Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-03-11

Gates the greatest and best men now living; and
which numbers among its friends some Of the
most distinguished men who have lived for the
last two hundred years.
/ am sorry that on some Of the questions con.
nected with the subject under the consideration
OF the committee, am not able to present the
results of experience in the clear and cogent
manner could wish. am not able to insti.
tute the same kind Of comparison between the
operation OF the system Of confinement to hard
labor and other systems of panishments in 9TH
er States, that have presented to the Commit
tee in relation 10 the State Of Pennsylvania
Nor am able to shew the operation of the pro-
posed system on minor offences, in the same
manner that have exhibited its operation on
the great crimes 10 which have drawn the at
tention Of the Committee. But, on these Loints
we ale not without conclusive argument That
system OF pupishments which experience has
proved to be SO highly beneficial in one State,
cannot fail to be equally SO in others. AS to its
operation on minor offences, we have this con.
elusive proof, that wherever it has been tried.
all offences are much less numerous than thew
are in this District, where different sci of pu,
nishments prevails. Here, crimes are in the
proportion OF to $50, of the population in Vir-
ginia, in the immediate neighborhood they are
in the proportion Of in 10000. From what
have seen Of prison statistics, | am inclined to
be OF opinion that about two thirds Of all the
convicts in the several penitentiaries are com
mon thieves. Thieves are an idle, lazy, dissi
pated race. 1t is this idlrness, Iaziness, and
dissipation that makes them thieves Confne-
ment to nard labor, accompanied with solitude
at all times except during the hours of work,
and entire silence during the hours of labor, is
of all others, the mode of punishment best suit.
ed to their characters. Their idle, lazy habits
are changed into habits Of labor, which after
long continuance, you fix, in some measure, in
their ply steal constitutions. BY secusion from
society you deprive them of all means of dissi:
patton, and by regulating their animal enjoy
ments as you may think fit; you have it in YOUR
power to enforce on them habits of temperance.
am not one of those who think that it is in
the power Of the human mind to invent svs-
tenn of punishment which will ensure the repen-
lance and reformation Of the convict. All that
human legislation can do on this point, is to
bring the offender into contact with the means
Of reformation. That the penitentiary system,
properly conducted, does this more effectually
than any heretofore tried, is most apparent;
and if it even fail to reform the offender, ii Sc
cures society for the present against his depre-
dations, and finally turns him out improved by
the requirement Of new habits Of industry But
what does the present code promise, or what
does it affect in this respect? Ii Iascerates his
body with the whip, and, while he is wri,hing
with pain, and exasperated TO the last degree
against the brutal cruelty of the law, he is turn
ed loose upon society, not reformed, but har-
dened in his crimes, Immediately to avengc
himself by resorting to his former vices.
| have proved, hope TO the satisfaction of
the committee, that penitentiary can be made
TO support itself, and yield revenue to the Co
vernment. There is no place in the y. States.
where such an institution can be so advantage
ously conducted, with relation to its pecuniary
profit, as in this city Here labor is high, and
profitable market is open, by means Of the
coasting trade, for all the inanufa lures which
Can be carried On il the institution. But, if a
ready market cannot be found, the United States
can always keep the convicts pro6tably employ
ed in manufactures for the use of the Army and
Navy.
Iregret that have so long detained the COM
mttee; it is entirely against my own inclira-
ton, and from sense of duty alone: for never
address the House without painful sense of
the weight of the task imposed on me- | have
presented the facts l have collected, in as con-
densed form as possible; and If have sue
ceeded in conveying these facts 10 the minds of
other gentlemen with the same clearness with
which they are impressed upon my own, cam
not doubt but that they will produce on the COM
mittee the same conviction of the importance
and propriety Of this measure which they have
DrOduced on nv own mind
W. Vot