Litchfield enquirer., 1839-03-07

~ BoB TIE EN0uiaER.
The resolve passed BY The General Assembly Of
this ststs at its last session, directing the Warden q
the State Prison TO pay certain monies TO the Prison
Discipline Society," has become fruitful theme for
Loco Foco elOquence. With the chorGcteris,;c cam.
dor and philanthropy sheivPrsss, they have depoun.
ced it as being an unjust, unwarran,ed and extrovn
CANT expenditure Of the public treasure. VIVA, are
the facts in the case I. will be remembered that
when the Connecticut State Prison went into cpern
tion Il was for long period unpvovided with Chan
lain. Prior to this time benevolent society had
been formed in Boston, known as the Prison Disci
pine Society, whose object TO amoorate the con-
dition Of the prisoner not only physically, hut also
morally, by the inculcation Of religious truths This
Society, caused applications he made to our Le.
gislatnre for The appointment Il Chaplain over lhc
lns,itn,ion-wiih an adequate salary Cor his support
The General Assembly after the elapse Of year or
TWO acted upon the subject and Chaplain WINS mp,
pointed. whose duty it was 70 preach to the pvi.oners
upon the sabbath. and perfGm the other Rncsons in.
cident to such an Office; and for his support The sum
OF 800 per annum was appropriated. which was
found. upon trial, TO be, quite inadequate. Knowing
this fact, and actuaied by anohe philanthropy which
scorned the narrow limits 81 State lines, the Prison
Discipline Society advancedsannuaHy, lor ten years,
sum which added to The appropriation III the Legis.
lature was barely stfficenl Eorte maintainance Of
Chaplain, yielding him but he poor Compensation of
siooa year Cor his services. he system Of the Con.
necticut State Prison was admiralty developed and
accompanied BY the most happy results. The insti-
tuition, 50 far from being harthen-became a source
ofrevenue to the State. . ~"' '5.aga.
The situation Of the prisoners, which heretofore re.
scmbled rather the life Of savage beast confined in
cage, than Of civilized man--was infinitely improv.
ed. His physical wants were supplied and the soil
tude Of his cell was envened by the halowed inAu.
ences Of religion Anterior 10 this our State Prison
had been prolific hot bed Of vice, and crime. Many
young ofender-under the instruction Of old Grim.
inus-surrounded by vicious influences, came forth
after the expiration Of his sentence, confirmed and
hardened desperate. By the present system such in
stances cannot occur, and the probabilities arc in e.
vor of all. more especially Of the young-tha. they
will 60 forth from their solitary cells, reclaimed from
vice-and confirmed in virtue. In the meantime,
while the institution was adding large sums 10 the
treasures Of tho State; and while ito moral effects
tended to the decrease Of crimeand the reformation
Of the criminal; the Prison Discipline Society, which
had contributed so largely TO bring about more par
ticuarly the latter result soimporant to the criminal
and to the society at large became impoverished,
and in want Of funds to extapd her charities Il was
at this juncure that the Prison Discipline Society Pc
ti,ioned Legislature 10 refund the money which
had been advanced by theh tor our use, and which
had proved so highly beneficial to most unfortunate
class Of our citizens. Theirs was not a demand
but it an appeal to the justice, philanthropy and
magnanimty Of a civilized and chrietanized State
So the Legislature considerable. They made them
grant Of a thousand dolap--ihe amount they had
expended or ustaken not sos. ile ockss ef Aae Pm.
pie, but rqm the profits hcb had accrued BIZ the labors
Of The prisoners confined Ia We Connsciicat Ssate Pr
Ssn ed
haye exhibited disregard fw justice cad degree q
dishonesty and meanness, that would have disgraced
even a community Of Savases, and which could he
justified only By band Of noco Focos intent upon
What think ys Of this acctaatien1 People Of Litch
field County must NOT q. piserable faction be hard
last Legislature 2 100 III" ~ :" SALISBURY.