, a s it ap- ;r,g ;n the latter prison to about the same extent, pears to me, shou Id b e the great objects ol le- w h ile the change o f the prison districts would gislative grants to them, a n d the m e a su re of pave d iminished the num b e r o f c o m m itments such g rants. T h e institutions must be sustained for the latter portion of the y ea r. T h e whole in a healthful ar.d flourishing condition, or the expenses o f this prison for the last fiscal y ear, accom p lishm e n t of these objects cannot b e ex- were $68,107 40, but this included some five peeled from them. T h e y must be supplied thousand d o llars of debts standing over from with competent teachers, or they cannot send previous years, which w e r e paid d u ring the last forth those competent to teach. T h e v alue o f year, from a special appropriation m ad e from useful and p ro p er class books must be k n o w n j [|le treasury for that purpose. T h e e a rn in g s of the prisoners employed upon contracts, d u ring the last y e a r, a m o u n ted to $ 5 2 ,3 8 9 10, and the dard of education in them must b e sound and I same e a rn in g s, (or th e c u rrent y ear, a re estima elevated, or they will not contribute to main- j t e(] a t $ 6 0 ,0 0 0 , while the expenses of the prison tain such a standard in the c o m m o n schools. for the y e a r, for g e n e ra l support and repairs, T h e i r healthfulness, therefore, o r ther need, in are estimated at the same sum. T h e report a pecuniary sense; would seem to me to be a from this prison contains m a n y interesting facts, m o re safe and m o re just g u id e to the legisla- j re lating to the discipline a n d moral and intel- ture than any rule o f distribution per scholar, lectual condition ot the convicts, hut which, as T h e com m o n schools should never be suffered [fjey will p ro b a b ly be repeated in the a n n u a l re- to languish for the want of the m e a n s granted 1 p0rt Df ihe inspectors to the Legislature, nnd as to these institutions- nor should the colleges they call for no action on y o u r part, I omit to and academies be permitted to d ecline and suffer, notice. thatthe means w h ic h .w o u ld sustoin them m a y f \ j r several y e a rs p revious to the last, exten be g ra n te d ,to well supplied a n d healthful com- U jv e complaints were made, ori th e partoF the mon schools. E i t h e r e x trem e would be e q u a L j m echanics o f the State, against the m a n n e r ly u n w ise, impolitic a n d hurtful. A ll a r e parts, J e m p lo y in g th e convict labor in the S lats P risons, and essential parts, of o n e g re a t and v a lu a b le as p a rticularly unjust and oppressive upon them atld essential plan o f education, a n d sickliness as a c ]ass o r citizens. T h e ordinary b ra n c h e s in a n y b ra n c h m u st soon b e felt throughout the I Df m e c h a n ic a l and m a n u fa c tu ring labor chosen purposes of education. Its capital, a t the close of the l» 3 t fiscal y e a r, a m o u n te d to 9 2 6 8 ,9 9 0 57, and t h e re v e n u e s received into the treasury d u r ing that y e a r, w e r e 918.490 34. T h i s fund receives 9 2 8 , 0 0 0 a n n u a lly from the interest of the United States deposite fund, a n d its reve nues a r e distributed to t h e incorporated A c a d e mies o f the State, u n d e r the direction of the R e gents of the University. A s the c o n d itions u p on which A c a d e m ie s a r e permitted b y the R e gents to participate in the dividends from this fund, the incorporation m u st o w n real estate a n d buildings to; th e v a lu e o f $ 2 ,5 0 0 o v e r a n d above any incum b ra n c e s thereon, a n d m u st have a fund invested and yielding annual interest for the term of twenty years, equal to at feast 92,000. T h e increase o f the num b e r o f a c a d em ie s p a rticipating a n n u a lly in the distribution from this fund, b y b r in g in g themselves within these conditions, furnishes o n e strong evidence of the rapid advancem e n t o f education in the State, and o f the very general diffusion of a grade of education b e y o n d that o rd in a rily a c quired in tbe c o m m o n schools. T h e means necessary to purchase the lots, e rect the build- ings. a n d establish the funds for these n u m e ro u s