The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-02-13


,h.fl, diet Is STEADILY unrtof;able, there
must exist y Iaineniable degree OF error IN
,,l.n. ar encouragement IN execution" hith
! NAV always lac corrected
] 4 complete classification of rrimi ais
cannot be abruptly introduced without loss
; ~ all those who have been already taught
tls. same handicralt art, whatever may be
! their ages. must be- set In work III the
sam. auartneut. But the iupnrtfnce,
where reform is hoped for, of preventing
Young criminals from receiving any lar
! Their criminal instruction, is SD very great,
that nothing should be- left undone nom
which the more complete attainment ot
that eud may be expected. iheie-
fore division by ages should be "a
doptrd as soon as is praasicable, without
dilninttion Of The returns from labor, and
29 wears being the mean term of active HE,
when It is protracted to old age, at all, is
perhaps the best period for sepafation.-
All below that age, may be still cansidar-
Bed in youth, and all between it and 5G,ln
manhood from which class the small
number actually in old age, sca,erly need
to b- separated. Again tn guard against
COMMUNICATING innucnc" of desperate: and
,indiciive feelings, which may justly be
expected, ii seems not less important to
keep the cnnyicts, whose term OF eotlilae-
ment was originally shorter, or IS about Ia
expire, apart e. ON those who are look lrg
60 an early day Of restitution tn all iileu
rights. Four trades and four workshops,
would thus appear To toe the most eSpFdl.
enl number, for permanently In snch AZ
situations. Provision should, howtyer,
be made, for the performance of a
more severe Labor than that required by
,,f tho anIn,nnn .f,i aria by kyay .f
punishment of disturbance, negligence,
| or lazincss and as substitute for the
! whip, a step wheel, OF some more heavy
p mae hinrry, to raise water for the replction
OF capacious cisterns, intended Ia supply
irc cngiue of great power, always kept in
, order, within the area Of the building, pre-
. sents itself at once, Us best calculated 10
answer those two distinct and important
= purposes in our case Had such Il prosi.
) sion for those purposes been formerly
made, the commonwealth wUtIld not have
incurred the heavy loss 1t has sustained by
= the late conlagration; and the superinten-
dent would have been saved the mortified
{ ton he has ever since suffered. nutUilh-
: standing the complete exculpation afforded
, him by the evidence iak.n at the time be
/; fore the Board of Directors, which accom-
panics this report.
| Solitary confinement should be inflex-
= IDLY dccrced against all those who comnlif
a second f,lonious offence after having
G expiated The first by loss of liberty, w5tb
= hard srr,itude in company, through yea&
e In sach cases Vt would he as idle in plan as
y 1t IS sure To be vain in result, to gtpeat, the
u SAME experiment WHEN il has once totally
s. failed. In This point the cause of human
/ " requires the su port OF all lis friends, for
$ solitary confinement can scarcely be rem
d,red profitable TO Penitentiary establish
j ments.
;, But the labor OF robust criminals sen.
fenced for periods long enough Ia admit
. of perfect training to profitable arts. ifit b.
u properly enforced, and directed with ju,g
II ment, and with economy Of time, main
y tenance, and raw materials, Eulght surely X
y exceed all charges, includng those of con
: troll, and Of security /; and, 10 fnDish be-
II sides, an accommodating fund suflceieid foI
theethcr expenses of the system If soil
u tary confinement gives a chance for rce0r-
nation, and moral Improvement by ;lls
Z agency OF thought uninterrupted by In
I multOus feelings and the excitemcnts al
< social life, must not well chosen bnnhs
: containing and communicating Ia the fee
J. blesi understandings, tiemost td,,iuus and
. most impressive lnaXlms OF religion and
morality, essentially contribute 70 thar end
Il Few Of our white cnnsicts are 81 Who'll,
;, unl.ttcred as Ia be iHsusccpti, lde 10 this
y gentle, hut ef'icicut corrective under s.ah
circumstances. Tie absolute intprdiction
b of all bodily exertiun, mist, in The COURSE
of J cars, If years be requisite for relorma
h ton upon this plan, al last inevitably pro-
y ducc decline Of all pysical powers, which
= would restore the prnitcnt To the world
y only To he received into the hospital Isil
; above the reach of art 10 cuIistqttct small,
% dry and wholesome cells, which may be
: ventilated, and tempered al tire Will OF the
G prisoner, by common air taken from a
{ stcep!c's height, by warm air heated at the
l. ,reat culinary fir. place, conveyed 10 the
T different cells, the former by flexible tubes,
- the latter by pipes of metal, or of "arlhen
ware, iubrddcd in the walls? Can We
; PRONOUNCE ii too great a stretch Of humane
I feelings, To place within the reach of the
prisoner, the tools, Ihe implements mrd the
$ materials al some valuable art, with prin-
ted description Of all its processes, ats p4in-
eiples, and its results Tan We suspend
I our cndeaHors To obtain an end so drsira-
BILE as reform, with the consciousness upon
our minds, that Our ignorance, our want Of
vigilance, and our plumbers, must ultimate.
~ be expiated by the bkud of Nrrtrhps
J whose worst crime has been some mad tie
: probation : But the greatest possible per-
lection III architecture, Reorganization, aud
OF rules for discipline, If the person sri.c-
ted as Superintendent dors not possess all
Vie qualifications, requisite, must prove rs
IA ship, however web built, manned, and
cqopi, Viii be sure to prove unsafe, with
out commander of known skill, science,
vigilance, and resolution, 10 direct all ma
nGu'res. and control all The detail of sci
encc. To ensure success in this important
point, ample cmoluments Ia office, a wide
range of choice, unbiased motives of Sc