Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-05-20
FOR THE ENovJRER.
RICHMOND, MAY 20.
HE PENITFNTTapy


This humane Institution has been in opera
tion nearly seventeen years, and its beneficial
influence upon public morals has been expe-
r'enced throughout the State land as vet, tits
scarcely known, Except in name) beyend tn e
narrow limits of Richmond There are MANY
persons in Virginia who are actually ignorant
mat such an Institution was ever established
among us: and indeed almost every thing of
domestic nature passes unnoticed whilst
snch trash as the marriage Of the Prince of Co
bourg. or the Minister to Sweden has econ
Pied column in every paper in America, and
Deen the village talk for months together.
In these dull piping times of peace" rs we
nave no more wars aud battles 10 recount no
dread accounts of deaths and victories on the
cousaneuined plain TO engage attention {;
propose giving some narration of the COM
Hencement, and progress of an institution M.
on the most philanthropic views and tending
by the mildness, but certainty of its mode of
punishing crimes, to reclaim the unwary from
me dlaboiical paths of immortality and vice,
ana bring back many wicked 81 needless trans
greSsor of our wholesome laws TO a due sense
OF duty, anda correct mode of thinking and ac.
TIM.
I'm the year 1890 the Penitentary system
nrst carried into operation IT. this State. The
buildings appropriated for this purpose are
large, elegant. and admirably calculated for
the comfort and safe-keeping of the prisoners
The house is erected on a commanding hill adj
joining the city, to the north west, and COM
pletely overlooking the town lit is three sto.
RES high. bnilt of stone and brick, of semi
circular form, and fronts the river: on enter
Ing the yard which is enclosed by the walls ef
the building, the house has the appea rance of
an amphitheatre, with the rooms rising one a.
Dove anotherin such manner that at one single
glance of the eye most of the work shops and
all the lodging rooms, together with a large
number of the prisoners at their different ayo-
cations, can he seen.
There is one, more persons confined
there for life, on endless sentenced But the
period ct incarceration for the other prisoners
varies from one year. to eighteen, according
to the repetition ofthe offence, or the turpi-
tude OF the crime here we have a scale where
the punishment can be apportoned to the
magnitude of the criminals guilt Hard la
pour; coarse diet; having the head shaved
closely once week, las bare as bald Eagles
pate) and confinement in the solitary cells
tor part OF the term of service is the Ger
tam lot OF every convict :; and in addition TO
ms sentence ofhis peers, & the lawoft the land,
" ne IS lazy, refractory, or in any way violates
the municipal regulations of the institution
he will be confined 10 the cells at the dscre-
ton Of TIE keeper, and receive stripes on his
bare PACK, not exceeding at a time the old
mOSaiac number.
Underline management of the present ctive,
ingenious and enterprising keeper the cOnvicts
are varionsly and nSefully employed, in the fol-
loving trades--viZ Boot and Shoe making lin
tilis branch OF business the prisoners have
greatly improved their work being equal to
any done III town, and am told from % TO 30
w. cent cheaper;) thread and rope spinning,
tdioTing, u nave seen as fashionable a coat
made III the PeniteHtiary, a. any lounging
buck OF Bond street or Broadway, would wish
to dash in others are employed as carpenters,
wheelwrights. and coopers, harness makers,
painters, carriage makers, button makers
backsmiths, weavers, &c. &c. and indeed
there Is scarcely branch of the mechanical
art which can be carried on to advantage, that
IS not IN complete operation.
since the Peuitentiary was first used as an
house OF correction IN this state, up to the pre-
sent day, making period of seventeen years,
10 the honopr other be il said that although
size IS one OF the largest States in the uuion)
that only seven hundred and tweuty-One per-
sons have heeu condemned to imprisonment in
the Penilentiary, and too, including people of
| color. They have been received annually in
Ibe following numbers, viz: lS0O-2l-I5Ol-
5S-iSO2- lt--lSDJ --55 --IsOi--ll --iS0j-5O-
loO6 --t0--lSD7-- l. O8-3T-lSOD-i0-
-lSlt-30-tSi2-iD- -iSl3--52-lS11-5i
lSi1-tO and i5i6-Gs--r alsing in the aggregate
We grand totaiOf12!. twill be observed that
larger number OF persons were committed
ana sent To the Pententiary in lsi6 than in a.
| ny former year. think / could unfold the
caoSe, and account for the fact, bat il is a me-
silence.