New-York tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1841-1842, 1841-09-23
THOUGHTS on TIE STATE PRISON
QUESTION
For the Tribune

For the Tribune
THOUGHTS on TIE STATE PRISON
QUESTION.
II has for long time seemed to me that the
scnscess cry Of State Prison Monopoly ha'
beeo suffered to pas. unrebukcd by those having
the public ear through the fear of bringing upon
themselves the il-will Of those who maintain the
clamor And for the same reason, too. think that
some Of our public men give an apparent heed to
this noise, which, if they had little more indie
pcndence with thcir great wit. they would be far
from giving Hence, the appeal and arguments
being generally on one side, the multitude Of those
qcto do not Min6 (and they arc always TOO many,)
are led ON to swell the number Of those whose pas
sions or iancied interests have mounted them on
The demagogucs' stand.
We very naturally reason that where there Is
smoke there must be fire. and some can even be
made to believe that there il smoke at least, II
their neighbors persist in asserting its existence,
even though they cannot themselves discover II
in their charity being willing admit the fault 10
be in their own eyes rather than in their ncishbors
hearts. In this way account for about seven
eghth Of the rank and file oi the crusaders against
State Prison labor.
To this scycn-egh,hs | wish to offer a few
non-senso Thoughts; asking only that they will
read my arguments calmly and decide upon them
dispassionately
perceive, then that the first condition of our
physical existence Is, Man cat his brend by
the sweat of his brow The condir.n is without
exception; every human being must labor, II he
would live. d" He that will mol work, Leithcr shal!
he cat" Be it understood here, that in civilized
communities the common veal requires division
of labor: aAd that all kinds of honest employ
1nent are still le6or in the proper sense OF The
word whatever organ of eur being is devoted 10
Them that Is to say, hcad-work is a. much labor
as hand.work AID the hcad-worN of one class Is !
as absolutely essential aud Indispensable To the
common good, is the hand-work OF another
class Consequently, my philosophy cannot ac-
knowledge the propnety OF the distinctions which
some hult.,hmkug people make, when they divide
the community into producing and non-producing
classes All are producers some in way,
some in another. All alc consumers some ofone
class OF productions, some OF another.
My second position is coroary from the first;
when man attempts to procure his bread 10y prey
ing ell the labor OF others, the common good re-
cures thai Society in its organized capacity. should
compel him To adopt the only rightiul mode OF pro-
curing it; in other words. he should he made To
labor In so doing, there is injury 10 none; but
good to all. Good the individuals; for 1t re-
strains him. ii ii does redeem him, from
vice Good to all others; ier protection is thus
given To them against the dcpreiations OF the law
less upon then honest industry
Now here are TWO propositions so simple that
all can understand them; 50 true that none but u
rocuc in ethics (aud in my opinion such rogue
needs as much 10 be watched Is pick pocket
will question their correctness.
On what principle, then. can the labor of con-
ycts and telous be objected to! Why, on no prln-
cpc at all but this; that it is wrong 10 bring the
labor OF the rogue into competition with thai OF the
honest man. This is the ar.umeE, that is used
let us examine it, 1t assume, that labor Is priv
lcge. not a duty and that the man OF correct moral
conJuct Eve viii say nothing for the present about
principle us the basis OF conduct.) Is alone eut-
lied to labor Now the absHdiy of tins Is apPc-
enough If wc run the notion ont 10 It's lcsltI-
mate consequences. How many If the humaa
family would be exempt from destruction, II none
but the strictly upright in every thing were per
mittcd TO labor, and ENJOY the rewards OF Ia
Dor Garry oot the notion, and the law o. the
strongest would be the law of existence; and earth
would be hell. In opposition TO all this we say,
that the violation of one duty does not exempt
from the obligation of another: consequently. I
though man may hive committed a crime against
the laws OF Society, he Is still bound 10 labor for
his support: and TO that support-tho reward OF /
his labor-he /, entitled. Ii the rogue NAV not
be made TO labor for his living then he has three
alternatives LEFT him; either he must be left TO OBJ
tain his bread by violence and fraud, or he mus,
be fed BY the community, OF he must live wiihou,
being Ted at ALT he can As 10 the first altcrna-
tiye. the poor would suffer more by il than the
rich; for the latter could pay for protection As
for the second, !, would be the sresest induce |
rnent thar Society could offer to yillainy As for
the thjrd-well, il any body wants an argument
FROM ne on t,is point he must wait till the Christ
mas holidays are over. So do not see but thai
we are drawn TO the conclusion--cosnpulsory labor
for the telon.
Bur wha; Will thgsc who SO strenuously pa; for
ward this argument, say 70 the innumerable law
tu modes that skill and deprayity combined, daily
employ 10 underbid the substantial labors OF hon
est industry Is there no State Prison to be
found without labor and without bread (lsr the ar
sumenr Is against the former, and the tax on the
honest citizen agodBs; the a,ter) for these lawful
cheats Puzzle We out this, If We can, my mas
1ers
We come then TO the mex, important considera-
zion in wha, department of honest industry shall
the ielon be cnployedi This is The yexed ques