Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-12-02

i pen'ng ct tins event, wds new aud sumewllai
embarrassing Their contingent fund Nas
nearly exhausted. An immediate call of H..
Legislature was thought of for a moment D.,
myself but short reflection induced the
IopiniOn, that this measure should not be. re-
sorted To, unless the necessity was evident.
A survey of the Psni,entiary MAS determined
ON, and il being the opinion sc several intel!i
gent persons, that 1t could, AT no great expense
be put in situation IN n short time, with the
assistance of part "f the prisoners, To keep
them III better condition in all respects than
the armOry. it was determined To make such
temporary repairs would he sufficient for
this purpose, and also I'D enable them 10 carry
on their manufacturing operations in part.
This was though, better than an extra call of
the Legislature at that season of the year,
which would have subjected the members tn
great Inconvenience, and the public toa heavy
and unlookcd-for expense. There being no
public money which could be- applied To those
repairs, the Executive made loan of nne of
the banks on their individual credit. The
whole amount expended in extra guards, ma
terials, work, Sc. does not much exceed the
sum of S 5000. A copy of the accounts ac-
companies this communication, marked No. l..
| Ii was considered also, that the materials
procured and work done, would all be necrs
sary IN the permanent repairs of the building,
SO that no loss could be sustained. An in
vestigation has been made by the Directors
OF the Pe0itenliary, into the probable originate
| the lire, aud the loss sustained in raw mate
rails and manufactured articles. From this
investigation, it is not ascertained with GER
tainiy, how the fire originated and the loss
sustained in raw materials and manufactured
articles, it is stated. will not exceed S Of. 600
| On this subject of the Penitentiary system,
trust shall be pardoned for making few
\ remarks. That the penal code of every civil
ized and christian community, is an object of
the first Importance, is admitted by all who
| are competent TO reflect and form an opinion
on the subject. Ii WAS the firm conviction Of
the great truth, that the certninty of punish
ment would be more effectual In preventing
crimes than its severity, which induced that
phanthropic Legislature, who adopted the pc
niieniiary system, TO do SO. The want of
scale of pnnishments graduated to the malig-
NIFTY OF offences, was apparent to all attenti, t
observers. That the same degree of pusish-
ment, aud that the highest known to the law,
should be inflicted on the trembling purloiner
of his neighbours goods, for the first offence
perhaps, as was inflicted on the midnight
| house-burner and assassin, was shocking to
hHmanity. Jurles often strained IA point To
clear the prisoner, when in their Judgment
the punishment was foo severe, when convic-
tIan would have taken place, had it been in
| any degree proportioned To the offence. The
Executive power also, frequently felt strong
Inducements TO Interfere from the same
| cause. All these circumstances conspired pow
I.erfuIly To introduce the Prnilentary system
i am fully aware of the objections supp posed
| to be produced by our experience-that this
system was intended 10 produce reformation
that the trial has been made and has failedi; re-
formation N It-V lNat Inns
taken place. But in reply TO these objections,
may 1t not bc fairly asked, has The trial in
truth been made : Is there single state in the
union, where the building Intended for c0ntine-
ment, has been constructed in such way as
To enable the experiment 10 he fairly tried !?
From The Information on this subject, believe
It is certain, that no building has been so con-
structcd as To ensure complete trial Of soli,a
| ry confinement, and il seems To be the opinion
| of all the enlightened friends Of this system,
that this mode, and this alone, combined with
some improvements in prison discipline, will
answer the expectations of the friends of this
species ofpunishment. Several of the states.
! It - understood, are now making preparations
Tor trial OF the experiment of solitary con-
| hnement combined with certain changes be-
| !leVed TO be Improvements in prison disci-
pine. l would, then, respectfully suggest io
| the Legislature, the proprlety OF repairing our
| present building, which is il believed can, at "A
moderate expense, be put into situation equal
TO what II was when the fire took place and
| before any material changes are attempted in
our system, wait the experience of our sister
states and shouldEthat experience Justify the
hopes and expectations of the friends of the
Peniten,iary plan of punishment, and this le-
6siature determine to accommodate our sys-
tenn to their improvements, such change will
be til subject for the deliberations of future
assemblies, whose wisdom | think will poin
10 the propriety of having two buildings, one
To tue western section of this extensive state,
| by which the expenses of transportation,
guards, and oheI things, would be enough
diminished TO justify amply, that of additional
keepers, and all other necessary arrangements
Soon after The adjournment Of the last AS
sembly, the James River Company as newly
organized, convened, and on an examination
OF their powers under the law, found that the
principal part of their duty consisted in rails
| ing funds for the prosecution of the works.
After celebrating ON the subject, they deter
mined TO apply for loan to the banks in
this city, proposing to borrow Of each the sum
OF fifty thousand dollars, and TO issue certifi-
Gates OF stock for the different amounts as
they might be advanced from time To time
The two state banks agreed each to lend the
above mentioned sum, but would not loan in
the way proposed by the company, whose Oh
Ject was to save the interest accrulng oni mo-
ney which might be unemployed. AS the
directions to the company TO provide funds as
far as practicable within the law were suppos-
ed to he Peremptory, and it was known that a
considerable amount would be Immediately
called for, active preparations being in for
wardness to prosecute the work with vig0ur,
and IL being doubtful whether money could
be obtained on better terms, the proposal of
the banks was acceded to. The further sum OF
sixty thousand dollars was borrowed Of the
literary fund in the month of NAV, and TWEEN
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