Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-12-04

State OF 1918. New York has a population al
1872 500. That in Massachusetts State Prmon,
there were 3iS convic,s on the 30,h of S.p,eubet.
1926. and that this State has population of
$4,000 That on the ,h;ftsih of September.
1926, there were confined in own iastiia, ion
lat convicte, of which number 1876 were white
men, 8 colored do. and . white women and
2 colorel Jo.-and iia, this State has p,pu!a-
ton of Cog 600. Ioccured to ;rc, when can.,
for this information, that in addition Ia the lights
IL might serve to throw upon prison dscipline un.
der the Penitentiary System, il might a.o seiye to
throw some light upon the relative moral tenden-
cies OF the civil institutions OF the re-pectve States
Upon their respective inhabitants; and, OF course,
the relative moral condition OF the people of each
State. II certainly would produce this effect, so
far as judicia, convictions for crimes can be con
s;iered evidence Of the moral condition Of sos
cieiy. Ia this point OF view, the result of this
Information proves, tina, yirgins has abundant ca.
son be satisfied with he moral tendencies OF her
civil institutions upon her inhabitant+, in co,npa.
rison with the moral tendencies of the civil ir-,i.
iiiions OF her sister States, far as information
has yet beer obtained. In regard to prs m dis
cpine. "a il rsates 10 the reformation Of cri,ni-
nails, j, seems 10 be universally ADMITTED, that
separation OF the convicts ia Indispensable: That
so long they are permitted TO associate With
each other. they will become more corr ipt Thai
the vicious aud hardened will exert their con-
Eliminating Influence over shore whose minds orr
gnsliy are lees corrupt s depraved than their own.
recommend this view of the subject 20 the consi
dsration of the Gen. Assembly, for the purpose of
showing the policy and necessity of erecting more
cells, as the only means of carrying this principle
into effect; and thus of making fair rial of the
effects Of prieon discipline upon the reformation
OF criminals, through The Peni,en,sry System. II
will be eeen from Mr.. Parsons report that material
interruptions occur in the discharge Of his duties,
from the great numbers OF visitors, calling from
mere curiosity, TO view the interior nf the Peni-
Tertiary, and that II IL desirable the practice should
be checked by some legislative provision; or an
additional officer granted 10 the Hesitation. II
seyersl OF The Peniteniares, admi sion fees have
been resoried to for the purpose of checking The
Practice, which am disposed to think might, in
the first instance be adopted here inslc I'd OF ah
sOiufe Introduction recommend this subject also
TO the attention of the General Assembly; d. par
ticulary, the whole contents of MIR. Parsons re-
port, which Is herewith communicated marked l
Whilst considering the subject of criminal
Jurisprudence, md myself mpelied By an inpe-
rious sense OF duty, TO call the attention OF the
General Assembly to the provisions of the laws,
which subject free people of color to slavery, sale
and transportation, as punishment for the
mission of several different crimes Whhou,'
questioning the souncness OF the principle or the
forfeiture OF individual liberty, by the commission
OF crimes; slavery must be admitted TO be punish
ment of the highest order, and according to every
jus. rule for the apportionnent of-pun ishmens TO
crimes il would seem, ought to be applied only to
crmee OF the highest order; but under the existing
laws, in cases Of free people Of co'or only, it is
extended to several crimes involving capital
punishment. Under these laws, the punishment II.
slavery is unfortunately applied 10 both sexes;
whilst the curse of slavery from its peculiar char.
scter, bears with much more severity upon females
than male offenders. In the case of male often
ders, the punishment dies with the offender In
, the case of female offenders, it does not; but il
livef, and is visited upon the offspring throughout
all generations. The most serious and distressing
rthsction, however, in the application Of the pun
ishment Of slavery, to female offenders, when ex-
tended TO the ofspring, arises from The rircrna-
s,snce--tbat the innoceLt is punished with tie
guilty The upoifen ling dripping is made to,
participate deeply IN the punishment OF the Offend
ing mother; whilst IL participates nothing in her
guilt I-is seems to me to be incompatible with
every principle of morality and justice and directly
Tepugnan; with the just, hu,nsne and liberal policy
OF Virginia, in the dispensaiions Of criminsl us-
lice upon every other occasion. In cases of the
ssies of slaves under these rovisons of the law,
the condition OF the tond requiring the purchasers
OF The convict slave, 10 cause them 10 be trans
portedi -yond the limits Of the United States, IL
found, in its execution, IN be cTeiy coloTsble. II
Is believed TO be seldom or never compiled with; ;
and from its peculiar character, it V ou!d be ex-
tremely difficult 10 enforce compliance with IL
by judicial proceedings. I, wonld require the
proof o. negative, and that negative OF a charac-
Ter too, very dthcalt to b. asce;ianeI. Ii this
provision OF the laws should be 1na,ya to be no.
~toriolslY disregardet, and no compe;ent remedy
a!op;ei g4insi i,s violation, it becomes suhjec,
we'll worthy the consideration of the General As.
semblJ; whether the other provision Of the laws
in relation to the trans poria,ion of conoicts com
ports with the jus frank AMI liberal policy towards
her sister e. for which, Virginia has heretofore
been distinguished on all other oecasloas and upon
which her moral Influence in the United States
must mainly depend. The tan sporta;ion { COM
vcled people OF color, as means of lessening
the number in The state, can have bot very limit
ed influence in producing thi . very desirable ef
feet; certainly IL inconsde able to Justify the in
trcdnction Of unusual punshaents, OF questionable
principle, into criminal code directly neon
sistsnt With the mild and humane spirit, yTbich
ehsracterises every other part of the system. The
whole number transported from January 1924, 10
appear 10 have had any beneficial effect in The
Prevention of crimes, since it appears from an
tben'ic documents, thst IL were convicted 10
lS27 whilst Ii were The highest number convict
Ell many preceding yesr 1, seems bn, an &C, o.
stice 10 this unfortunate, degraded class Of persons
10 slate, tina, the number Of conyics compaI Ell with
The whole population, excsc ling s. 600, IL ex-
iFsmsy small, and " ia serve to shnw tn even
tbs description of population il lass demorsl-
ized, than has generally been supposed. The copy
oisn authentic document, marked X, is herewith
forwarded Tor the Attenuation of iha General a.
seraby upon this point. From these, and ether
considerations, earnestly recommend a review Of
these provisions of the peas laws TO the ser o.ls
attention OF the General Assembly; and conf
IDENTIFY rely upon It's wisdom, justice aud humanity
for rsmedying the evils, as think them IL indeed
evils they should be deemed by The better iudg-
'ueEt Of the General Assembly. ! hone 10 be in
obliged fr most respectfully enIing in subsii-
fItion OF the punishn OF slavery, sale and irsne