Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-09-09
COMMUNICATION.

have considered this matter very frequent-
". and their minds by this time ought to
be settled on the question. 1t is indeed a
source of heartfelt regret, that this town
should be SO remiss in not having proper
place for the reception of those, who may
be so unfortunate as to be iacarcerated in
the walls of a prison. That name alone,
Independent of any circumstance, fills the
mind with degree of horror; and if il
were possible for prison to possess all the
delights Of palace, yet still the uniortu-
nate confined in Il would aspire after liber-
". How different then is the situation OF
one, who is confined within the gloomy
walls of house, which may, by the pic.
ture OF fancy, if not too by that Of the real
;ty, be fairly compared to the " Black
Hsle of Calcutta" In society which
would boast Of being enlightened by the
principles of the christian religion, and re-
strained by the wise rules Of law, it excites
the surprize of the enquirer, when he be-
holds Jail so diametricaly opposite to the
above we'll known principles. He would
suppose that that religion which is so pure
in its origin and maxins, and which seems
to be so much admired here, would GER
tainly induce it. followers TO initiate, if
possible, its Holy and Divine Author. A
CLEAN of light would instantly break IN up.
on his mind, and teach him to think, that
misery would here find an alienation OF its
pain. But when he directs his eye to-
wards that abode, which is appointed by
the laws as the residence OF the criminal
and de btor, he instantly finds that all his
views of this christian people have been
blinded by a FALSE sHEw Of pretensions.
He would expect 10 see Jail combining
every comfort, as much as could be consi-
dered compatible with that institution; a
house conmodieus, roomy and airy not,
to besure, a hail prepared for banqueting
or the reception Tor the wealthy; but in eve
ry respect calculated to administer pure air
to the sick-aiord room to the untortu'
nate debtor. and possess distinct apart
ments for the felon and the victim OF debt
but when he traverses this prison he disco.
yers that virtue aud vi3e here take up their
abode together. He sees no distinction
made betweeu the hardened maletactor,
and the unfortunate debtor; he beholds
them equally the victims of cruel and I'M
relenting magistracy, which consigns the
virtlous and vicious to the same residence.
After this, he would enquire in the Ian
guage of surprize; is this a christian REQ
ple who make no difference of abode be-
tween the hardy culprit who cuts the throat
of fellow being, and the good citizen who
by misfortunes has become insovent and
unable to pay his debts surely am not
in a christian country must be in the
land of Turks. The latter cannot be the
case; for have travelled among that peo-
pie who by US are termed barbarous, but
never saw any OF their prisons so polluted
. as this. Mahomeanism distinguishes be-
tween misfortune and crime we do rot.
Them debtors have separate apartments
we have not. The warm and jealous faith
of the Mussulman, guided by what he sup
poses Irvine light, takes pity Oh the IN
fortu ,ate, and Furnishes the wicked. Here
in this prison they are equally punished.
A poisonous atmosphere corrupts the toun-
tain of life. One dull and noXiouS damp
peryades the limbs of all; and pestilent
heat, in this peculiarly hot season, excites
malignant fever. You who are the guar
diaps of the laws will have to answer for
your crimes at the bar of God. You whose
du,y It is to see that prison at once pro-
Der receptacle OF the base and the virtuous,
should be built, have neglected this impor-
tant point, until at last the vengeance OF
the Almighty will punish you tor your IN
humanity. The enquirer calls on you by
every sacred motive which can have any
effect ON human being, to look we'll into
this subject, and by timely repentance to
remedy this dreadful evil. Build at once
a proper prison. Let Alexandria be no
longer disgraced by what may be called a
cruel feeling, lest the future visitor OF tins
abode of filth, pestilence, and mixed vii
lainy should think that you have lost your
reason, and that it has fed to . savage
bruies."