Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-03-10

convictions were, last year, in the proportion o:
to 1000 of the population. In vermont, the
convict tons were as | to 5000. In the State OF
New York, from the year 1877 till 1914, the
convictions average, annually, at the ratio OF !
TO about 5000 of the inhabitants. In fennSyi-
vania, from 1894 to 1916, the average is annu'
ally, in the proportion Of to about 5000 OF the
population. During the latter part OF THIS pc
Rod, in these two States, their Penitehuaries
had become so crowded as, In great measure,
to destroy their moral effect. Yet they were
nine times as effic acious, 10 prevent crimes, as
the punishments inflicted in this District. In
Massachusetts the convictions average from
1906 to 1916, annually, at the rauo Oh ! 10 d.
bout 5000 of the population. And IN virginia
where the system Of law is mild, and the penn.
tertiary has been conducted on principles well
calculated to give it moral effect, the conVlc-
tons were, last year, in the proportion OF one
to 10000 Of the population
This statement of facts exhibits with thou
sand times more force and clearness, the effects
of the system in this District than any abstract
reasoning possibly could 1t is true: that the
population of the District, is nearly all city
population 1t must, therefore, be expected
in agricultural States, in proportion to the
number Of inhabitants. But 1t must also ne
considered that the States L have mentioned,
have large commercial cities IN them 30 that,
making every allowance that could be asked
for the character of the population OF the lis
trict, we will find, that the penal laws OF the
States have mentioned, are, upon an average,
more than seven times as ef1ec'ual TO secure So
ciety against crimes, as the system OF hanging
and whipping, which prevails here. But
need not refer to statistical calculations, to
prove that the system of penal law, which go
verns the District, is one OF the worst IN the
United States, or perhaps any where else TO De
found. We have almost every day occasion 10
see its total inefficacy, and some OF us are every
session taught, by personal experience, to know
that the law furnishes but slight protection to
the rights of property.
When the Congress see this District, over
which they hold the direct dominion and abso-
lue sovereignty, suffering the greatest evil that
can be inflicted on community, tor want oil a
code Of criminal laws, suited to the spirit OF the
age, and calculated to improve public mo-
ras-W hen they see crimes multiply and crl-
minals go unpunished-Wh they see proper
" insecure, and that the law, which ought to
stand as an impene,rable wall Of adamant round
the civil rights of every individual, have lost
their protecting powers-When they see that
instead of improving the morals OF society, Its
condensed energies are poured out upon 1t, har-
dening the hearts and rendering obduratc i'll
guilt, those on whom its penalties are inflicted,
and disgusting and corrupting the rest OF man
kind, they must feel tina, powerful appeal Is
made to their patcrnal Justices that the autho-
ritative voice Of duty enjoins it upon US to give
system of an opposite tendency to this SUBJ
iect People.
I have thus endeavored, as briefly as posi-
BILE, TO state the facts exhibiting the provisions
and moral tendency of che present system Of
criminal law of this District These facts, with
out any argument from me, proves, in the most
conclusive manner, that there is nothing in it
which suits the present condition of mankind.
The cruelty of It's penalties, has reused against
it public opinion, and Of course they are but
seldom executed. This argument alone, if there
were no other, furnishes sufficient reason to "a
bolish it,
will now turn the attention of the commit
tee to another subject-the state OF the prisons
of the District-It is an unpleasant one; but 1t
is one which we must understand before we can
act on the bill now before us. The prison in
this city, for every thing that renders it unfit
TO be the habitation Of human beings, has not,
perhaps, its equal on this continent. This is
using strong language; but it is not speaking
more strongly than the subject warrants In
describing this prison, do not mean 10 cast a.
nv re Election on the Marshal Of the District, or
his officers. The great fault is in its construc-
ton and the laws relating to its management
1t is an oblong square building-an entry runs
through it from end to end, on each side OF
which there are eight cells. The lower floor is
paved with brick. These cells are each eight
feet square; under each range OF cells runs
large sewer, and in the corner OF each cell Is
hole through the brick floor, into the sewers,
used for purposes which shall not here name.
These sewers communicate with the open air,
and by the ratification Of the air in the cells by
the heat in them, there is constant current OF
air passing through the sewers into the cells.
This carries into the whole prison smell which
is absolutely intolerable. The upper story OF
the building is divided into apartments Tor deb
tors. Each apartment is furnished with sew
er. which communicates with the large sewer
below by means of an opening in the wall OF the
p,i>on. These openings are now choaked up,
and all that passes into them above fnds Its
way through the wall into the cells below, aug
menting the suferings of the tenants OF that
part Of the building
To- ,hos, r;vtaop collie the Marshal Of the lis