mediate neighborhood, be fixed upon as the most eligible place for the establishment of a State Prison for females. The situation is decidedly central, for the transportation of this class of convicts, which will thus, in this respect, occasion the least possible expense. It is deemed that the convicts can be as usefully employed, and as cheaply supported at this, as at any other place. And what appears to the committee of no small importance, the management of the institution will be under the view of the public functionaries of the State, and within the yearly supervision of the Legislature. It appears by the last annual reports of the Auburn and MountPleasant State prisons, which are yet in the hands of the printer, that at the date of those reports, there were confined at Auburn twenty-five and at Bellevue thirty-six female convicts. Those confined at Bellevue, are supported at an expense of one hundred dollars each per annum, which is paid out of the funds of the MountPleasant State prison. During the prevalence of the cholera, last summer at Bellevue, eight of the female State convicts died, and eleven made their escape amidst the confusion which prevailed there in consequence of that fatal disease. The number of these convicts is therefore smaller now than by the last year's reports of those prisons, being at this time about sixty-one. From a further consideration of the subject, the committee are induced to believe, that the expense of building the proposed prison will not be as great as has heretofore been apprehended. It seems evident that the erection of one hundred separate cells will be quite sufficient at this time. These may be constructed with much less attention to strength, and consequently much more cheaply than cells for the male convicts. The house for the keeper, and other appurtenances, may also be so simplified in their arrangement and construction, as materially to limit the expenditure. A building of brick will be sufficiently strong in all respects, and will be less expensive than one of stone; and if stone is needed for coping, and for posts, sills and lintels to the doors and windows, it can be conveniently obtained from the Mount-Pleasant State prison. It is proposed also, that the commissioners who may be appointed to construct the prison, shall be authorised, at their discretion, either to erect the same by contract, or to employ, if it shall be for the interest of the State, the male convicts from one of the other prisons, as was done in the erection of the Mount-Pleasant State pri son, It is proper to say here, that it is understood that the city of Albany will grant to the State, free of expense, sufficient land for the prison and its appurtenances. A Mr. Burrows also, residing at Port Schuyler, who last year offered to the State two acres of land for this object, situated on the banks of the Hudson, between the cities of Albany and Troy, has again repeated the offer. The committee entertain no doubt, but that an eligible site may be obtained without any expense to the State. The committee deem it unnecessary to add to this report by detailing views, already in the possession of the Senate, amongst the documents of the last, and the preceding years. The chairman of this committee, submitted a report at the last session of the legislature, [Senate Documents of 1832, No. 74,] in which this subject was considered, and some further views given, The condition of our female convicts is annually proclaimed to the world, in the reports of the Boston Prison Discipline Society, as one of just reproach to us. In the report of that society for 1832, a quotation from the last report of the Auburn State Prison, is headed with these words:-" Disgraceful and unalleviated miseries of the females of this prison." And after a quotation from the last report of the Mount-Pleasant State Prison, expressive of a doubt whether the female convicts could support themselves, the following language is used:-"Why cannot the females support themselves? They do it at Weathersfield, and they do it in Baltimore," Upon the whole it is due to the character of the State, to the spirit of our public institutions, and to the feelings of the age, that efforts should be immediately made to improve the condition of our female State convicts, and to instruct and reclaim them. It has been satisfactorily ascertained, that under our present system of prison discipline, many male convicts have been reclaimed and restored to society. And may not as salutary results be fairly anticipated from a sex always less hardened, and always more susceptible of virtuous impressions. A contrary opinion, though sometimes advanced, is certainly at war with the whole history of the female character. Let us not suppose that a woman, however debased and degraded, ever becomes thoroughly hardened. Such a being must be as rare as a monster in the physical world. As men, the children of women, by whom we have been nurtured and sustained, there is no state of degradation or ruin so utterly polluted and vile, to which they may be reduced, but that we are bound by the most sacred duties and affections, to treat them with kind ness and courtesy, and to remember their tender and helpless nature. The committee have prepared a bill which they ask leave to introduce. ALLAN MACDONALD, Chairman, IN SENATE, January 28, 1833. OPINION Of the Attorney-General, in relation to the exemption of the real estate of certain corporations from taxation. TO THE PREsident of tHE SENATE: SIR, Albany, January 26, 1833. I submit herewith, in pursuance of a resolution of the Senate, an opinion in relation to the exemption of the real estate of certain corporations from taxation. I am, Sir, with great respect, Your ob't. serv't. [Senate, No. 33.] 1 |