Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-07-14
RICHGlOND. July IA I8o0
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
Pe"itentia'y System for tie United States

Penitenftd'y System for tie United States.
No. /.
That a government, founded on the
principles OF The United States, should
remain so long in the practice of punish
ing offenders against its laws, in the cruel
and sanguinary way, The offspring Of
barbarOns ages, is matter Of much sur
prise, with all considerable men. When
we see The great efforts that have been
made, and are making. by the STATES TO
establish Il criminal code, more comgen-
ial with The principles OF their govern
ment, some Of which have 10 u CERTAIN
degree succeeded, il is impossible not To
regreit, that the general government
has done nothing towards aDirltoraiing
anu sOilenlng The condition Of the dtlud-
Ell victims 10 vice. who have offended a.
gainsi The peace and dignity of the ua
lion. am aware liat there remains ri
vetiediprejudlce against The Penileniiary
System, III our country, and this, in some
respects, Is not 10 be wondered at, from
the circumstance of few of these insti-
tuiions being wietclcdly mismanaged-
But This, am persuaded, is moi SO much
the defect OF the system itself, as OF the
laws upon which their government is
founded. Ii certainly is discouragng To
engage III a subject when Ile individua
stales seem TO meet with so little success,
AS they have done In &C riain Instances
But 10 lake more perfect aud impartial
view, and to compare The advantages and
disadvantages likely 10 result TO society,
II will be found that justice calls IA
loud to the pbilanthrOpist of our county,
and demands OF the government, profess
Ing The fairest principles of republieansm,
10 adopt some mode by which Offenders
may be dealt with consistently with the
principles sirenuously maintained IN most
other respects, aud agrceably TO the nature
aud depraviiy Of the crime. IL is impossible
that every offence committed against The
laws Of Congress eau be OF the same afro.
city that all should suffer The same pu.
nishGeni is unjust and yeI there is no
distinction drawn between the hardened
and cruel pirate, and The unfortunate sea-
man, who perhaps, WAS ignorant O. offend
ing the laws OF his country, until it Is loo
late. His doom, however, is sealed by
being one Of The crew al The time the act
was committed, aud be is involved in The
same punishment unrs the mercy OF The
President should luIerpOse i'll his behalf.
The number OF crimes committed in
our country and on our coasts, and ihe
different character they assume in Tie
perpeiration, make II unjust that all
should suffer alike. In the case of piracy.
IL is presumable thai the whole crew are
more or less gully, and should be punish
Ell III some way agreeably 10 the degree
OF such guilt. The fact of being con-
victed, the sentence of the court being
pronounced on the culprit, accompanied
by the hope OF meeting The mercy OF the
Executive. furnish no terror To him or TO
ctr IN,
encourage them III The preparation Of
like offences, under the deiuding hopes
OF receiving the same leniy. | believe
there is no mode SO likely 10 check the
course of vice, as "A proportioned and
certain punishment. National Justice and
safety 10 our commercial interest demands
an exemplary punishment. The princi-
pies OF the government, and humanity,
forbid that punishment 10 be cruel and
sangniuary. but 10 be apporiioned to tie
magnitude OF The crime, and tie injury
resulting 10 society by a repetition OF lie
act
This can only be accomplished by es
fablishIng penlienliary mode of punish
meni, and abandoning the present luhn-
man and cruel system OF taking The life OF
fellow man for most offences, Or of ex-
tending the power of pardOning 10 de-
moralizing and baneluI effect. All Tie
punislmenis should be inflicted with jas
lice, reason and humauIIy-but at the
same time with certainty compromising
To the crime.
Tie advantages likely TO result 10 the
Uuiied States, independent of the equi-
table mode OF correcting vice, are beyond
any thing That can be alledged in favor Of
the individual states. 1t is my intention
TO notice them in the course of this dis
cussion. BECCARlA.