Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-06-15
RICHMOND, JUNE Is, 1921.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
TE.vII,ENIL4RY SYSTEM AGAIN.


countries from the earliest records of gov
ernment TO the present time. "That branch
:. ofiurisdiction which treats of crimes, and
90 their punishment, is the most mOmentous
g in the whole code of laws.--The peace,
Z" security and happiness of society depend
on the wisdom and justice of the means
(" devised for the prevention of crimes
There has not been that profound atten-
60 ton bestowed on the subject which its inn
"portance demands" Even amongst the
civilized nations whore we should expect a
more uniform and rational course of punish
ment, congenial with their civil institutions,
we find them consigning the unfortunate VIC
tim to vice, to the gaows and the axe, with
out regard to the nature, causes and circum-
stances attending the preparation mani
Testing cruel and sanguinary disposition,
repugnant to the great principles of christian
fty, SO lavishly bestowed on group of eccle-
siastcs, reverenced for their piety in the
church, and devotion to the happiness of the
gorgeous nobility, the magnfcence of the
court, and splendor of the exterior reti-
nue. in procession to the holy altar while the
retributive means are denied, and that ius-
tce withheld from the victim, of rewarding
and Furnishing according to the deed DONE
Until about the latter end OF the last century
the philanthropic mind began to search more
INTO the depravity of human nature, examin-
ing all the avenues 10 its defects, and in pro-
portion TO their magnitude apply the RENE
dy. AS they became more acquainted with
the principles of criminal law, so they be-
came acquainted with the absurdity of in
volylnS all violators of the law in one indis-
eliminate and cruel punishment This led
tn the establishment of the penitentiary sys-
tenn in the United States, that punishment
might be apportioned to the degree ofguilt
Perhaps humanity is indebted to none
more than to that able lawyer and profound
statesman the late George X. TAYLOR of Vir-
gina, for his irresistible eloquence in sup
port OF the Justice of the penitentiary sys-
tenn, where the offender might be punished
10 the terror of others, at the same time
placed in situation to be restored to the
benefits of society, rcgencrated and become
q useful member (; but, the system, like all
other works of man, was defective in its orr
Sn, and required experience to perfect it,
In Philadelphia, they first commenced the
pan, with prospects at the time of a favora-
bie success. Unacquainted with the prac-
Tree OF the system, it is not to be wondered.
that errors crept into it. Their laws, disci-
pine, and organization were copied (generally
by those subsequently, established,) as the
fruits of experience. Similar errors were
1T the threshold introduced into them, and
none greater than that of imprisoning felons
ana aSsociatng companies together in the
area OF the building and in the rooms allotted
TO reepose; thus giving opportunities of con-
tamlnatlnS each other, and making those less
yersed in crimes better adopts in the art and
mystery of vice, and asaocating at the time
TOO much zeal for their reformation, without
making the punishment act as a terror and
give sicllening dislike to the imprisonment
by secludiag them from all intercourse with
the world.
1t is very much to be wondered at, that so
little progress has been made in improving
the system, and correcting their errors. a
subject as plain and simple as any other
claiming the attention of legislatures. 1t is
admitted the system has not answered the
purpose intended still we find no adequate
means devised for lettering it. 1t is viewed
as many headed monster, and for no ether
cause than that 1t has not lin its present de-
lectye state) answered the purpose ofkeep-
ing vice in check. Those hostile TO the sys-
tenn, Immediately call TO their aid reports
from some Of the institutions, to convince
you that in New York and PENNSYLVANIA.
where 1t has been longest tried, expense, in
suoordmation and riot prevail, and urge as a
reason why the system has not succeeded,
that the prisoners contaminate each other.-
The very reason why it has not succeeded
should operate as an inducement TO remove
the grand defect in the system.
The committee of the Senate of Congress
Dased their report upon the same error, and
gave IL as reason why the conyicts of the
oni.ed states should not be punished by
confinement instead of hanging they saw in
their report, "as we have drawn most of
:. our Impressions of the utility and efficacy
ofpunlshments from the practical opera-
TONS OF this system, in the several states
where 1t has been adopted, it may not be
unouSht improper to give the result of GER
tam oihclal enquiries into the condition,
usefulness and advantages of some of these
institutions IN states where much zeal and
dhigence had been displayed to cherish
ueIn. Then comes a report from the
grand jury of Philadelphia, first approving
OF the order and cleanliness they are COM
Pelled by sense of duty to present as an
eVn OF considerable magnitude, the present
very crowded state of the penitentiary
:. tne number of prisoners continue to in
crease, SO that from 90 to 10 are lodged in
rooms eighteen feet square,"
secondly, thereportfrom the "Hcommisson-
els appointed to examine into the state of
the New York prison not lone sincen in
tner report say it has for some time mast
not only failed of eficcting the object chief
:. III view, but has subjected the treasury
n ~ - series OF disbursements too oppressive
:. , 70 De continued ifthey can in any way be
:. Anirely; the commissioners of the pri-
,,, son Vi massachusetts, in report" complain
% s' s. oe prison IS so crowded as to defeat
the object for which the institution was
created" 'U''oii was
Poor unfortunate beings convicted Of the
CRIME of Piracy, who were dsluded' nerbsns
.orced on board Of the vessel, ignorant of
.he object and destination the officers. are