New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-12-25
Society and Crime.
To Ike Editor a TIE 7ri5xzs:
The hnr1ene ap1 so.irh+aue6 M,e Chi

The humane and enlightened Mrs. Child, in a
letter which you publshcd yesterday, truly OBJ
serves, that, enquiry into tee causes of crime
and the means Of prevention cannot receive too
much attention from the wise and the good
Without particular pFetensions to tie qualifications
which she very properly designates, tske the Lib
erty Ct Offering, accordingly, suggestion or Two
upon the results OF her Own researches in this
field, as | find them set fortb in ohcf parts of
the same letter: {" In answer" writes Hrs. c.
Z" to my oit.Tepeated remark, that Society makes
its own criminals, | am told tina; God makes the
Will Of man free; that 10 mar is compelled 70
SIN, and therefore every individual espensible
tlrely for his own sin. Whether the same action is
equally sin in the SIGHT of God when committed
By ind viduals in totally different circumstances
will not ettemp, to discuss Such questions should
reverently be left 10 Him who made the heart and
who alone can Judge it," &c. Just SO. But
why then does the write. qaarrel with Society for
not usurping the tribunal OF the Alseeing and
taking upon it to determine those "questioEs''
IN its administration Of The penal law For
s1ch, if comprehend her, IS the burthen OF her
| impeachment, notwithstanding The conflicting
admissions Of the paragraph, among others, Just
cited. the TACT is that Mrs. Child seems TO
be here talking Morals and Theology, not Crra-
nal Jurisprudence. She appears 10 imagine our
Society,"" our Government, Thcocfacy; in.
stead of q material, mechanical Democracy
"Sin" IS, accordingly, her term for civil guilt,
and God" the only competent judge-an Of
fence and tribunal, it is hardly necessary to
say, entirely unknown TO our civil legislator.
Farther, in the same string, she declines to
examine whether the same acion done by indi-
viduals in totally different circumstances, be the
same sin,' &c. Despite the duty she would
benev0!ently urge upon our Statesmen as all this
has been just rema ked to be, will yet attempt
TO act the cesust 10 her devout ditfidence re-
speeding the las; question. Acts 6oEe in differ
ent circumstances may indeed be the same (or
Similar regarded physically or mechanically, but
IN moral respect-which is that in question
| and into which the circumstances enter as CON-
poneht parts OF tho acton-a:c OF cJurse differ.
ent as different as the circumstances. There is
then an incongruity in her hypothesis. The
faction" is not (2s she suppcses) the % same;"
f; and not being the same action, sha will pr
haps venture 10 conclude tits not the same "sin.'
But enough OF ir,clcvsncy. Here is some.
thing boldly to the point. Society g.akes It's
own criminals" TINS is strange proposition.
ftghtful doctrine, if the terms ere 10 tc under.
| -toud str city. 1t Is not to be met by the irapc-
iinent objection OF Free viii, the answer, it ap.
pears, of the perlor- philosophers whom Mrs. &.
lie fortunate to encounter. But, first, what doss
she mean Is il that Society is the anthor the
Cause, OF the crimes which il denounces Would
she say, thsE, that we're there no Society, no
civil restraint, there would be no crimc-that is
| none Of these acts which arc so dennminated
What moral character would she assign to the
killing of Abel? But the laws OF argument,
PEI haps, as well as gaaotry, eniitle The
fair paiIanthropist TO be heard in explanation
"a favor winch l expect you Mr.. Editor,
party III interest, 10 JOIN me IN soliciting: l!
and probably majority Of your readers shall
have derived the benefit of instruction, you, az
an adversary Of Capital Punishment, must rejoice
10 sec the fundamental theory of your reform
elucidated, by one who has shown herself already
so capable of adjoining it.
En- attendant, one remark. This excellent
lady afirms that the right of Society to punish
or restrain, implies the duty TO prevent" Yes
but who dlsavows this duty Who pte!ends that
the rights she speaks of have any other destg"
even than prevcntion7 If there be another, LIT
it be named. Revenge DRY the abotioniss oil
Capital Punishment. But las far as have observ-
ed) they only cry, they never prove 1t. But still 1t
does not prevent it, for there IS, we see, crime
and Society, argues Mrs. C. is therefore a. crImi-
naly negligent of its duty" would respect.
fully rfnark ,hai the inference is defective, until
it be shown that ,0fqt prevention is any better
than kind hearted chimera: but imr.--ivuity
is not duty, any more in society than an indl-
vidual.
In passing thus cursorily upon the grave ques-
tons proponnded in this letter, will not, trust,
be accused of treating the subject with the " un-
becoming evity" 20 properly deprecated by the
author or as diposed TO smiss Der good and
wise" hearted suggestions, instead of serious
consideration" with the cruel compliments of
those wags," who tell her she il SO benevolent,
so sentimental" No; think far otherwise
both fher plans and her means Of ' neral treat
ment" But her error seems to lie in the notion
she has conceived OF civil government-its ca.
pabi.ities and proper province, which, l am
obliged TO say it, seems quite incorrect, not to
call it extrayagant.
Also, lIwould demur to her method ofinvesties-
ton, which with brave contempt alike of Bacon
and Aristotle, she frankly admits to be that OF a
" verltable woman" Her sesame TO the care of
Truth is Sympathy. She vlBdlcates 1t too; and
by an illustration, which evinces her to be poet,
if not politician: " II the sunshine (of the
affections gilds every leaf and twig OF The land
scape, it likewise makes them more distinctly
visible" But it also is apt 10 dazzle and disturb
Inc VlSlOn TIC oulSCtsi LII JUN tuei icoi Soi'i
and composition, are much better seen in sober
light. For the rest, the forte, perhaps, OF this
humane sensbility is rather TO DO than to dis
eorer. Sentiment is, indeed, an excellent guide
in questions involving the affections; and hence
no doubt the fact-so universally are they &C
comp!ished in this branch of wisdom-that no
one has, believe, ever heard of Solomon OF the
"sex" But the problem of Society demands a
sprinkling OF head. a "garnsh Of brains;" it is
thing of observation, OF combination, OF cal
cuation; not of fancy or feeling. The heart
especially perhaps the female hearts an adept
in matters of sympathy; but is (aias that 1t
sbonld be SOL very ignoramus In science.
Dec. 20, 1871 j. OC.
Remarks by tbs Editor.
We publish the foregoing With reluctance,
deening our courtesy sad waste ofour columns.
We deem the writer's continual illusions to the
sex and personal qualities of her whose views ne
cor,hats grossly irnoertinent ard offensive while