American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-01-03
THE PETITION OF THE GRAND JURT
or .N'EU- CASTLE COUN'TT.

: at the December term OF "a Court of Quarter
Sessions, beg leave respectfully to represent
That the alarming increase of crime apparent
from the records Of our Courts of Justice, induces
us to approach the legislative body at this time, for
the purpose of soliciting that relief which it is in
their power alone to apply. The experience Of a
century has furnished ample evidence, that the pre-
sent system is utterly deficient in that which ought
to be the only object of criminal law--the proven
ton Of crimes. 1t has especially fallen to our lot,
in the discharge of official duties, to observe
this fact strkingly demonstrated by the unprece-
den;ed number OF offenders arraIgned before us and
crowlng the gaol of the County, for almost every
species of crime. We deem il our bounden duty
20 represent this state of things and trace il in
great measure to a system which dshonors human
nature by series of bar5arous and degrading pun
ishnents, that leave but momentary impression,
and turns the offender loose again TO prey upon So
Ciety. The expense tending this system, too is
not among the least Of the evils we complain Of
While il swels the list of criminals, it provides no
employment By which they may be compelled to
remlnerate the community for the depredations
th-y have committed, and our prisons filled with
an idle crowd living upon the public funds and
heavily adding to the public burdens. The County
expenses in fees to Grand and Petit Jurors. witness
ses and officers greatly augmented AID the civil
business OF the Courts is interrupted and Justice
between man and man delayed by this pernicious
systsm.
The improvement Of the criminal code is certain
ly deserving OF the most deliberate attention of the
legislature 1t has engaged the earnest enquiry off
enlightened men during more than halt century, !
and has constituted principal subject of consider
anon III ihs legislation OF sister States. 1t is
not then from spirit Of Innovation, that this Grand
Iuty beng SO momenlous subject before the legis-
ia'ure Of their own State. We pretend not to con
denim the delay or lorbearance Of the past iusti-
liable caution may have restrained the legislature
hitherto from assang or tampering with an ancient
system. however defective and repugnant to hu- 7
manly, while nothing but untried theories or doubt
ia experiments were presented as substitutes But
We conceive tn t the time has now arrived, WHEN Il
The example Of other states, the defects Of our own ID
system AID th= melancholy proofs Of it now before
Us loudly demand that this deeply important sub
iect should no longer be neglected.
L Is not our inention to recommend at this time,
an entire revolution in the penal code All hat is Ia
necessary and desirable may perhaps be OBJ aimed hv
adopting su gradual impro1 ements as experience u
mas sanctioned and as may be compatible with e. 6
economy and the State OF our Frances. Con6oInp Sc
Iheir views within these limits, the Grand Jnrv lie
would suggest as the first object tor the attention
d me legislature, that class OF offences lying within Ito
me Jurisdiction ct the court OF Quarter Sessions. r
hey YOU respectfully recommend that he whole Y
ystem OF whipping, cropping and branding be ex-
'd1ged from our statute book, and the more eficaI
sous one OF imprisonment and constant labor sub
tued The recentnyention Of the "Iread- lfitI,, WI
presents most favorable opportunity for the intro an
ucuon OF this wholesome improvement in our oc
yaiem. Ihe information we have received rela wi
i've % this important invention mb presses US deeply II
Nth the hciiet that. as part Of our prison dsc to
line Il would be pr oductve Of the most saIutarv
onsequrnces In England, where human ingenu lib,
q nor haan H.
lal punishment, this Invention has been pronoun
ed greater terror to eviI-doers than the seyeres,
nhlshmeA their proverbally severe code contains.
q the otate OF New York, where it has been come -
NE IN operation, the same appreciation has been ia
ss'owed upon It, 50 strongly has il been recon- / q
tended by these examples, and by It's ohylou, sim III.
Hciy, economy aud efficacy, that other states gol
hohH Whlth m4y be enumerated Pennsylvania "'f
i1yiad ana II gina, are already about to intro
ace It INTO their respective systems II is tbera sue
re with great confidence thai he Crand 1. APP
omeod this invention a nl,.a AL , ~ i for
mcn are herewith communicated to the consid- w
alton OF the legislature The expense. a IL Ne the
sVe, VIII oe moderate and is tainly not TO he
eghed IN the bance with the advantages we con- m
l-n'iy anticipate from it. The mills and mach nee
ny VIII be the only objects of expenditure as the COT
ay he erected on the public ground CONTIGUOUS toI
e goals in the different couuties and both subIec
q 10 the management Of the same officers. InI
'neluson, the Grand Jury earnestly pray that The
eneral Assembly will be pleased to appropriate 4
I'M OF money for the erection of Tread Min anal ie
fset such alterations in the existing penal code, as
III accomplish an object so desirable to their con-
Auehss and TO the best interests Of the State.
SEE sill
STEPPING MILL "A committee ofthe legislature ~, ~si
Pennsylvania to whom The subject was referred. "n
we reported IN favour of adopting the tread mill d
ttsburo s.as o.odn IS .. rniaoeiphla and to
" ,ntaers M, b.ra,oc. Pu9u,eh possessing the
. information ol,,oia.I -. hccorning TO nan
uollv van ,n,.I ~ ~ TUG committee, 1t IS wit
ale conv;cto. or. ~ '1''''N' Vi emale, as oi bee