academies, are mostly if not entirely draw n from the v o lu n ta ry contributions o f p rivate citi zens, a n d o f o u r incorporated villages a n d towns; and their collection a n d application evince, in a gratifying m a n n e r, the lively interest ta k e n b y our p eo p le in the g r e a t c a u se o f education. T h e annual report of the Regents of the U m v e a s ity will p lace before y o u the condition of these in stitutions for the past y e a r. The capital of the United S ta te sd e p o su e fund is $ 4 ,0 1 4 ,5 2 0 71, the proportion received by this S late o f the s u rp lu s moneys in the treasury of the U n ited States, deposited w ith th e states for safe keeping by the act o f Congress o f 11836. T h i s m o n e y was loantd by the S tate to the sev eral counties, a s th e safest m o d e of investment, the faith of the State being pledged for the re turn of the principal, w ithout interest, w h e n e v e r the United S t a te s shall d e m a n d the re-payment of the same. T h e interest has been appifopri ated a lm o st exclusively to the p u rp o ses ot e d u cation, a s in g le thousand d o llars p e r a n n u m to the N e w - Y o r k E v e I n firm a r y being, as Ib e lieve, the only exception. T h e opinion is e n tertained m some quarters, that too large a p ro p o rtion o f this fund has been appropriated to the u s e of the colleges and acad emies o f Ihe State, and that a n invidious dis tinction is m ad e in their favor a s c o m p a re d w ith theappiopriations lo th e com m o n 5 chools. T h is conclusion a p p e a rs to rest u p o n the fact, said to be ascertained, that the dividend per scholar, from the p u b lic funds, is g re a te r to these insti tutions than tothe c o m m o n schools, I have not ascertained hotv this feet m a y be, nor does it strike m e as a v e ry satisfactory foundation for th e conclusion if it be as staled. T h e s e institutions are entitled to the public patronage and b o u n ty »o far, a n d o n ly so far, a s they a r e v a lu a b le and useful a u x iliaries in the g re a t c a u se of education generally, a n d especially in s u p p ly in g the c o m mon schools with c o m p etent and qualified teach ers, a n d improved modes of instruction, and in otherwise sustaining a n d e le v a ting the standard of th e a g e n t of U 3 & 1 U I U l l t l J/.i V | / v i v j m s u | and appreciated in them, o r they cannot recom mend such b o o k s for o th e r schools. T h e stan- N OTICE —Pursuant to an order o f John R. Dick inson, Surrogate of the county of Broome, no tice is hereby given to all persons having claims against the estate o f Lewis Keek r, late ol Union, in said county, deceased, to exhibit the same to the un dersigned; with the vouchers in support thereof, at the residence of William H . Keeler m Union afore said, on or before the 14th day of March next.—Da ted Sept. 9,1844. W M . H . KEELER, CHAS. E. K E E L E R , 25-6m Executor*. whole system. T h e com m o n schools a r e the for the occupations o f the prisoner?, and the principal aud these institutions a r e the a u x ilia -1 m a n n e r o f e m p lo y in g them in the b ra n c h e s se ries. essemial a u x iliaries, and that legislation Jected, by h iring their labor to mechfihic.? an(T w h ic h shall preserve the most equal a n d uni- m a n u fa c tu re rs in those trades, it was urged, form soundness a n d activity a n d v i g o r .i h r o u g h -1 raised u p an u n eq u al a n d unfair competition in out the w h o le, will b e the most politic, th e most I faVor of those e m p lo y e rs against their fellow- wise, a n d the most just. j citizens o f the same trades, but without that fa- H a v i n g no information in r e g a r d to th e c o n - 1 cility to procure c h e a p labor; that the State dition a n d wants of these v a riohs institutions-, I COuld afford to h ire out these Convicts at a Tate o f am tillable to pronounce an opinion u p o n the! wages m e re ly equal to their o w n support, in the proorietv o f the p re sent a p p ro p riations from the j economical w a y in which that support is p ro revenues of this fund. I can only, therefore, Tjded m the prisons, b ecause the services of the recom m e n d the r u le I h a v e laid d o w n u p o n this laborer were to cost