Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-03-11

nav possibly be the discovery Of prefera-
bic substitute for punishment by death; but,
until the discovery shall have made, aud
shall have been tried and proved by an adj
eauate experience, to say that methods
ought To be discovered, which no man has
yet succeeded in discovering, is no argyll
mcnt for the precedent abolition oil The meth |
cd which exists; yet this was the whole
drift of the augmentation Of Mr.. Kelly ana
his friends on this part of the subject. -.
With regard to imprisonment, the Oh
lent System" may be considered as Justly
renowned by all competent authorities on
the subject. Nature Is too strong Tor H. Tue
attempt TO pre,Sit society, yet forbid COM
munca,ion. results in perpetual cndcavors
vt cyas~n on the part Of the prisoners, by
WIN THAR minds arc KEEP, in ii fraudulent
state, and which can be met only by such
inccssan, seventies on the part of the prison
officers as must keep their minds in state
almost equally to be avoided. The" Sep
eratiun System" will be tried more fully than
it has vet been, by the model prison now in
Course of construction. II will produce, we
conceive, as many different results as there
are differences in men. Our impression is,
that in the majority of cases. violent passion
will be- tanned by il, some vicious propensi-
ties subdued, and the mind reduced to a
weak, blank condition. But this, though
good as far as it goes, is in truth merely n
work Of destruction; the work of reforms
ton is yet to be begun; and towards this,
though books. tracts, and chaplains may do
much for the moment, (and we are far from
undertaking even transitory moral impress
sion) yet the dispositions Of the mind which
are thus nuriured, must not be accounted for
virtues. Il is ony by the exercise of virtue,
that virtue can be- cultivated and virtue can
have no exercise in solitude in the absence
of all social relations, of all transactions, Of
all temptations, and even of the power and
opportunity of doing evil. THAT which
ruriflrs us istrial,' says Milton, and trial is
by what is contrary This is yet to come
when the solitary imprisonment ends; and
when that term arrives the prisoner is sent
forth into II world of which the wicked por-
ton only will receive him, in the infancy of
his virtue-a moral weaklnc.
With regard to the alternative Of trans
por,a,iop, the Archbishop Of Dnblin's pam
phlet, in 1882, seems to have been fatal TO
the system us II was then conducted, and at
the same time to have raised the most seri-
| Gus doubts whether il could ever he con-
Quoted in a manner to give it preventive
efficacy. Lord John Russell appears by
| his instructions to the Commissioners OF
| Criminal Law to have been persuaded
that these doubts might be set aside ; hut
even admitting that i, may be or has been
made IA formidable punishment, there remain
objections of greai force derived from the
consequences brought upon the countries TO
which convicis are transported.
Independently, however, of these consid-
eralions, and on the ground of moral pre-
ference in respect Of the criminal Mr.
Wordsworth would inilict death rather than
Transportation or Imprisonment for life:
XI.
| All, think how one compelled for life TO abide
Locked in n dungeon, needs nus, eat his heart
| Out of his own humanity, and part
| With every hope that mutual cares provide;
| And should 4 SIS unnatural doom confide
| n lifelong exile on savage coast,
| Soon the ielapsln- pCnlicnt may boast
OF yet more htinous guilt with tiercer pride.
| Hence thought al mercy, mercy sage and pure,
Sanctions the forfeiture that law demands
| .caving the final issue in His hands.
VIII Sc gnodness knows no chance, whose loveis sure
WIN sees foresees who cannot Judge anlss;
| And watts at will the con,ite soul t. bliss.
| XII.
| See The CONDEMNED alone within his CELL
And prosira,c at some moment when Remorse
Stngs TO the quck, aud In reslstlrss force
| Assaults the pride she strove IN VAN 10 qhi'',
Then mark him, him who could so long rebtl
1.-THE crime confessed, kneeIlng pcnlient
| Re'ore the altaf, whe e the sacrament
| Solrers his heart. Ill from his eyes ou'wel
Tears of salvation. Welcome 'ealh VIII heaven
Does in this chang" excecdin ly rcjoi"t;
While vet iht solemn heed the tate hath gwen
| Hnps him 10 meet the last tribunal vol C
In faith, which fresh Offences, were he cast
On old temptations, nigh, forever blast
In the thirteenth sonnet Mr.. Wordswort
anticipates Tat a time may come when tn
punishment of death will he needed no Ion
ger; but he wishes that the disnsc OF
should grow ont of the absence of the need
not be imposed Ivy legislation. We hav
stated already what is our own belief, ant
the tenor of the evidence taken IN 1885, ii
; to the state of feeling in the country. Blu
i: we are in error, or If IA change shall tax
place, and public sentiment shall bear strong
|, " against punishment Ivy death, there will Il
AN amply suiliricnt, if not an III due lranil
on the part of jndgrs and secretaries of Sta,
towards conformity with it, and )uri,s wi
m general have sufficient reliance upu
that leaning to encourage them to conv''
what they ought. And, on the other han'
u if the consequence Of IA premature lrIsla'i'
abolition should be to multiply crimes TO
fearful extent, and place life in unusal r"I
ard, public opinion might he thrown vie
lenlv to the other side--,he legislation of
weak and shori-sightrd benevolrncr mig
he reversed in the natural course Of tl,ngs i
the legislation Of passion, or at least hy IS
we're egi la,io : passionalrly ADM 'ls'ered'
aud then our last state would be worse In
the first.
Yes, though he well may tremble at the sound
Tor his own vo &C. who from the judgment seat
| Send. the pale ronvi I 10 his tasi retreat
In death hough Ii icners shndder all around,
They know the dread requllars source profound
Nor Is, they feel, its wisdom obsolete
Would that il we're the sacrifice unmeet
For Christian faith. But hopeful Signs a ound
The social rights of mau breathe purer alri
Religion dcrpens her preventive care;
=, TIL n mpy'd bv nee Il,ss fear of past abuse,
e Il en- from laws firn hand III II awful rod,
But leave il thence 10 drop for lack Of use,