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


great public excitement?
Can any limit be sci by law, which may not
pri',- unequal in operation 10 an absurd de
gree from that ncalculabe inequality in the
capacity To endure, which must ever distin-
guish iicn srOm each other, by their nature ?
Have we not tn" much reason To helieve, that
when tie punishment is made public spec
taclc, all the hartllhond of the criminal is cali
ed firth, rom hich the example TOO often
fails IT, give terror To the weak, or disgust To
the good, while il leaves on the minds of the
hold, feeling like admiration of heroism, very
likely TO produce Effects exactly the opposite
of those intended
L. is only when the guilty are deprived of
their liberty, to punish them for their offences,
that a just proportion between crimes and
punishments can he established the certainty
of punishment insured the reformation of
attempted and Society indemniii-
ed for the injury sustained.
As long as we indulge "A hope ofthe amelio-
ration of man by religion, by education, by
the advancement Of that science upon which
his health, and consequently his happiness most
depends, by Legislative provisions for the en-
enlargement of industry and the improve
fnent ut taste, we must refrain from exhibiting
before his eyes scenes of violence, anguish.
despair and death 10y which the ierceness of
the bold, & the weakness of the timid are alike
increased. Thus, our best feelings are sup
ported by our reason, in the resolution 10 ad-
here to penitentiary system Of pun,shments,
anu II becomes paramount duty, tn look out
Tor means to improve, that which is already
established among us. At the first view. we
discover, that one principal advantage of the
system IS almost entirely lost in our establish
ment, as IT IS now constituted. Obstinate
roguts are but too often, men of quick ready
and ingenious minds; and such soon become
so artiul IN evading the law, ur SO skilfui in
gaining over public sympathy, that they of
ten go IN for a long time, forming new
schemes, and isventing new diyic.s of rogue
ry all the while teaching to plant youth,
.he'r Pernlclous lessons of cunning drpreda-
ton.
The mildness and the due superintendent
To offences of penitentiary punishments.
seems I'd Afford very certain remedy
tor this evil.-Onrndrrs are promptly re-
moved from society for the first offence
which can he found against them and
the mlschlevous tendency of their exam
pie, with their preccpts, il seems to those
VINO co not pursue the crime farther than the
announcement of the criminal, is com ,,letply
prevented. But, mixed rs our cnnvicts are M
their work, and free AZ they are To converse
together in the day, or during the tedious con
iinement of the night, instruction in the craft
nf roguery becomes more extensive than be-
lore, because all reasons for precautions have
ceased, hostility Ia social order has become.
Vindictife, anu leisure for propagation of
mischlevous knowledge IS greatly increased
An experienced malatactor, and we shall al
ways have enough of that descriplion fron
other countries, lakes as mach pleasure i'm re-
iating the achievements of cunning. with all
the details ot preparation. and the accidents
OF execution, as an old sailor does in drscrb-
ing the perlis oi the ocean, or a veteran sui
uier in Fecounting the exploits he has per
formed, or Witnessed, or authenticity heard
Inc natural vacancy in the mind of ynulilf,il
conrc's, is thus soon filed Ia their everlasting
ruin, by this destructive outlet from the bane
inl acrmony nf their abandoned assuciairs.-
ne hrst predatory luclinatiuns felt bv them.
"i'fr 'ne'r return in'o society, produce Il
strong desire To commence the practice of the
iessons mus received, which must TOO often
triumph over reason, with the aid of that d.s-
pair, which consciousness OF the contemr, of
the world cannot fail 10 give rise tn i'm The,
minds OF such outcasts from it. 10 guard
against this evil, new rule of prison dIscniine
should be enforced, in all Prniien,iaries. nv!
whlcn silence uubrUlen, like that of "A half;-
iion'"nd. arms, by any thing but orders, s. the
snuhd OF movements, may he insured, untisr
,he appropriate penalty Of the gag during all
the succeeding day aud what is much more
important sill than that, ii new arrangement
IN the interior architecture of all such build
lngs should be required, by which comfor-
liable recess, with thick walls. and a strong
DOOR, with a safe lock, may he provided for
every male convict, wherein he must be- in
hexlbly compelled 10 pass every night, when
not in the hospital
Profit frnp, tI,,, I-I, ..r
never be lost sight of for, socie., must be en-
titled, in any view of the justice of the case.
t1 remuneration from that source Beside.
the idea OF punishment without pain. pIainly
arises out of fanciful humanity Nrverthr-
less, the custom OF decreeing pain by law in
any other way than hy toll and priyation. as
plainly spring from an unaniahle harshnrss of
our nature, or from our unrriined and unphi-
losophical habits of thought and feeling.
Where hard labour on cheap diet IS steadily
unPreiitabe, there must exist lamentablp
oegree oi error III plan, or Encouragement in
execution, which may always be corrected.
"A complete classification Of criminals can
not 30 abruptly introduced without loss, as all
nose VINO have been already taught the same
hahdIcrait art, whatever may be- their ages.
must he set to work IN the same apartment.
But The Importance, where reform is hourd
Tor, OF preventing young criminals from re-
ceNIng any farther criminal instruction, is so
very great, that nothing should be left undonc
from which the more complete attainment of
That end may he expected. Therefore diyi-
s'ou 10y ages should bee adopted, rs suon as is
practcable, without diminution nC the returns
from labur and 90 yeaIs being The mean
term OF active life, when II is prOfracted 90
old age, at all, is perhaps the best period tor
separation. AiibelOw That age, may be still
considered 10 youth, and all betw cen il and
56, IN manhood ; from which class the small
number actually mold age, scarcely need to