The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-02-02

principally though n.l SOLELY, rest
lhs idea OF a Peni,en,iary is not So new
or so much confined tothe u States, as some
hive imagined. The author of Gov Phil
lips Voyage 70 botany Bay, says "Well-
esalated Peniten,i,ry Houses eein, in sfiec-
ulafton, to aff'rd the fairest oppor;unty of
circulating the ends OF pun, shment and q
hian offhis Kind, formed by the uni,ed ef-
tris of Judge Blackstone Mr. E.en and
Mr. Howard, was adopted by Parliament in
| the year 1779. Difficulties however occur
red which prevented the execution of this
design;a circumstance, which will be some
ning the less to be regretted, when it shall
De considered, that 1t is perhaps the fate OF
this Theory, IN common with many others of a
very pleasing nature, to be more attractive
IN contemplation than efficaciousin real prac-
tee. A perfect design Carried on by inn
perfect agents is liable to lose the chief part
OF ITS excellence And the best digestsd
plan OF confinement must in execution be
committed, chiefly to men no, much en-
lishtened. very little armed against currupti
on, q constantly exposed to the danger of it.o
we may be permitted to smile at these re
marks, when we look around upon the yipi.
rant and able superintendent, and the men tn
whom The care of our own Institution is en-
trusted--and when we see that the terr,,rs
OF he author exist only in shcculatfou. and
the nehts he describes are fully realized bv
EXPERIMENT
But William Penn. the mild and bencvo
ient american Quaker, was the first who
mad the merit OF framing and proposing the
Penitentiary scheme. For SIS yearsi strup.
gled against the Royai will-but for IS wears
II was Continued in force by he colonial LIE
gis'ature.--At length tina, Legislature. in re-
'u'n Tor other concessions, consented To
exchange their favorte plan of penal laws
TOT that OF the mother Country But "the
spirit OF reform awoke with the Revolution >,
ana at last produced that system of penal
laws, which graces the brow of p, nnsylva.
ma. from Thence. sprig was transpanted
H. '96 to New York.
In the same year, another sprip struck
root IN our own soil, where it continues to
flourish and improve--and ,houpb we We
not the frSt to begin, we shall not be the
eaS1 10 exh DIT an example of its benefits to
our sister states. May the bright idea be
dopted The srates of " w Jersey. Con
necticut and Kentucky haze adopted il.
Inc Legislatures of the two Carolinas and
georgia. are al this very moment, engaged
on the subJect--and it we may CT. dit the
VoiCe Oh rumonr, even the Br fish saees are
now revolving the scheme, and NAV hey
tern World
&.
ti'n. 1, is to be presumed, hat 81 stem al
most get in its cradle. should contain manv
ueIects which eiude the eye of its paren 5.
| ,or Soi"e OF the detects, which have alrct-
ny S'ruCk the attention of the board OF vi
| ',eors your committee begs leave to refer to
the ias' ANNUAL Reports. Trey IRE not i'm
Portant indeed--but if they are defects. if
IS the part OF wise Legislature to CORE ?.
he"'- L ne laws which are now on the Sta
tu'e DOCK. are not d dead letter. as they we're
unuer me FORMER sanguinary code. he
are Carried into execution, as far as thu
uiscernment of the juries, the attention of
the Courts and the mercy of the Executive
VIII Perrhli---but there are NO omissions.
which your committee have been specially
instructed to bring within the scope of their
Report:
! L. The Esd section fthe Act of go says.
that " Tohereas it is of Importance that, the
nature OF the offence, and the former con-:
mt ana character OF the convicts should be
hho"h oy the said inspectors; Be it fur
tner enacted, That whatsoever any person
snail be convicted of any crime which nov
| IS Capital or felony of death. the Court
before whom such conviction is held, shall
Ioeiore their adjournment to another term.
nuke ana cause to be transmitted 10 the said
inspectors Refors Ut short account of the
circumstances attending the crime commit
tea oy such convict, particularly such as tend
~ aSSfaVate or exeenuate the same and al
SO "hat character the said convict appear
ed ON the trial to sustain, and whether he
mad at any time before been Convicted of a
ny iei'ny or other Infamous Crime which
rePoS' the said inspectors shall Cause To he
entered IN books or registers to be provided,
tor tina. purpose"
IL iS' however, fact, that the recor DIS of
eharacie r and conduct, as specified Nv the
ABOVE section, are nor, no7v, uniforn1ky rams.
mitteu oy the Courts One effect is. that the
Board OF Visitors are sometimes az a loss for.
itne materials OF proper estimate of the
merits OF the convict, who petitions to be re-
commended TO the mercy of the Executive
q. ne I'D sect. of the same 4ct enacts.
that " Every person convicted of anv of the
crimes aforesaid, and who shall be confined
IN the Jail or penitentiary house, shall be
Peaceo ana Kept in the solitary cells there
OIL on low or coarse diet, for such mart or
portion OF the tenn of his or her imbrison-
ment as the Court in their sentence shall
direct and appoint Prouided That it he
ho' more than hakf nor less than one t,oelfth
Fart thereof and that the inspectors of the
Salo jail shall have power to direct the in :
niction OF the said solitary confinement, a.
such intervals and in such manner as thev
shall judge BEST
BY the act of 1906, the board of Inspec-
tors is abolished, and the powers vested in
them transferred to the Erecufive. It is.
I however, tact, that though the terms NJ