it nothing m o re ; that such subject for VOUr consideration, being weil con- labor could be m ad e to supply the m a rk e t w ith vinced that, if y o u r examinations s h a ll satisfy I a better article, at a less price, and g re a te r profit, you that these a p p ro p riations a r e in conformity than the m e c h a n ic o r m a n u fa c tu re r can do, w h o with it. y o u will find n o c a u se to change them ; has not the benefit o f this artificial standard to while, if y o u s h a ll find any essential d e p a rture govern the wages o f .his laborers, from it, th a t y o u will m a k e the changea w h ic h a. further g ro u n d of complaint w a s that this the healthful action o f o u r w h o le system of edu- mode of employ in g the convicts, thus constitut- cation shall seem to require. ing them mechanics confined to a few trades,and B y a law passed on the 10 th 'day of April, those, to a g re a t extent the most common, and 1838, principal m o n e y s of the U n ited S tates necessarily followed in all p arts o f th e S tate,was Deposite F u n d paid, w e r e directed to be trans- throw in g tho tvhole body o f these S tate crimi- mitted to the S tate T r e a s u r y a n d n o t re loaned, J nals, aftei their d is c h a rg e from prison, upoh that that they m ig h t b e applied, in e x tinguishm e n t particular c la s s ol society, a n d m a k in g them of the debt standing a g a in s t that fund, d u e to the tbe associates of th e apprentices a n d jo u rn e y m e n canal fund. Paym e n ts of principal m o n e y in those trades. have been m a d e to a n a m o u n t sufficient to ex- T h e last legislature considered} these com tinguish that debt, and it is submitted for y o u r plaints w o rthy of a n effort to c h a n g e tho policy, consideration w h e th e r this la w o u g h t not to be 1 a n d authorized the. erection ot a n e w S tate pris- repealed, and the a u th o rity of the commission j on, in the iron region of the State, with a view ers o f loans to re-loan tbe principal m o n e y s of to the e m p lo y m e n t o f th e convicts in mining, the fund, o r ig in a lly conferred b y the 2 8 th sec- m a k in g iron a n d s u c h b ra n c h e s o f th e manufac- tion of the a c t of the 4th of A p ril, 1837, be ture o f iron as a r e not c o m m o n ly practised by thus restored. It is im p o rtant that these princi- the m e c h a n ic s o f th e State. A site has been se- pal moneys be made constantly^pjpdluctive, that lecied for the proposed prison, by the persons, 55 b a p p ro p riations o f the revenue from them to 1 and in the m a n n e r, pointed o u t in the law, loca- f r . t _/ __ ______ A _ __ I J • *i_ ______ rt1_A kuti/luA/ tho objects before named m ay he regularly met, 1 ted in the county of Clinton. Tw o hundrec and iu> other mode o f investment appears to me acres of land have been put chased, including to ellef the same security with an equal rate of {what is believed to be a very extensive bed 0 ‘ - ” ’ ' -------- r — --------------- • ““ J ‘,he location, iepatete-from the consideration of accpmmoda-1 with reference to coal, water, and other requis tion tothf inhabitants of the respective court -1 lies for the proposed businesses considered very favorable. T h e a n n u a l report the proposed prison, w ill p lace y o u m possess ion o f al! the facts im p o rtant for y o u r action in furtherance of th is experiment to c h a n g e the la bor o f th e Convicts in o u r prisons. Y o u r pre decessors adopted and established the policy of the measure, and $ 1 7 ,5 0 0 h a v e been paid for this site for a prison, as one im p o rtant step to wards the execution of th e ir law. A plari for the n e w prison will a c c o m p a n y the report o f th e agent, and f u rther appropriations w ill doubtless be w an ted to enable h im to proceed with the e- rection ol[it, and the n ecessary b u ilding for the proposed m a n u facture of iron. Of the am o u n t of a p p ro p riations which will be n e c e s s a r y , I a m not advised, but you will be informed by that of ficer, and presented by h i m w i t h th e fa c ts a n d v i e w s u p o n w h i c h h i s e s t i m a t e is b a s e d . Thecgfirse having been deliberately resolved upon, ifsRould be prosecuted with energy and good faith, and