New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-11-20
Our State Priaons.

labor on the highways with their chains clanking
around them, we were surprised to zee the Phi
SON System of the United States SO severely as.
sailed on the ground of cruelty. The writer
seems to understand our system very well and
draws for many of his facts from Mr.. Crawford
and Mr. Dickens. He gives the plan of Model
Prison of the Sandman Government To con.
dense instead of translatng from him, we find the
following to be the main features of that plan
In this Prison there are about 900 convicts, man.
aged by hundred and fifty overseers. They are
kept in long halls, well aired and well lighted.
Thus in SIX halls the whole 900 are arranged for
the night in two files, each provided with CLOTH
ing, blankets, &c. together with thread and
needles and little account book, and prayer
book The whole are divided into four classes,
according to the nature of their crime. Each OF
these four Glasses is again divided into three
parts, according to the conduct of the individuals
under discipline and to the term of years for
which they are sentenced. With those con-
demned for life are placed the intractible, and
those who have relapsed second time. Each
class is distinguished by its dress. AS tho con-
duct of one improves he is elevated from one
rank to another, and vice versa. An e1traord.
nary, generous action is rewarded by immediate
elevation, and thus a constant stimulus is given
to the dormant virtue in the criminal. This
has been found to work well, bringing large
proportion into the first rank. The best of the
first rank are selected out Called Mozzi de
Bagni") who retain only one ring of their chain,
and receive, when not employed in work, two
cents day. Not given for wages, this is de-
signed as premium for good behavior. They
are also placed as a sort of under overseers to
preserve discipline and subordination among the
rest The writer states that in cases of miscon-
duet the criminal would prefer a hundred lashes
to being degraded from his rank and sent to
labor with those he had regarded us his interiors
Wages are also given for work on the principle
that labor loses NEST of its benefit when divided
from its natural reward.
Under this system Of motive, and punishment
and reward, the furious become obedent and the
thief honest, and what virtues are left in man
stimulated and strengthened. This division
strikes us as very sensible. In Auburn, for ex-
ample, the knowledge of any trade or facility in
learning is made the ground Of Classification
This may be less reasonable than it seems. Why
no, make grades of depravity and ignorance and
amount of knowledge and virtue the foundations
of every division Why not let the Prison fur
nish stimulants to recover lost character the
moment man enters it A vast many crimi-
nals are within Prison walls whose dcpravity is
less than thousands who perpetrate their crimes
IN open day. One has guided his passions clear
OF the law the other through ignorance or intox-
icstion has fallen into its meshes. He is guilty
and must suffer, but it does not follow that he 10
lost Stimulate him with motives-let him feel
there rank that is ut least relatively respecta-
bio which he cun reach. The fear of punish
sives. 1t may keep from crime, but it degrades
the moral man at the same time. There is some
force in the remark of this writer
America supposes she has no delinqaents
out of her prisons nor innocent convicts within
them-nor convicts not wholly depraved who
will never again iail-nor delinquents q second
time convicted but for the same cause which for.
merly brought them there" Showing strong
tendency in the man one way which ia not to
shield hun but is to be taken into consideration
in Judging of his entire depravity.) America re-
CARDS her prisoners as tho most corrupt and cor
rup.ing of mankind, the depravity of each of
whom it is necessary 10 confine IN his own silent
bosom. This throws the blame of all in the ag-
yrepate upon all without distinction while an un.
heard of remedy is adopted, VIZ. the absolute iso-
laton Of all of the convlcts."
In this last sentence he refers to the pro.
hibiIon to speak with each other. He objects
to this making mutes of men on various
grounds. We have great doubts of his con-
illusions en- this point. He argues that society is
essential TO man and that it is impossible to re-
form him without permitting the free interchange
of his thoughts. He says
This isolation and silence are against nature,
But the silence of Auburn is verso, for the whole
benefit to the man sought by It, is lost inasmuch
ma they communicate Their sufferings to each
other BY signs, while the whole man Is destroyed
through want of society and the power OF
speech. Man it is evident from nature ia to be
made virtuous by means OF instruction and good
example"
We cannot see much force in this, Us instruc-
ton is allowed IN our Prisons, though we do some
especially on his plan of Prison, for if the re-
formed are to be brought together and kept sepa-
rate from the rest the talk of tnsir struggles and
their hopes, with one another, might strengthen
and encourage them. This writer (who by the
yay is no ordinary man) objects also, strongly to
the principle of no. giving wages to the lab0rers
He thinks that the family Of the criminal have a
claim on him prior and paramount to the Gov
eminent. Tho benefit OF his labor is to go first
to them. He thinks, also, as | have before re-
marked that labor without wages is unnatural
and wrong under any system ~egive his views
as curious in themselves coming from the Cow H.
rnent and Country they d.. They show the pro-
gress of principle we wanld Ike to speak more
Of in this place had VIC lime.
There is one thing, however, worthy OF atten-
ton and that is the classification his Sandman ma
iesty has made. Why should :here not be degrees