Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-04-07

I conceive. the offence oe getting possession OF
them by forgery and fraud is still more dauzer
JUS and difficult; 70 be guarded against BY homes,
men than thar Of ttef, or robbery. The second
section enac's that any person Who shall C inter.
felt, or All in coun,erfeIing. or keep or conceal,
or aid in Ike ping or conceang any Instrument,
for the purpose of countertei,ing. the sea- OF the
bank of Virginia. shall. on conviction. b. impri
soned in the pcni:en,iary not less than Ave ncr
| moe than fifteen wears
We may be permitted here 10 make an ot,ser.
vation, applying generally TO our system of cri.
minal law, and VIII ch may perhaps suggest hint
For the introduction of some useful alterations.
The punishment annexed 10 every offence emu.
merated in our code is not precisely fixed rs il
ought TO he, but var es according the discre-
ton of the Jury by whom each offender is found
guilty the shortes, and longest periods of con
inement being indeed ascsrtaned by the law,
but the jury permitted 10 determine on the term
for which the prisoner is to be sentenced within
those limits. The consequence necessarily is,
that the due proportioning of pupishments TO
crimes is totally lost sight OF. and the very end
and object of the new penal code is frustrated
by It's own lmperfec,ions No doubt there are
many instances of men in the penitentiary
for crimes of equal turpitude and attended with
similar circumstances, whose periods Of ccniine.
ment ase YET very different, according as each in
dividual had the fortune ofbeing tried oy severe
or merciiul Jury. Some. n1oreover. who have
committed crimes of The deepest dive. ere sen
fenced tor shor'er time Than others of far iufe-
rior guilt This inequality AVID Injustice ought
certainly to be corrected The perfection OF
system of PENAL laws would consist in leaving
nothing 10 The dr6it,iuri JUDGES, but afixng pre
else and definite punt hrJients to crimes. the "a.
ture of which should be clearly and accurately
explained and made known to the people: and
m nationally Propor'ioning each punishment to
The dies gree of enormi,y or dangerous consequen-
ces OF each crime. Ii snch Perfection is not
completely zt,ainable by the abilities OF human
legislators, 1t is surely desirable TO approach il
a. nearly as possible; and cerlan, in Virginia
we are At prcscn, very far from having attained
It. AS the executive are publishing collection
o. al our renal Sautes now in fo,ce; by which
the sisla ure at their next session will be ena.
bled TO take with ease 4 comparative view of
them all. they will then perceive how lamenta
bly, true this observation is. and we hope will en-
deavoT to harTIc the system anew, so as proneIly
10 Proportion allits parts.
By an aa concerning ;he Internal regulations
OF the peuteu,iary house, a very great improve
mcrt has already been made Bv that act. the
whole charge and management of The institution
IS conided 10 the exec utive; the board of inspec
tors abolished; and ree governor, with the ad
vice OF council authorised a. from time to time
10 make aud crdain all such rules and regulation,
as 10 them shall seem expetieut. for he purchase
OF materials for he manufactures carried on with
IN the jail and renitentiary house and The tools &
implements necessary therein; for contra eInp for
the clothing and diet OF coeviets for the sale of
the articles by them manufactured for providing
tor and enforcing all such punishments by soil
,ary confinement. low and coarse diet, or nv
STRIPES. not exceeding thirty nine, as may be ne
ccssary for Furnishing offences. disobedience, pro
nd ariv iuia
ideness, and other breaches of duty and good
order committed by he convGts."
The very important duties and hiyh resDon.i
b'Hty iTposed on the executive by this sa we
ru5J, wal! not be perverted 20 any IrpToper mr.
p sc. The abuses prevailing in tie institution.
by which tie commonwealth annually lost a con.
siderable sum of noncy, were So great and corn
Phcated, thar remedy was absolutely nee sary.
| The members at the legs atue in The shcr, ana
busy term of session Of assembly, corla nor
! have devised The various alterations and minnte
regulations which would he usefu in aneliorat no
die system. They therefore very properly en-
trusted his tack to the members Of the cxec..
i've, whose continual PERSONAL observations or
the eiIells, when tested by experience, Of The
rules they may themselves establish, will enable
t"e'n promptly 20 supply any defst1 or TO correGt
am er,r which may be committed.
| We are happy to te informed that The executive
|
Torrance of the duties assigned them that they
| nave already appointed an agen, tor he purpose
| Il buyiug the raw materials and selling the ma.
nuiatfured articles business herei ofore entrust
ed 70 the keeper. greatly 10 hein,ertuprion OF his
attention 20 the prisoners, and TO the loss of he
state 'hat. Mr.. Maria Minis having resigned.
they have chosen for his successor, I Mr. Abra.
! ham Douglas, who has been for several Years
chief clerk in the prison at Philsdephia: per
r~ - q. 4
that CITY, and unanimously By The board of in
sPe6tors for his excellent character and abilities
that new contract IS about 10 be made for the
| diet OK the convias by which a Considerable sum
of money will be saved 20 the common wealth ,
{. that the system Of discipline established in the
| prison at Philadelphia. which is generally allow
cd to be the best regulated on the continent, is
shortly to be introduced into our penitentiary.
no be continued
! Fran a LfUerfOoi haher Of n. 24.7
From the blood stained fields in Europe,