Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-02-23

arate criminal Court for this DIS riot, 10 be
held al least quarterly. in each OF the counties,
by Judge appointed for tna, purpose. The
Circuit Court has exclusive criminal in addi
ton 10 its common law and chancery Iurissir.
lion. I, heids only two sessions III the year; and
from the mass Of business in the cour', It's ses-
si.ns, in Washington county, are pro,racred
10 the length OF six or seven weeks. Although,
by the practice Of the Court, the business #
the public prosecutor has preference over
the civil business. sill i ofen happens Ihai
tedious aud long common law civil Causes in
tervene and greatly increase in the attendance
Of witnesses, the COSTS Of criminal :rIals.
Ii /, believed hat The sum saved TO the pub
lie IN his single em would more than pay the
salary If criminal Judgr, and all other ex
2ensrs being the same, the Uni'ed SAFES, ny
ihIs arrangement, woald be gamer in mere
pecuniAry point Of view.
To me civil sui'ors Of the District, it will
be Of still greater im2or,ano" in me .conomi-
cal transaction IF their law busiue s. and would,
perhaps, diminish more than one halt .ne time
and expense employed in cssrying On an or
binary common law suit.
Blu, there are other views connected with
This .ubjecr, Of s,i'l greater in,eres'. The long
interval between the terms, in Washington
county, crowds the jail with accus' d persons,
committed for want 0i bail, TO sand their trial
a. the coming Court. The innocent and gull
" are here for months promiscuously associa>
ted, two, four, six, and sometimes moIr, in
room eight feet square, corrupted and corrupt
imp each other The place OF commitmen be.
comes o school Of vice, resembling thr old PEN
iienri,ries, with their crowded night rooms
and attended with all their disastrous conse-
ouenrss. An acquittal restores he accused
o he bosom Of society, infected aud diseased
by the moral pollution to which HE justice Of
i, country has subjected him. and ready 10
practice upon The community the lessons OF
miscaief and pluUder he has been taught by
his associates.
There Can be no doubt tina, the evil above al
Iuded to is fruitful source VI cline, and Will
the LEGISLATURE i. making liberal provision
for reforming the convicted felon, II is hoped
ihey will not DENY 10 The accused the mea"s OF
speedy I,ial, or s. jet him 10 demors'ztins
a>sncis ion more fa'al in its consequences ha"
those tina, follow an actual conviction
The Inspectors are, by w,reqnirsd 10 pro-
vide for tue separate labor aud instruction OF
any con,ic, under the age oil four'ee" years anu
! TO make and enforce such rules and regulations
therefore, as my in heir judgment, mo.' con-
duce % the refo, m alton and instruction oil such
youthful convic,s."
In a noprla,ion, such as that Of The District,
which is almost entirely ely and town poPu
lsrion, il must be expected, that there VIII or
many of TINS class OF Cylinders. Deprived, IN
,helr infancy, OF the wholesome restraints oil
| parental Az horny, or al>e the offspring oil IN
temperate, idle, and prohigate parents, igno-
rant and destitute themselves, they steal, TO sa-
risfy the wants Of suffering nature, or, what Is
worse. are stimulated o prey upon he commu
my, they may minister 10 he vices ot hrir
degraded and corrupung parents vi all the
institutions 10 which the b.neyolence of the
| Drestn, day has given birth, there are none
which promise more good 10 society IN check
| ING The progress Of crime. than schools Of re-
form and houses Of refuge for juvenile dein.
ouenrs. They s,Ikr al the evil in is incep-
lion. when the work Of reforma ion is compa,
s,ively easy, and may apply useif TO mind
unc o, Fl med in wire, and open TO the adm'ni
| tiors Of virtue No person who has visited
.h,,e NOZZLE charities in y York, Philadelphia,
aud Boston, Can fail TO appreci.'e their value.
| The S atcs OF New York and Pennsylvania
contribute literally in aid of The pri's'e funds
| which founded and support them, snd II IS
9oy,d, the Congress Of The Union, the '1cla>
| i've Legislature Of the District, will not ea'r
us without such an institution here. The Ptn''
ten. iarv is an unsul abb place tor such youh'ni
,FruderS They .cqoire mildeT more pa''naI
| .oyernmen, less labor, aud more education;
fl ers OF different qualihe ATOMS; and should
! ,o, see or associate wIh veteran and harden
I'd ,onvie,s, or be subject 10 r.rpr"sch,
.fier life, Of having been inmates OF > lie
prissn. No rules we could adopt. Can ever
adequately supply TIE place Of separate IS
Enlistment.
| Tn. Board Of Inspectors have prepared, and
now submit, herewith as directed bs law The
mes and rreula,ions for he gnvtrnm'nt OF she
Peni en,iary. Future experience mus GUIDE
| as IN adding wha may BE- omitted, o. Correct
ing what is wrong. Afer all, however, the
success Of he Penitentiary mainly depends up
on The ability, in'.g,iry. and vigilance, OF the
Warden and his inferior officers. No written
rules can supply The, absence of ihe.e Ind'sPehs,
able qualG, atoms. The principles oflnpr'Veo
pris,a discipline are few and simple Separa'e
dormi,ori,s a, night, diligent labor and silence
during ,he ,lay, aud constant inspection 10 pre-
ven, in ercours., and enforce obedience, WIN
The aid of moral and religious instruction, are
~, prsa, features Of the system. With talents