the work should be hastened as r a p i d l y a s t h e m e a n s a t y o u r c o m m a n d a p p l i c a b l e to it, a n d tr u e e c o n o m y o f e x p e n d i t u r e , w i l l permit. Still those who feel an interest in the accomplishment of thfe change should c o n stant ly b e a r in mind that time is required; that the w o rk to be performed, a n d the expense to be in curred, must be very g reat, before the revolu tion p ro p o sed can be p e r f e c t e d , even if th e e x periment should be attended with c o m p lete suc cess. The enterprise is one of deep interest,but one which impatient haste m a y e n d a n g e r, and cannot serve. T h e public charities o f th e state form a n o th e r class o f objects for y o u r p aternal care. Am o n g them n o one Stands m o re prominent than the provision m a d e for the insane, and especially for the insane poor. T h e state L u n a tic A s y lu m lately established al U tica, is p a rticularly de signed for the relief of this most unfortunate class o f o u r fellow beings, a n d the munificence of p re c e d in g legislatures towards it, a n d the promptness w ith which the counties and towns of th e state availed themselves o f its benefits, a f ford the h ig h est evidence of th e strength of that charity in the affections o f o u r people. T h e r e is not, p erhaps, a n instance upon record where a public institution of th at description and extent has been so p ro m p tly filled with patients, and certainly few w h e re the h a p p y result o f entire restoration to reason, considering the condition of the paiients when received and the d u r a t i o n o f t h e m a l a d y b e f o r e th a t tim e , h a v e b o r n e ^ a greater proportion to the whole number of cas es treated. There were in the asylum, at the c o m m e n c e m e n t of the la s t y e a r , 196 p a t i e n t s , a n d re c e i v e d in t o it during the y e a r 2 7 5 , m a k ing the whole number of cases within ihe year 471. O f this n u m b e r 132 w e re d ischarged c u r e d , 47 im p r o v e d , 16 n o t i m p r o v e d , n n d 16 died, e a v i n g 260 patients in the institution at th e close of th e year. Of this num b e r 131 were males and 129 females, and patients vvereinclu ded from forty-nine of th e fifty-nine organized counties o f th e state. T h e patients rem a in in g , at the close oi the year, filled the a s y lu m 8 nd indeed crowded it; m t all poor patients c h a rg e a b le to the towns and counties had been received, and there were a n u m b e r in addition supported by their friends, or from their o w n means. T h e price o f board during the y e a r was reduced from $ 2 5 0 to $ 2 per week, and yet th e income o f the institution was expected to e q u a l the expenses, so Us to call for no n e w a p p ro p riation for g e n e ra l s u p - ; port. U n d e r the a p p ro p riation already made for enlarging the asylum, additional accom m o dations for 2 0 0 patients a r e commenced. T h is appiopriation was $ 6 0 ,0 0 0 , of which but $ 6 ,- 000 have been d r a w n from the treasury, so that, although no further a p p ro p riation m a y be re quired, m eans to enable the treasury to meet the existing one a re to be provided. A s the m a n a gers o f this institution a re required lo m a k e an annual report to the legislature, I forbear to go further into its p articular condition, except to say that the presentation furnished to me is a most e n c o u ra g in g and g ra tifying one, both w ith reference to the liberality of th e state towards the insane, a n d the faithful and successful a p p li cation ofits means by the m a n a g e rs and officers of th e asylum. T h e r e were in the lunatic a s y lu m al B loom- ingdale at the c o m m e n c e m e n t of th e last year, one h u n d re d p a t i e n t s ; received u p to t h e 6 th day o f D e c e m b e r one h u n d re d and two, and discharged ninety-nine, leaving in the institu tion, on the last n amed day, o n e h u n d red and three. A s the fiscal and calender y e a r a r e the same at this ins'.ilution, it h as not been in the power of its officers to lay before m e the condition of its pecuniary affairs, for the last y e a r,but a com munjeation from tho resident p h ysician informs me that it w