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[Governors Message]

While connected with the parent State, punishment for the more flagrant offences was inflicted by confinements to hard labour in the State prison, and the county gaols were required only for those who were committed for trial or sentenced to imprisonment for shorter periods and for minor offences. In erecting the prisons in the several counties, the same attention to strength and security, to arrangements for labour by yards and workshops, and to solitary confinement by suitable cells, was not deemed necessary that would have been had there been no general prison for the State. Consequently we now find in most of the counties, the prisons altogether insufficient, even for a proper distribution of the prisoners, without any regard to hard labour or solitary confinement. Some change is therefore, unavoidable to give due effect to existing laws Either the county prisons must be enlarged or a State prison erected. The question necessarily points to the inquiry, which will be least expensive, and most likely permanently to answer the great objects for which imprisonment becomes necessary. The expense incident to the prosecution and punishment of criminals, forms a great item in the disbursements of the Treasury; and it is believed under a judicious system may be considerably reduced. There remain in the State prison of Massachusetts twelve convicts who were tried and sentenced in Maine before its separation, and for whose support this State would be now chargeable had its government been organized previous to their conviction. From the prison calendars, there appear to be seventy six persons charged criminally now confined within the several