The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-12-10


renitentilry, accordinglt the leNs ofihe respce.
i've states | regret that the lime has been too
short 10 enable Mt Parsons Ia obtnia full re
ply 10 all these enqanies-hnt from his prompt
attention 10 nv request. be has obtained much
useful ~ we'll ~ speculative. information, from
several Of the principal pcuttntiaics within the
/ United States, which he has reported 10 me III
! IN able and satisfactory manner. From this 70
perth will appear that the uunhri Of ronvctsir
Maryland P,mienllary o. the 3olh Of October
1927 were 292, otwhi,h So were females, aud
that this Statr has nee population of
That in Pennsylvania Fenuentary, in Phladrl
phil. there were remaining IN the prison on the
Isl day Of January 1925, lS2 made ronvicts aud
- lcnaies-and III is26 so nnics aud 10 "a
malcs and thai TIL, Smfr has rec population
4 be- ,0!9 ono That IA View York CITY State
prison. there were confined on thr lsiof Janua-
", ls27, 3sl-in Auburn Pcuiteutiary, tNrW
8, York; i27-and employed in building new
Pentcntiafy 81 miles from the city, 2to=-ma-
king a total in this State OF lois. NV orb
has population Of 1872 800. That in Ma,sa-
chuseils state Prison there we've 3l3 convicls
I an the 3oih Of September. ls16. aud thut ths
state has population of 5l2.OuD. That on the
tau tielh of September l9I6, there vcre confined
IN our own institution III couNfts. Of which
number l3b were white mcn = cnlpred do. and
2whlte women, aud ealoled do--nnd that tins
9iaishas population al l,pbhhOo
II occurred 10 me. vh,n cans for this in.
formation thai IN addf.on To the li.ht, 10 migla
serve To throw upon prison di> cipliue under tn
Penientiary System. il might also serve In
throw some light uBon The relative moral ten
deucles uithe eivI Institutions of the respective
States upon then respective inhabitants aud
1t course. the reInrVe molnl condition OF the poo
pie Of zach state. Il certainly would produee
ia effect. SO Tar judicial convictions lor
crimes an be considered rs evidence 81 the NOR
nj condition al society Ia ms point Of view
the result otthis information proves thai kugi-
, ma has abundant reasen t. bc satisfied with the
motal tendencies of her civil institutions upon
ber nab thliants, III comparison with the mora
'endencies of the civil institutions Of her sister
. states, So far rs information Las yet been oh
2 tanned. lnteeard 10 prison discipline rs it re-
: .ai .stp tn reformation ofcrimnas, II seems 10
y b. lvcrsalls admitted, that n separation OF
tte eausicIs is Indispensable: That 50 long rs
Ley ne ~ miitcd 10 associate Wlth each othci
'''Y hlHh'ceme more corrupt That the most
j. YjClpa7 taa hdtdened Will exert then Contamlu-
t atup .naasnee over those whose minds origi-
udg are ,ess corrupt aud deprascd than Their
own. recommend this vitw ofthr subject to
the consideration ot the Gen. Assembly for the
purpose Of shewlng the policy and necessity oi
!" erecting more cells. as The only means Of ear
o. hug a iair trial of the effects Of prison discr
~ pilne upoa the reformation of criminals though
u the peniieniiafy system II will he seen from
n Mr. Parsons report that material interruptions
occur IN the disrhnrgo OF his duties from the
grcnt numbers Of visitors, calling from mere en-
II rioSity 20 view the interior of thr Pcnenilary
"A and that il is desrahIe the practice shoud be
- checked by spmc Legislative provision o. an
% additional officer granted 10 the Institution. ln
.uI q 4
! have been rcsorted 10 tor the purpose Of check
e lng the practice, which lam Disposed to ,hink
+ might ia the first instance be adopted here IN
, 81, al OF an absolute Introduction. recommend
this sub sct also 10 the attention OF tire General
t Assembly, and, particularly the whole con.
I tents Of Mr. Passon, tepott, which !, herewith
communicated, marked /.
. Whilst considering IN" subject OF criminal il
riSprudencr, fud myself rnpellrd by an imp
j rlous sense Of duty. to cal the attention Of III"
10 General Assembly to the provisions u tn laws.
which subject Tree people Of color 10 slavery,
I sale and transp a. punishment Tor the
:, commission ofseyeral different crimes With
ont questioning the soundHess of the principle
OF the forfeiture OF individual liberty, by the
commission ofcrimes slavery must be admit
ted to be punishment Of the highest order.
and according to every Just rule ior the appor
2 tionmcnt Of punishment, 10 crimes. II would
seem, ough 10 bc apphFd only 10 crimes of the
; highest order; but unGrr the existing laws, in
cases OF free people of color only 1t Is extended
To several crimes not involving capital punish
mont. Under these law, The puui..Im AT OF
slavery is indscrimmaiciyflppHed ia both sex, ,
whist the curse OF slavery llo,n it, peculiar CHAR
aCter, bears with much more severity upon ir-
males than male of 'ndcrs. la the case Of male
offenders, the punishment dies with the offend
er. IN the case ofiemtr offenders II does moi ;
but il lives, aud Is visited upon the offspring
: 1hroug h9nt all generations. The most sorIau>
and disires sing reelection, however. IN the ap-
plicaiion Of tie punishment ofslavery, IN female
Offenders, when cktcndcd 10 the offspring. aris-
Z, rom thr ciicuInstanor-thut the innocent is
punished with the guilty. The 'moilcnd.ng of
spring IS mnde ia participate deeply in the pun
,shment Of tire Offending mother; whilst It p1l-
tIcpatrs nothing IA hen guilt. Tins seems 70 nc
10 be incompatible win every principle 81 moi
nuy aud Justice. and directly rcpueuant with
the inst, humane aud liberal policy OF Virginia,
IN the dIsptnSatlou- Of criminal justice upon eve
~ other occaston. In eases offic slaves salrs of
under these provisions OF TN law, the CONDITION
Of die bond requiring fhr purchasers oiihc cou.
fici slaves 10 cause tharu 10 be Transported he
vou1 the limit, Of the l'nitrb stales, is found.
IN is execution, 10 be merely coorahle II -
believed 10 besrldom or neyc. complied with;
aud from MS peculiar character il would be ex-
trrmply difficult 10 enforce comp lIncr with Il
10y Judicial proceedings. II would require the
proof OF 4 negative, and lhat ~ eafse o. char
aster, too. vc1v dnticnt 10 be ascrriaipcd. Il
mis- provision OF the laws should q. known 10
be VIGOROUSLY disuead,l. aud 10 competent
remedy adopted against II, violation, It berom ;
II stgIectwrll worthy the consideration Of The
/ General Assembly whether tue Other provision
ottne laws Ia relation 80 I'll" transportation OF
euuyiCts, cUmpotts viii tnr - frank and H.