ill not varj- m a terially from that of the year 1843, as reported tothe legislature du ring its last session. A re f e r e n c e to th a t r e p o r t w i l l s h o v v t h a t t h e fin a n c i a l a f f a i r s o f t h e a s y l u m appeared then lo be in a fairly healthful state. T h e resident p h y sician gives a favorable and encouraging a c co u n t o f th e condition and treat ment of th e patients in the institution, a n d thinks i‘ will b e a r a c o m p arison with any sim ilar in stitution in the world, a u d he seems to speak rom a v e ry extensive e x p erience and exam i n a tio n . jlThe a n n u a l report tb the legislature, of ihe governors of the N ew -Y o rk Hospital, o f w h ich l.hfs A s y lu m is a b ra n c h , w ill put y o u in posses sion ofall thfe n ecessary information in relation o both institutions. The state pays an annual atinuity to the hospital of $12,500, and tothe a s y l u m o f - $ 10 , 0 0 0 . T h e p rincipal o fthe institution for the e d u c a tion o f th e d e a f a n d d u m b in the city of N e w - Y o r k has laid before me a n interesting state ment of th e condition of that school, but as tbe fiscal closes with the calendar, y ea r, the state of its finances'for the last y e a r could not be given. T h e n u m b e r o f d e a f m utes resident in the i n stitu tio n on the s e c o n d bf D e c e m b e r la s t; was- one h u n d re d a n d eighty-five, of whom ih/ee were connected with the d e p a rtm e n t of in struc tion. seven with the m e c h a n ic a l department, sev en w e r e e m p l o y e d in d o m e s t i c h o u s e h o l d dutieB and one h u n d re d a n d sixty-five were pupils o f the school. T h e sums received, and to be received, fiora tbe state, from the various appropriations to this institution, were estimated to amount, for tbe year, to som ething m ore than twenty-two thous and dollars, and it was stated that some of the law s m a k ing these appropriations a re about to expire. A n intimation was also given that ad- ditional aid was desirable and m ight be asked. M any other interesting facts were slated i n . re lation to the institution, and the advancement oi education, and improvement in the modes of in struction, but as a l l ' w ill be m o re fully placed before y o u in a n a n n u a l report from the m a n a g ers, to be laid before y o u e a rly in y o u r , session, I omit a reference to them h ere. N e x t to the deprivation o f re a so n the subjects of th is c h a rity m a k e the strongest appeal to the public sympathies, a n d will doubtless command your g u a rd ia n care. In the present e m b a rras sed condition o f th e general fund and the defi cient state o f its revenues, I c a n n o t feel a u th o riz ed to recommend a n increase ofth e a lready ve ry liberal p a tronage extended to this institution. It will doubtless be y o u r p le a su re to continue that a lready extended, so far as the revenues relied upon to meet the present appropriations, and the state of th e p u b lic treasury will w a r rant. T h e N e w -Y o rk Institution for the Blind is another public c h a rily only second to the two which have been mentioned. A statement from The c o rresponding secretary of th e in co rp o ration gives the present n u m b e r o f pupils at o n e h u n dred and ten, of whom e ig h ty -e ig h t a r e s u p p o r ted by the S tate at the annual expense of one hundred and thirty d o llars each. T h i s will a- mount to $ l l , 4 4 0 p e t a n n u m ,p a id from the pub- lie treasury for the education o f pupils in this school for the blind. T h e a c co u n t g iv e n o f th e advancement o f those u n fo rtunate c h ildren in the. various b ra n c h e s of education, m the science of music, a n d in m e c h a n ic a l a n d m a n u fa c tu ring industry is o n e o f deep interest, a n d it is a mat ter o f profound regret that, w ith this liberal pat ronage from the state, the funds of th e institution are not such as to p reserve it, from em b a rrass ments, which limit its usefulness. T h e m a n a gers suppose they can d e rive a benefit from c er tain alterations and extensions of th e ir c h a rter, which will aid in relieving these em b a rrass ments, a m o n g w h ic h is th e permission to consti tute this