16

fully to suggest, to the Legislature, the propriety of repealing or
modifying the law of 1845, chap. 340, respecting the punishment
of slaves and their confinement in the Penitentiary of the State.
I am fully convinced, that the discretion which was vested in the
courts of law, before the passage of that act, touching the sale and
transportation beyond the limits of the State of slaves convicted of
the lower grades of felonies, was well bestowed, and that a similar
discretion vested in the circuit courts now, would be exercised with
benefit to the State, and would relieve the Penitentiary of a large
class of convicts not reformably by our prison discipline, and whose
confinement in the prison in such numbers, seems to be attended
with such unprofitable results.                                                  

CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

House of Refuge.—Among the public institutions worthy of
the especial notice of the Legislature, "the House of Refuge for
Juvenile Delinquents'' holds a prominent place. Although its
original charter dates back as far as 1831, it was only in Decem-
ber, 1855, that this true Reform School was fully inaugurated in
Maryland.

It is mainly due to the liberal contributions of private citizens
of Baltimore, with the generous aid of the municipal government
of that city, that the great work which now reflects so much
credit upon our State, was accomplished. Having visited the
institution, I can speak from personal observation, and cannot
refrain from expressing my astonishment at the magnitude, and
substantial character of the building, as well as the moral courage
which emboldened the Board of Managers, to engage in the
erection of so noble a structure; and the perseverance, which,
through many obstacles, enabled them to complete and put it
into successful operation, and all this at a cost, which evidences
a most economical financial management. At its last session the
Legislature made an appropriation for the support of this institu-
tion, to be paid in five yearly instalments. The amount thus
wisely given for this beneficent purpose was less indeed than was
asked for, but was gratefully accepted, as initiatory, it was hoped,
to a larger acknowledgment of the deserved claims of the insti-
tution.

At that time, which was only a few months after its opening,
there were about thirty inmates. There are now as reported to
me on the first of November, 199 inmates; 175 boys and 24
girls, and besides this number under actual care there have been
apprenticed to worthy citizens in this and other States, 36 boys
and 11 girls, and discharged to the care of parents and friends,
37 boys and 20 girls, making a total of inmates since the institu-
tion commenced operation, (now little less than two years) of
three hundred and four.

The annual report of the Managers for 1856 was duly made