Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-11-28

iaiefcst and peace OF tie dwe,.ers upon earth, are
promoted by The reformation Of convicts in tho
same degree with the joy which,as we are taught
is FELT by the inhabitants OF heaven on the CONVEX
sion OF sinners. The numerous aud highly res
pectabie advocates for the Auburn plan think that
It's discipline joined to the many other advantages
1t Is acknowledged TO possess is calculated to pro.
duce reformation, and therefore very naturally
urge its adoption by the other states: but if might
be permitted to judge should say that they urge
it with rather too much of the exclusive spirit that
| belongs TO sectaran controversy. That plan has
done much. Why should they discourage exper.
imen,s founded on at least plausible reasons to do
| more; and why should they represent the one YOU
| are about to try as system Of solitary imprison.
! n,en, without labor or instruction, which, uness
greatly misunderstanding il, is 10 combine both:---
But ind am writing treatise instead Of let :.
ter. the only object OF which, when began il
was to p'.ss upon you earnestly the importance of
persevering in the plan Of combining solitary i'm.
prisonnlent with instruction and labor (neither OF
them coerced) as The modes which may most rca-'
! sonably be expected TO produce the end we have
in view; and to keep social labor and social insruc-
ton IN classes, reward to stimulate to exertion
andiSnprovement.
have now done. but it is every stuff of the
conscience with inc, never to write or speak OF
this subject without saying, that whatever partial
good you may do by penitentiary punishments,
nothing radically important can be effected, un.
less you begin Gas the fairy tale has i) at the
beginning" Force education upon the people
instead of forcing them to labour as a punisLmen
for crimes which the degradation of ignorance has
induced them TO commit; teach religion and sci
ehce and simple system Of penal law, in your
primary schools; adopt a system OF penal proce.
dure that shall be expeditions, Gratuitous, easily
understood, and that shall Danish all hope of es-
cape from the defects Of forru well every
alton to the parties or the witnesses. Provide sub
sstence for the poor who cannot labor and employ
inent for those who can. But above all, do not
iorce those whom you are obliged to imprison be-
/ tore trial, be they innocent or guilty. into that
contaminating society from which, after they are
are found TO be guilty, you are anxious to keep
! them Remember that in Philadelphia as we'll as
| IN NJ York, moro than 800 are annually commit
TED; OF whom not one-fourth found to be gull
W; aud that thus you have introduced every year
1 more than 1900 persons, presumed to be innocent
| .nIo school where every vice and every crime is
taugnt ny the abest masters, and we shut eyes
| to this enormous evil and inconsistenuy 60 on
preaching the necessity of seclusion and labour,
anu industry alter conviction, if Peniteutiaries
were the only places in which the contamination
OF evil society were to be dreaded Why will no.
| pennsylvania take the lead in perfectng the work
she began; and instead Of patchwork legislation
that can never be elfectua, establish a complete
system, in which all the different but mutually de-
pendant subjects OF education, pauperism, penal
; law and prison discipline should be embraced.
| am preaching, know, to the converted, when
urge the consideration of these subjects upon YOU:
out mutual exhortation is Of service between
those who think alike and there is cause 10 the
| success o! which would more willingly devote
my feeble talents and the eKertions Of MY ife in
Guiding as 1t does tie cause Of religion humanity
and social order, than the which forms the sub
lect OF this letter; there is noneI am sure more in
teTestinT 10 you, and, therefore, will mix with il
no other than that Of the high esteem with which
|, am always, my dear sir, your friend and humble
servant EDW. LIVINGSTON.
RoBERTs !AUx, Esq.