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

tniS report.
Solitary confinement should be inhexibly
decrsed against all those who commit a Sc
cond feionious offence after having expiated
the first by loss ofberty, with hard serviiude
IN company, through years. In such cases
II would he as idle in plan as il is sure tn be
| VAIN IN result, TO rrpea; the same experiment
when 1t has onre totally failed. in this point
the cause of umanity requires the support of
all Its friends, inr solitary confinement can.
scarcely be rendered profitable to Fenitentia-
ny establishments.
Bat the labor of robust criminals sentenced
tor periods long enough to admit Of perfect
training TO profitable arts, If il be properly
enforced, and directed with Judgment, and
WIN economy of time, maintenance, and raw
materials, ought surely to exceed all charges
including those ofcontrol, and OF security; and
TO furnish besides, an accommodating fund suf. |
ncient for the other expenses OF the system.
II solitary confinement gives chance for re-
| formation, and moral improvement by the
agency of thought uninterrupted by tumultu-
Gus feelings and the excitements of social life
must not well chosen books, containing and
communicating To the feebiest under standings,
the most obvious and most impressive max
inns OF religion and morality, essentially con-
tribute TO that end Few of our white con-
vets are so wholly nnlettered as to be insus-
cepiible OF this gentle, but efficient corrective
under such circumstances. The absolute in
terdiction of all bodily exertion, must, in the
course OF years, il years be requisite for refor-
nation upon this plan, at last inevitably pro-
duce decline of all physical powers, which
would restore the prniient 10 the world only
10 he received into a hospital. Is IT above the
reach ut art To construct smaii, dry and whole
! some cells. which may be ventilated, and tenn
pered at the will OF the prisoner. by common
AR taken from a steepIe's height, by warm
AIR heated at the great culinary fire place, con
veysd to the different cells, the former by
asSlnie tubes, the latter ny pipes of metal, or
81 earthen ware, imbrdded in the walls p
Ian we pronounce il tuo great "A stretch of
humane feelings, TO place within the reach of
he prisoner. the tools, the implements and
the materials of some valuable art, with a
printed description of. all its processes, its
principles, aud its results? Can we suspend
our endeavors To obtain an end so desirable as
reform with the consciousness upon our minds
'hat our ignoran ca, Our want of vigilance, and
our biundrrs, must ultimately be expiatrd by
lne blood at wreiehes, whose worst crime has
been some mad depreciation Gut the great
| est possible perfection Of architecture, of or
ganiZa'ion, and of rules for discipline, ii the
person selected as Superintendent dnes MOI
possess all the qualifications requisite must
prove AS unavailing, as a ship, however we'll
huiit, mannrd, and rguipt, will he sure 10 prove
unsafe, without commander of known SIX i'll
science, vigilance, and resolution, To direct all
maneuvres, and control all the details of sci
enc". L" ensure success in this important
| poinf, ample emolumenfs of Office. a wide
range of choice, unbiased motives ocsrlectinp.
and Just confidence, supported by fr.qmeni
scrupulous examination, and unIsired by iii.
berai dIstrst, or individual feelings of favor or
dislike, must always be Indispensable Res
possibility for whatever may affect the grand
design of the Legislature, cannot be too rigid
but accountability, which can never he rnin.t-
~ exact, ought 10 be looked for fran {. dis
lnct officer.
Under the influence of these views, and of
ali existing circumstances, particularly those
apprrialning Ia the finances of if. Common
wealth. the Committee have cone 10 III. ioi- |
lowing resolutions
/. That the damaged buildings nf the Pc
niten''ary should be- restored TO m. condition
IN which they were, before the late are of
August last,
| 9. That such alterations, without enlarge
ment, should be made in the interior ot the
SAID buildings. as are necessary To pro;'ide
separate sleeping place. with thick walls OF
| brick and thick door, for every male con-
Wet at present confined therein and suiici-
ent additional number of such sleeping places
as II reasonably supposed may he probably
wanted, Tor The same purpose of seclusiun al
night and on Sundays, of such other convicts
as may be brought.
| .. That a proper apartment fer hospital
should he prepared, with good care that il be
dry aud easily kept warm of high pitch,
not less than Ia feet, well ventilated, in every
way copmudious, and sufficiently spacious
for that purpose.
| 4. That the central building, stretching a.
cross the area, should he removed, if it is
| found practicable without il, tn have the
Aforesaid sleeping PLACES and hospital and nt
the same time to have sufficient number of
cells for solitary confinement, with two work
shops, and all The other sccommoda, ions now
existing, and deemed Indispensable
3. That all tie cells for solitary coufne-
Incnt should he on the upper floor, and suiii
| GENTLY we'll lighted 70 admit oil reading, and
doing nice work therein.
! 6. That a brick wall should be built, level
On the top, II feet higher than the general le-
vel the present ARA, upon wide and deep
stone foundation. above ground AS well as I'M
der, where the difference of the level may re-
| quire IL running out GO feet each way, from
! each outer angle OF the front of the building
continuing the main line of the front 90 feet
farther each way, and extending in e., o paral.
lei lines at right angles, 10 the said main front
line towards the rear of the great semi circular
building, 3l7 feet in length, along each side of
the present structure.
T. That new buiing, containing two
coinmndlous weriish0ps under the same roof,
divided by thick partition wall, without any
Opening IN u, should he erected in the middle
Of the new yard, equidistant from the side
walls thereof, and also from the end wall, and
the main building that there should I've M
entrance into the said yard, nther than one ON
each side, between and equidistant from the