Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-01-18
CITY Jsii-TI.sim.ai Of prt,o.,r,

tErirse, nom City Correspondent
The Common Hah have published the Official re-.
porto their examination Of the City Jail, exposing
the most horrid and inhuman trea,men, of the moor
espt'ves there, and confirming the worst surmise.
OF the Public. You have published II without n
word Of notice, when and many expected you TO
lash the barbarous ministers Of the law who bsv.
permitted such disgrace to our good name to oc.
cur"
Weask only that our CORES pondent have little
patience. He cannot feel more indignan n, than we
do at the tale Of misery which has gone forth to
the world and up to Heaven. from the precincts of
the City Jail. He cannot feel as virsinian, and a
| humane man, more resentment than we do. that
the name OF Virginia, and above all the metropolis
OF 'irsinia-Virgnia, whose provisions for prison.
ersare so liberal and Observation-Disclosures, whose
CHARITY Is 90 abundant-should have incurred so
'oui and indelbe reproach as that Of inhuma nifty
70 those whose voice cannot even be heard to make
their complaints to their country. Ifthere Is mean
and unmanly violation Of public duty, more mean,
unmaniy and objectionable than all others, we hold
1t to be this, and mean to expose il fully. ifw
succeed in enls,iug those who have the means in
our views. Let US do what we learn upon very
high authority is but justice, in shielding the Jalor
from the odious reproach Of the scenes at the City
Jail. He could no, help himss6 is the defence made
Tor him; and he is alleged to be man of eonspcu-
Gus humanity. Possibly it may be so, but he has
been most unfortunate in giving proofs Of il. We
cannot understand the humanity which permits such
sufferngto occur Better to have taken the respon-
sbii'y oil unlocking the doors Of the cells, or rath-
er OF the hell holes which pass by that name. If
his super'ors were inaccessible to his remons,ran-
ees, an appeal to the public would instantly have
been effectual.
Is this subject Of ails and the treatment Of their
wretched tenants. beneath the dignity and pario-
tism of the General Assembly, Is il not known
to that body, that the provisions of the law-provi
SONS so worthy Of Virginia-are sham,fuly neglec-
ted almost everywhere, and that the neglect obvious
ly springs from two cause.-the mode Of visitation,
and OF furnishing prisoners with dcti An admira-
BILE idea has been suggested to US by the enlghten-
ed city prosecutor. Ii is to substitute the English
plan Of visitation. Make il the duty of Grand Ju
ries TO visit and examine the jails in BODY and to
present, before their adjournment, all nraclions Of
the law. This would ensure such a superin,en.
dence as to prevent again the occurrence of Incl
derts which degrade the claims Of Virginia TO high
evil cation.
We observe that the Committee of the City II all
who discharge their trust with so honorable firm
ness, attempt TO apologies, for it is but an at.
empt--lor the Sergeant Of the city, by stating that
his health had prevented him from paying the at
lention to the Jail which his duty required Most
lame and imPotent excuse! Must men perish of
cold because Sergeant Wren has u tooth ache or a
catarrh1 We mean, however, no other reflection
upon him, than the imputation of gross neglect,
here equivalent to the most refined cruelty. We
believe him TO be humane man, but IN these in.
stances culpably and barbarously negligent Off