institution an asylum as well a s a school, for the blind. M y acquaintance with the subject does not e n a b le m e to judge ofthe propriety ol this extension of the charter; but I invite y o u r careful attention to the request, c o n vinced that it w ill receive your favorable ac tion, u n less there shall be sound objections a- gainst it. It is a most gratifying reflection, that during all the period of our late financial em b a rrass ments, driving us to the necessity of direct taxa tion, our expenditures for education, forthe m ain tenance of o u r penitentiaries, a n d for the liberal support of o u r public charities, have not m e re ly not been diminished, but have been increased and extended, a t least to k e e p pace with o u r in creasing population. T h i s single fact speaks volumes in favor of the intelligence, patrioiism, and public spirit of o u r people. F e w subjects connected with this c o m m u n i cation h av e been pressed u p o n me with so much earnestness since the close o f th e late election,as tlie necessity of some additional legal provisions to secure the independent a n d unbiased exercise of the elective franchise, and the p u ritv of th e - I v ballot box, especially from the corrupting influ ence of money. N o subject can possess deeper interest lo the free men of ou r state and c o u n tr y or be m o re vitally im p o r tant to the very exis tence o f o u r political institutions. W i t h o u t how ever detaining you with rem a r k s to establish a position which will be ins’antly conceded and fully appreciated, I will proceed directly to the points to w h ich I propose lo confine m y su g gestions. One o f th e prom in e n t c o m p laints is that ef forts a re made, and successfully made, to defeat the policy o f o u r present law, intending to se cure to the elector the p rivilege o f keeping his rote from the sight o r inspection of th e officers of th e election, o r a n y one else, and its characr ter k n o w n to him se ifonlv. B y the law it h e chooses to h an d his ballot to tbe inspector c lo se ly folded, the law prohibits the inspector, upon pain uf severe p u n ishm e n t for a misdemeanor, from so o p en in g it as to expose the n a m e s o f th e persons voted for upon it. T h e law, h o w ev er, requires ihat the ballot should be labelled upon the outside, a n d if folded, it must b e so folded as to leave this label visible. T h i s is made one or the means of defeating the protection intended to be thrown a ro u n d the elector, b y e n a b ling him to k eep the c h a ra c te r of his vote a profound se cret from all the w orld but himself, if h e should choose to do so. T h i s label, as a g e n e ra l re m a rk , must be printed, and the c h a ra c te r of th e type is m ade to d esignate the political c o m p lex ion o f th e vote w ithin, a s p lainly, to those who understand the design, a s would the inspection of th e n a m e s upon the ballot. In this w a y the influence o f t h e e m p lo y e r o v er the feelings and fears of the e m p lo y ed , is as fully a n d forcibly exerted, as if th e latter were required to give a viva voce vote, o r deposite a n open ballot. - So the description and colpr o f t h e paper upon which ballots a r e printed is often resorted to, for tbe game purpose, and in this way the spirit and intention o f the law, to protect the elector In th e independent exercise of his own free choice, are circumvented and defeated. I do not k n o w that it is possible, by legisla tion, lo reach a n d p revent all these devices un duly and im p ro p e rly to influence th e free choice ofthe elector, b u t it does a p p e a r lo me that al the abuses g r o w in g out of the use o f a label up on the ballot, m a y , as o u r law n o w is,be p reven ted by a v ery s light modification.^ W h e n there is not a Presidential election, a n d when no a mendments to the Constitution a r e to be voted have a lmost the force o f positive hritf, to c o m p el the payment. Indeed, in s ta n c e rb a v * existed,.when bankruptcy h a s been the consef* quetice, to the losing p arty, a n d yet pecffttiary' ruin h a s been preferred to a resort to the p ro tec tion ot this statute. U n d e r s u c h a state of th in g s the law is w h o lly ineffective to prevent the practice, a s its a la r m in g increase too c le a r ly proves. Still the evil influences of th e p ra c tice u p o n our elections, a n d the p ro p riety o f interposing by legislation to a ^ e rt th e m , a r e fully recognized in the present law. T h e s e im p ro p e r and cor* ruptir.g influences h a v e made themselves mani* fest to the whole body of o u r freemen, a n d c o n stitute a them e of a lmost u n iv ersal complaint.