Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-02-05

Hall Nelson
AT a meeting OF the aforesaid Directors of the Of
flee Of Discount and Deposit Richmond, ON the I'd
inst. RICHARD ANDERSON, Esq was unanimously
reelected President OF SAID Office.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
ON THE SUBJECT OF
The PENlTENTlARY INSTITUTION.
The Committee to whom have been refer
red all subjects brought before this house, in
any way connected with the Penitentiary es-
tabIshment Of the commonwealth inclading
the renal ks made upon the principles as well
as the present condition thereof, by the chief
magistrate, in his annual Communication (; and
the observations, and reasonings, of the Board
of Directors of the Penitentiary, in their re-
port ask the indulgence of the house for
some preliminary views, befoie they recon-
mend TO their adoption the measures deter
mined by them to be expedient at this JUNG
ture.
The community can only deplore, but the
legislative bcdy must anticipate, and endea-
YOUR TO prevent, or must provide adequate re-
needles for the moral, and physical evils, neces-
sarily attendant upon the social state of man,
as far as their authority extends.
Ii would be easy To point out the plain ORR
gin OF the worst of human miseries, and the
true source OF all crimes, in the ill-governed
passions, the inordinate desires, the unrestrain.
ed appetites aud the imperiuus wants, to which
man, by his nature, must perhaps ever he
subject in some degree. But the time reuui-
site would he much better employed in shew-
ing how, from the pliable nature, the docility
and capability of the human species, a moral,
intellectual, aud physical improvement OF ii
might reasonably be expected, proportonate
to the fitness and force of the means applied
by constitutional authority.
Not an IMPROVEMENT of infinite eytent nc
has been most uphilpsophcally thought =
iol the laws imposed on the nature of nan
must externally confine his powers, as well as
his duration, within narrow limits but an in
definite amelloratlon, suck as may be deserv-
ed, hoped for aud expected, from determin-
ed resolution TO combat that opposition, and
tn remove those distractions, which the ever
selfish, who profit by the folly and imbecility
oil their fellow creatures, know SD well how to
excite and To creaie. A new form of tyranny,
exercised in the denunciation ola benevolent
philosophy, springs from the unsocal passions
of ambitious individuals, and banisbrs from
the deliberations, and the administration of
the most free governments all such enquiries,
and such reasOnings. Profound thinking is
painful humane feelings Improbable =
dislnterested labours are unwise; therefore imi-
tative, cold and nerce nary art, is substituted
for all, and man is continued lower in the
scale of nature than was intended for him, TO
save the trouble ofraising him higher the
possibility of which is of course denied, to
afford an apology.
Ii woud he a pleasing task to shew, tina; if,
all those who give religious instruction to STU
clety, instead of dwelling upon unsettled ar,i-
ces Of faith, would make it their chief labor
To demonstrate, how mildness, and innocence,
and usefulness in this world to the full extent
m eaH
peusabie to happiness here and herea +;
much moral Improvement, and consequent
relaxation of penal law, might justly be ex-
pected. Ii would be no difficult labour 10
prove, that II the parents, and teachers of
youth, could be induced to attend more to
the physical education of their pupils, they
might expect far greater success, in the main
| object of their moral and intellectual improve
ment. By steady and judicious use OF
means known 20 science for the confirmation,
maintenance and restoration of juvenile health,
the constitutional energy of the brain, and the
CELEBRITY, and certainty, of its influence over
the system might be increased. of which,
greater social powers, more constant equiIi-
briuH of sensation, perception, and thought,
more uniform tranquility of mind, and less
active propensity to vicious indulgence, would
be the sure consequence.
When that science, which teaches the de-
pendence of mind on body, RECEIVERS its place
from the empty metaphysics at present in
iavOr; and Is better known to the world, il
may become as easy as it is always beneficial,
to shew, that the oyerstrained ambition of con-
slant superiority over all Others, so perpicious
in free governments, and so invariably ACCOM-
panied by envy, and causeless malice and
pr0mptltude to calurlny, or TO Injustice, is in
Itself diseased condition of mind and body
that might have been prevented, and may be-
relieved by purifying regimen Of daily en-
poyment in the fields " hich should ever be
enforced, before the tormening habit of as
pIrlDg thoughts, and hopes of triumph over
equals, has rendered the propensity To en-
croacbment perpetual, or the inclination to
violence, obstinate and uugOvernable. Ifsuch
symptoms were early marked and promptly
treated with rusticaiioB by the people, or by
dIstrust IN popular assemblies, much Of that
mischief might be prevented, which usurpa-
lion OF the rights, or control by force or fraud
over the free will Of others, in whatever de-
gree It may prevail. must certainly produce by
estrOying that free play and consequent fair
equilibrium of influences, so necessary 10 the
preservation of popular governments. Peri
Giles might thus have been rendered another
and an ADLER Scion Caesar another, and a
greater Cato; Napoleon a second Washing
ton and the sweeping desOlati0n caused BY
each, throughout the sphere of his influence,
might have been electuaIly prevented The
endeavor, however difficult, might not be drs-
perate, to open the eyes of the public To the
certain fact that a spirited, judcious, and per
sevcrlng Legislative encouragement Of all the
useful arts, which administer to The wants of
man, and Of the elegant arts which improve
his taste, while their exercise cost nothing hut
unbought genius, must, in the end, have
greater tendency to prevent crime, 10y afford
Iug employment To the needy and idle. and