The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-01-06
NJ. Rive. Of Nelson offered the follow

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Wtprras. IL appears thht the Perlt@ius
20 system of psl.ishineDt, as II has fSs'eo'
nd been conducted in Virginia, mas no'
or realized the valuable and ne-
,.yolent purposes, for which IL was origin
ally instituted that on the otlirr haIio'
this n,ed,. sf punishment, ~ adopted "''n
us. and dictated by the best feelings OF inc
human heart, has had but little tendency 10
prcSent the commission Of crime, ~ may
be fairly Inferred from The unceas'ns ID =.
crease Of irs con.iels and the returns oi
many of them for second, ard in some ca
ses even third offences. That it is The yer
iainiy or punishment and not lis deSree'
which has most influence, rs prlne'P'r II
cognized by all writers on criminal law,
and sboa The correctness of whleh pos. :
ton there can be but little diversity olopi-
nioil IL is, therefore, moi the bood. STAN
"a rode To which we should resort, but 10
some well organized and effective ffnlteh-
iiary system. Let it not be said, however
that otf peculiar system oI Peibtrnliary
puni shment has not been tested by tie
stubboin experience of twenty years, anu
that experience shows most uIiquesiloDa-
bly,, not the ineIiciency ola well dg"sted
system, but the complete uthIty ei me
present one, which has had no other 6ooa
effect IN Virginia, except that Of the mere
temporary RESTRAIN I it imposes on fhe'con
victs, thereby depriving them during then
confinement only, Of the power ef Offending
against laws human and divine. Anu shall
this kind of negative merit justify US ID
continuation of system, SO confesediy
finadequate to the attainment of the lnpor'
tant purposes contemplated 10y iii humane
founders i? Under the operations oi TN
above impressions, aud under thc conHc'
ton that il is always the part efwlsdom To
profit by experience, it must be now at
knowledged, that the time has at length
arrived, when the public interests require
that the most thorough and radical changes
should he made in the Peuitentiary system
of the state, and thatihose changes cannot
be too soon adopted for the common good
Wherefore,
Re8oittd, That the Penitentiary Com.
mittee be instructed 10 enquire into the ex-
pedcncy Of adapting the solitary cell sys-
tenn.
Resolred, also That they be instructed
To enquire into the "xpediency OF abolish
ing imprisonment in the public jail or spgni-
Tertiary house for less than five years, and
in lieu thereof the pun sh ,nent
of public castigaiOn and incarceration IN
The connty jails.
..4nd ReSofred, furthtrmore, That they he
to enquire into the expcdiency
oCintrodecing the Tread or Stepping mn
into the peuittniiTy of this state, with
leave to report ON these different subjects
by bill or otherwise.
Mr.. Rivcs made few remarks in favor
1,f thu nrnpne,ti,,. In cuhrniftpd and and
that in bringing the subject before the
house, he acted in obedience'to the wishes
and rcqusitions of hiscOnsttuents.
Mr.. Tyler said the chairman Of the Pen
itentiary committee was absent but be-
longing himself to that committeee, he fell
ia saving that the subject was
before them, and would be- viewed in eve.
nv possible light. He doubted not but thai
the committee 'woliid he able to report or
the subject in Il manner To meet the view:
of tin great majority of the House. Foi
his own part, whilst he might be willing I,
adopt any abstract principle, he'miSht b'
avGrse 10 the reasoning orArgument upon
which il had been raised, he was not pre-
pared to say that the system was dcfrctlV,
because crimes had increased-rithou out re
gardirg The increase of pUPuhtion--or tina
because individuals had been S.nt back I,
tl,e institutions a second and even thir,
time, the sy stem was therefore rotten. =
A ter other remarks intended To show tn,
impropliety of taking up the subject an,
acting uponit Tits hastily, while il is unde
The deliberate Investigation of a committed
he moved that tlic preamble and resolution
be laid on the table.
MI. Rives IA scented to this motion, an.
It WAS carried.
TuesddJ December So A coumuuica
hon was received from the Senate, stains
that they had agreed To the ses erai resolu
lions Tor proceeding iolut ba Hot of bot
houses, on the 9Th january next, to fh
removal from office, of two members q
the Executive Councillor the 9th Janu
any, To the election of Register the Lam
0lhce--on Friday the Cd January to tn
election Of auditor Of public accounts 70
one year And alsoto the resolution I,
proceed in like manner ON the eth Jannar,
to the election of Brigadier General in tn
9th Brigade in the room ofGeneral Hunie
resigned having amended the last rcsolu
ton sssas to read the 9th instead of the 5 /
Brigade. In this amendment the Hous
cOncurred.
on mot'eh OF MIR. Paterson III b.
ResoiUed, That leave be given 10 hrin
IN bill altering the mode Of .pnnishmeu
oi free persons for harboriug ranaw a,
slaves.
On Mr. CGlsten's motion,
heSotUed, That the &. Of r. and I. Ma
vigat'on be Instructed to enquire into III,
expediency providing by law such fur
ther sums of money, as win be adequate t,
the completion Of the James and jackson
River Canal, and the kanawha Road an,
River; and into the mode I'd impro. ing tn,
Potomac River, what portion of stock shah
he Subscribed for on the part of the stat,
when The adjoining states interested in III,
Improvement, shall give their assent to III,
plan prapose,b and to recommend tn,
means Of raising the funds for the speedy
completion OF both of those objects Of inn
otherwise
c,