*— U p o n the p a rty to the Wager, they are all controlling. H i s e a r a n d his mind, from the moment his m o n e y is staked, a r e closed a g a in st argum e n t, o r reason, o r examination, either a s to the questions involved, o r the candidates p re sented for his suffrage. H e must so vote and so act ’a s to win his bet, a n d the welfare’ o f the country b ecomes a n e n tirely secondary consider ation. H i s a p p e a ls to a il o v er whom he m a y hope to exert a n influence, are to sa ve h im se lf from loss, and h elp h im to w in the m o n ey of his opponent, not to examine and inquire h o w they m a y best serve their'country by their votes. The m a n n e r in which this evil practice ex* tends itself, presents another and even stronger Teason for its m o r e effectual suppression. It operates a s a positive coercion upon m a n y w h o are r e a lly unw i l li n g to m a k e bets, because it is made a test, by the m e m b e rs of the contending parties, of the confidence of each other in th e strength of their cause and their candidates, And their final party success. T h e offer of t h e bet is often the consequence of heated discussion a n d strong partizan feeling, made by one who, with out excitement, would neither offer nor accept a bet upon an election, and yet once made and re luctantly accepted, the same coercion prevents either party from r e c e d ing; the w a g e r remains, and they become parties to a bet upon the pend* ing election, and subject to all the selfish and corrupting influences which have been describ* ed, though both feeling a r e p u g n a n c e to th a practice. T o avert these evil influences from such parties, and save them from the coercion of so artificial and im a g i n a r y a test of political sincerity and confidence, if it can be done w ith out a violation of principle, is certainly most desirable, a n d w o u l d ’be a valuable im p r o v e m e n t in our legislation, M a n y h av e suggested d isfranchisement as th e penalty of b e c o m in g a p arty to a bet, upon the ery rational g ro u n d that h e should not be p e r mitted to vole at ail, whose vole is to b e g o v e r n ed by his private interests, and not w ith reference to the p u b lic good. T h i s suggestion, h o w e v e r plausibly urged, we h av e not the constitutional power to adopt. T h e constitution of our slate declares the qualifications and disqualifications of the voter, and does not give to the legislature the r ig h t to subtract from the o n e o r a d d to tho other. Its whole p o w e r in the matter is to p a ts aws for ascertaining the constitutional qualifi cations. Thesuggestion which strikes m e with most force, and as most likely to arrest the prac tice oi betting, is to m a k e it p u n ishable criminal* y; to subject the parties to every bet m a d e upon the result of an election, to in dictment, a n d upon conviction, lo p u n ishm e n t b y a fine, to b'e graduated by the a m o u n t of i h e w a g e r, a n d to all the costs of the prosecution. If the fine b e given e n tirely to the complainant, the p ro b ab ili ty of prosecution, and consequently o f a rresting the evil, w ill be strengthened. N o valid objection i n - p r i n c ip l^ a g a i n s t s u c h a law h a s o ccurred to m e. T h e d eleterious in fluence o f this species of gam b ling u p o n the public morals alone, would, it a p p e a rs to me,j ustify th e p a ssage o f a law w h ic h should m a k l it c riminal. A n d when its corrupt and cor.raj ting tendencies upon our elections, upon tl ree a n d p ro p er exercise of th e elective franchia when its influence to b ring the im p ro p e r expj- d iture o f m on ey into a political can vassr ar apply it u n d e r the desperate impulse of a gat ling spirit, a re considered, I cannot doubt 11 the moral a n d political