The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-09-06

: ueAteFous course OF depreciation
and to teach the less abandoned the yer,
arts which we have caused bin 10 learn
ana Ii is IN the pursuit Of such a system
as this that we have been expecting
crime TO be diminished, and vice to be
rebuked away from u.s.
Now, to show The. absurdity of thi:
system, it seems only necessary 10 re.
mark how totally il is at variance with
me whole genius Of the gospel. Jesus
christ died for those who were wholly
destitute of any claim upon his compass
sion. For scarcely for a righteous
man will one die, yet peradven;ure for
good man some would even dare 10
die but God commendeth his love TO
US IL that, 9chate 1ce are get sinners, Christ
died for u.s." Aud still more, the uni
versal practice of CHRIS: illustrates the
TACT, that no class of society was more
the object Of his regard than publcans
and sinners. The Son of Man came 10
seek and to save those who were more
emphaticaliy lost. And surely " the
spirit which he hath given u.s. should
| work the same results in our own con-
duct
But the present system is not less a.
verse 10 the dictates OF sound wisdom,
than to the genius Of the gospel. And
here we cannot but remark with pleas
ure, how closely allied is true wisdom
with Christian beneyolence. The pres
ent system is evidently unteeling and in
human, and the results of it are the
multiplication Of chine, and the increas-
ing insecurity OF our possessions and our
lives. The cure for these evils, is the
total revolution Of the principles on
which the present system is formed
1t is TO treat criminals, though they may
have sinned, and sinned grievousIv. as
brethren and as immortal beings, whose
souls are of value, and whom il Is OF
importance TO bring to Repentance
We must lay ii down as settled point
that our object, mad almost said our
chief object, is 10 make them better,
and so 10 arrange all the circumstances
of their confinement, as TO wipe off
from their memories the recollection
of the past, 10 break of their associa-
tons Of vice, to inure them 10 habits of
profitable industry, 10 allow them time
for reflection, and, above all, to instil into
their minds and rivet upon their con-
sciences, the truths of the gospel Of Je-
sus Christ
In our attempts 10 carry such system
into effect, il is of The utmost impor-
tn in ruiV IL
dent truth, that vice IS a contagious DIS
case. Such disease God considers it.
Now if this be the case, il will teach US,
in the fret place, that no beneficial re-
suits can be expected from system
which merely secludes bad men from
society for little while, and then sets
them free again more debaseG than ev-
er. Each one of them becomes most
devoted missionary of sin, and, by pre-
cept aud example, will spread the con-
tagion of guilt. 1t is as though we
should collect the victims of the plague
in every stage Of the disease, and after
confining them in pest house, without
an attempt at cure, until the poison with
in them had acquired the utmost degree
of unnatural maIignity. send them abroad
10 scatter the seeds of death in every
t-neichborhood and in every house
Confinement for life would be better
than such system as this. The same
selt.eyident truth will lead US 10 isolate
every irdividual, who is confined, go faI
as ii is our own power, from every 9th,
er. We hesitate not TO say, that the
herding together of criminals in our
public prisons, of itself, is sufficient te
render every other means for their re-
formation, utterly abortive. When bat
men have the means Of social inter
course, especially when they are per
mitted 10 Sleep 10 or 90, as is frequent
" the case, in single room, there al
ways must be progress in Iniqulty'-
They will inevitably render eacl; othei
worse. The most hardened and delib
crate villain vii! become the master
spirit of the gang, and will himself ac
ouire confidence in his strength, Wills
he is bringing those of every othe
grade to his own standard of depravlty
There is no theory about this. 1t is al
sober and melancholy fact. We will
, mention, by way of illustration, a singh
, instance which has fallen within the eli
, Gle of our own knowledge. A youn
5 lad, an orphan, Of IS years OF age, DIES
. ,itute of friends and with no means q
! support, purloined coat, and was 10
9 this offence confined for some'months
! the prison of this city. He was, durin
!, the whole Of this time, placed in roof
f with four or five abandoned villains, tw
+. of whom we're under sentence OF deati
and were subsequently, executed for =
r racy. The constant effort Of these me
!. was to harden the heart of this you'll
> I'LL L., - ovar,,art of depred