The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-08-21

| IklSoN Observation-Disclosures complains nave
been lately made on the conduct ofthe Keeper Of the
State Prison, representing it as being characterzed
by excessive severity, and unieeling of cor
poreal punishment. SO loud were the public CON-
ments upon this topic, and it being one in itself
which appeals to the tender feelings that the lin
spectors Of the establishment very properly insttu-
ted inquiry into the administration Of the officer
criminaed by those rumors. Although portion
of the evidence taken that inquest is now before
us, and that Of a decidedly strong kind, we do not
feel at liberty to join with those who deprecate the
keeper Of the prison, as alone 10 blame in the mat
ter. 1t cannot be denied that Packard's evidence
goes to show that the treatment adopted towards
Whiting was rigorous in the extreme, and abhor-
rent the feelings Of all who read it, except that
class, and we believe such exists, who really are
so constituted as to be entirely unsuscep!ible OF
impressions from witnessing the agonizing torture
endured by some of their fellow creatures TOO
weak to resist temptation, inflicted by others too
strong to remember mercy, and contemn ven
g.ance. Now,we go rs tar as any other IN deplor-
/ log such scenes have occasionally taken place IN
the State Prison, and of which the case OF Whiting
is instance but it is too much TO infer that the
officer exceeded he powers reposed In his hands
That discretion is left him to inhict corporeal
punishment, will deny; but the evidence at
orded in this does not prove that the conduct
OF the victim was not such as was contemplated In
granting to the prison officer license to use the
bloody cat o. nine tails.
/ Another question, however, and one Of much
more grave nature, remains to be determined, and
that is, Is the law which grants such power to pun
sh and victimize, wise or salutary one Opinion
is divided upon that subject There those who
deny that punishment is calculated in any
case to reform; they contend that it is
essentially vindictive IN its intent, and therefore
totally unfit to change the culprt that lenity and
compassion are alone adequate to soften and sooth
the desperate, and lead him by example and the
force OF sympathy to respect and ceDfde in, rather
than hate and fear his fellows One thing certain
y is obvious, and that j. that the primary object Of
criminal law is to prevent rather than punish crime,
and above all to protect society from the attacks OF
the vicious. Confinement secures the last efectu.
ally-when the offender is incarcerated within the
prison walls, the world without are as secure from
his Vaccinations, as though he were in eternity.
There is no need Of stripes bruises far as their
safety is concerned; that the only object that can
remain to be accomplished by severity and cruelty
is the amelioration OF the victim.
| Upon this subject it is not necessary to
dwell, as it has been often discussed and
| with great effect in this country; SO great in
deed as to modify in an important and graft
flying the lerocious penal code of theBrsh.
In the case under consideration, we may OBJ
serve, that many deny the right the legality of
| the use of the lash, by the keeper Of the State
Prison, and contend that the utmost that can be
said in its favor, is the expediency Of allowing in
extreme cases the use of the lash to tame the re
| fractory, and assert the authority of the keeper,
which is essential to the general safety and proper
| discharge of his responsible duties. Expediency
| is fmsy argument in any case. II the law al
ows1o such power, il is both inexpedient and dis
| graceful to tolerate such case as that OF Viii
tng-to wink at the laceration and CORY wounds
Inflicted on crazy slmpleton, because the jailor
thought 1t expedient to show his power, and make
| it felt Whatever cnlpability exists rests not with
the officer, but with the inspectors; and if the law
does not warrant them in the Of the lash, they
would be placed more in accordance with their
deserts in experiencing rather than directing the
application OF the toruring implement If any
such thing be recognized by the law, the sooner
such law is repealed the better, and it is for the
people to see to it. Capital punshments are de-
moralizing and bad enough, but punishments to
whip man out Of existence piecemeal. at the in
stance of one or more petty tyrants, is execrabe
i dHu dldDOlCdl W TIC IdSt cAutmc
/
Wing Meeting In the Seventeenth Ward.
| Last evening there was muster Of the support
ers of Mr.. Clay in the 18th Ward, at the Henry
Clay House, at the corner Of Avenue A and First
street. There were some four or five musicians
employed, one or two wing banners of the usual
description displayed. end live coon, with
hempen attachment to his neck, on the platform,
whose scent was any thing but odoriferous, and
consequently was very annoying this warm weather
to those near him. Shortly after 8 o'clock, the
chair was taken by Mr.. Tomlnson, President of
the Ward Clay Club, and the business of the meet
ing was commenced by singing
| "Come. come, true wings all,
| Come to the sound Of your country's call"
The CHAIRMAN then introduced to the meeting
young working man of the name OF Chrlston and,
in doing SO, said that the working man and artizan
was most interested in the questions to be decided
at the ensuing election; and if they we're to take
the matter into their own hands, they were quite
| capable of Judging for themselves, and protecting
their own interests, independent Of all parties.
| Mr.. CHRsT0N, young man OF about 20 years Of age
then forward and said, that every thing owing
to the working men Of this country and that the most
was one wholly Of bread He then took review oi The
general questions present occupying the attention Of
both political rarties-he distribution Of the public
landslide currency said the great question
Of all the tariff question lie then entered into
kind Of historical account OF the present tariff and spoke
Of the introduction Of the compromise net most dspara
gingly and Of Gen Jackson whom he designated the
old dotard of the hermitage who had done injury
to the country by this one act than he had done
good. The speaker then went to reprobate his
opponents whose ranks he said he had but recently lett
and knew all their working and cancussing and the
they took to mislead the people, but the people
knew that they lied and he wondered that the blood did
trirke down their rotten cneeks at their efrontery
He then proceeded to lk of the question Of the
ton of Texas and wished to know what portion of the
people Of this country asked for IT, and said
mil utork land or1 honI rkn
had sordid selfnterest in view that supported It, He
then proceeded to speak in no measured terms Of M au
thor John Tyler whom he designated the dispsed Of all
parties The only good arising from this annexation
wond be to annex heavy debt to the country, and
tend the slave trade by introducing Ave other slave States
TO the Union He observed that Benton said that this
question only got up to dissolve the Union and II