aspect of the evil fully ju stify its classification a s a crime, anc punishm e n t as such. I submit the suggestion, however, with deference, and in the full conviction that itJ not receive your sanction, unless you d e l sound in principle, and likely to prove salt! in practice. Such a law cannot do less relieve from coercion those who do not make from voluntary ch o i c e ; as no Stale of opinion will be likely to require of the ci^ that he should violate the la*v, and subjectj self to indictment, to manifest his confide* the correctness of his political opinions, uccess of his political p a r t y a n d iFany i be reckless enough to challenge him tqj his refusal, placed upon this ground, wilT ot none of the inferences, w h i c h constif coercion a t present felt. T h e use o f m o n e y at o u r elections, j upon, w e n o w h av e but d n e ballot box and one ballot, and then manifestly no label can be re quired. I c a n see no c au se to a p p re h e n d incon venience o r injury, by such an am e n d m e n t of th e law as s h a ll render but one box a n d one ballot necessary at a n y time. T h e persons voted for as electors of P re sident a n d Y ic e P re s id e n t m ay be as well designated u p o n the state ticket, as upon a seperate one, and the opinion o f th e e le c tor upon a n y constitutional a m e n d m e n t can be as well expressed u p o n that a s upon a seperate ballot. N o r do I think the addition to the size of the ballot, in e ither of these cases, w o uld p ro d u ce a n y serious objection. I respectfully subm it these suggestions for your consideration, confident that, as far a s you shall find it practicable, y o u w ill defend the elec tor in the enjoyment o f th at im p u n ity from im proper influences, in g iv in g his vote, which it has ever b een the policy of o u r law to s e c u re to h;m. Another point o f m u c h m o re serious com plaint, is the extensive and rapidly increasing practice of b etting u p o n elections, and the inter ested, selfish, a n d c o rrupting tendencies which it exerts u p o n the election itself. It is true, th at bets so made cannot now be recovered by ac tion, o r p a y m e n t enforced in a n y legal m a n n e r, and that p ro p erty o r m o n ey , staked, o r even p aid over u p o n a bet* m a y b e recovered back in a suit a t l a w ; a n d y et it is e q u a lly true, that a public opinion exists, almost u n iv ersally, so nected wilh w a g e rs - has become a universal complaint. T h e provT law are very rigid, and expressly lawful use of money upon J.hose occ “defraying the expenses o f p rinting anil culation of votes, hand-bills, a n d othe! previous lo any such election, or for c o | | sick, poor, or infirm electors to the poluf any candidate for any elective office other s o n , s h a l l , with intent tf the election of a n y parti.cUiar CafldJd^ contribute m o n e y f d r : afiy ot#e'r ty o f a misdemeanor,* punishable* exce'l^ktg tWo;h.U 4 id$ed and fifty *ddf|j im p ris^pneht h o t e x c e e d in g / s i t rhOj difficult \to see h o w provisions‘-of?| m o re rigid, and riot restrict the freeh and c irculaiion of political mar offices of kindness to the sick, jjpofi and yet it is manifest that t h e e v i ^ a f intended lo be prevented by l-he'pjres exist, and are rapidly and alarm ingly ing. It is impossible to p re s u m e thg iributors expect, or intend, to keep own control, or even to retain a p erj edge of th e uses to which their mone.j as vast purses a i e frequently m a d e a v o w e d purpose o f w ide distribution! the counties of tbe state, a n d not lawful expenses of the election in* where the contributors reside a n d T h e forms o f th e law m a y b e ol subscription papers, b u t the apirit disregarded, if not expressly dc when the application and u s e a f placed beyond J h e p o w e r and knqg who gi ves it. / It is w o rthy of consideration bmions in m o n e y , for a n y p tf ture, even within the terrna-V *1 m a y not be safely confined the object is publication, let t| in publications and n o t in dilure is b r o u g h t w ithin the of the laWj by the act of hi money. It w ill scarcely sick, or poor, or infirm* ties, w ill be kept from tT contributed from another pense of conveying thei has citizens enough, aty
