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

and pronounced IL, In the strongest erHls, uh-
fit for the habitation of human beings. One OF
them, in his written report, speaking OF the
filth collected in the sewers, says, tina, 1t con-
stantly produces putrid exhalation, poisonous
to the health of the prisoners. tie attributes
to this cause dysentery, which prevailed In
the prison some time before the date OF his re-
port, and says, that although, at that time, mo
ostensible disease existed, still the pale and Ca
dayerous appearance of the persons who have
been long confined, plainly shew, that their con.
situations are suffering from some secret cause"
Last session,when these facts were disclosed to
the committee, visited the prison twice, that
| might myself ascertain their truth. found
that the descriptions we had of it fell short OF
the reality This winterI have not visited it
was unwilling to expose myself to the distress
and danger of disease, which every one must
encounter who comes within its walls.
In the beginning of last winter, one OF the
cells was condemned as wholly unfit for use,
one was vacant, and three occupied as lumber
rooms; eleven only were used. In these ele-
ven cells were confined, day and night, without
being permitted to leave them at all, forty-tour
persons, among whom were five women and
four children Two Of these we're detained as
witnesses against defendant, who was dis
charged at the court, no bill being found against
him In one of these cells were confined at that
time seven persons-three women and four chill
dren The children were confined under a
strange system of law in this District; by which
coored person, who alleges he IS free, and ap-
peal to the tribunals of the country to have the
matter tried, is committed to prison till the
decision takes place. They were almos! naked;
one of them was sick, lying OH the damp BRICK
floor, without bed, pillow, or covering In this
abominable cell these seven human beings were
confined, day by day, and night after night,
without bed, chair or stool, or any other OF
the most common necessaries Of life; compel
led to sleep ON the damp floor without any cover.
ing but few dirty blankets. The prisoners in
the other cells were in no better condition. l
forbear to describe more minutey the unclean-
illness of this abomnable place.
am sorry that have been compelled to state
these facts, and TO say, that in this city, and al
most in the very presence Of the Congress OF the
United States, such prison exists. have not
exaggerated its horrors-the description falls
short Of the reality.
have not visited the prison in Alexandria;
but, from the reports of the Marshal, and the
statements of men on whom full reliance can
be placed, it is no better than the one in this
city. 1t is private building, no way fitted for
the purposes Of prison; and, as an additional
objection to it, it costs the Government, in rent
and guard hire, 81, $50 annually.
Thus have endeavored to bring before the
committee the evils of the system Of criminal
law in force in the District, and to inform them
of the state of its prisons. 1t is picture on
| which neither the imagination, nor the heart,
can dwell with pleasure; but ii is nevertheless
true or, if it falls short of the truth, it is in not
coloring with sufficient strength and distinct
ness, the mis- cries which it inhicts on Society.
These are the evils which were brought un-
der the consideration Of the Committee for the
District of Columbia; and for which il became
their duty, under the resolution Of the House,
to provide remedy. The remedy which they
propose is system Of punishmenls by confne-
ment in a Pententiary to hard labor.
This system Of punishments, by confinement
TO hard labor, is not new to the laws of the u
nited States Congress, al its last session, de-
termined that it should form part Of our cri-
minal code. In the "Act more effectually to
provide for the punishment of certain crimes
against the United States, and for other purpos.
cs," and the "Act TO reduce into one the several
acts establishing and regulating the Post Office
Department" the system was distinctly recog-
Missed and adopted. | might take this decision
of the House as settling the question. But
am aware that there are strong pre- JUDGES ex-
isting, in several States OF the Union, against
this system, which it is my duty to remove, if
| it be possible. When this subject was referred
to me by the committee, entertained the same
prejudices | commenced the investigation
with the full belief that every step proceeded
would confirm mt in the conviction OF its total
inadequacy 10 suppress crime. But the very
contrary has been the result am fully con-
WINGED that it is not only the most humane, but,
at the same time, the wisest system Of punish
ments which the ingenuity of the human mind
has vet conceived. To remove the pre- JUDGES
| have mentioned, have no speculative reasons
to offer, but matters of fact.
MANY think that the Penitentiary system has
produced no good moral effect; and that, where
it has been established, it has been charge up
on the public. Neither of these suppositions
is true. There is no penitentiary in the United
States, however badly its affairs may have been
conducted, that has not, upon the whole, saved
money to the Government which has establish
ed it. If crimes are not punished by this mode,
| they must be by some other one. The punish
menls usually inflicted where there is no peni
tertiary, are whipping, imprisonment, and fine.
Executing those parts of the sentence, relating
10 the whipping and the fine, cannot cost the