New-York daily tribune., 1844-04-13

nent of Sing sing State Prison, the following
sentence occurs
she has done much reform previously existing abuse snd
lent department ure already stnknGy manifest III the eSab
shen, wholesome discipline and the increased comfort ond
happiness of the prisoners
OF this paragraph the Courier d Enquirer
quotes but a single line, prciaccd thus :
.PrsIsHurSr FOR CRrME-rhe Tribune ccnmends
cent change IN the administration he nS sing State on
on the ground that has resulted IN the increased ooori aud
happiness OF the prisoners
Is there any honesty in this! Why are moi
the readers of the Courier permitted to see how
we connect this ''incrcased comfort and happiness
with "the firm and dignihcd department" of the
Matron. and her establishment of wholesome
discipline? 2" Do We intimate that they arc IN
dulred in disobediencc, disorder, or luxury, and
thus rendered happier! Is it not PLAIN that their
existence is rendered more tolcrabc because under
y firm government and ,oholcSome discipline, they
do not deserrc and of course do not receive so
much punishment us formerly And yet, on
the strength Of this suppression and pcrversicn,
the Courier proceeds to read US lecture on our
dangerous sympathy for felons and outcasts our
oppos,ion TO Capital Punishment, &c. &c.-as
serting that
The State Prison built for the punishment Of desperate
eS Who disturb IT'S peace and threaten is destruction lis
inmates robbers mdeIe 6ursaLs lncsndlorle. md tue
wage upon society and lis orderly and peaceabc elfs
Alter great deal more of this sort, the COur-
Ter thus scarihcs our sort of Philanthropy:
frcets entirely the great body Of good and vr,uous poo
pie who EMIT to the protection OF w and cssHtes
vices and crimes only forfeited all clam Ia the indulgence
and n 81 & Se p nS ene nn mnse @ cc
code in the world while shields the black and blood stained
villain from the reward OF hs deeds revc III the destruction
Of the innocent and vi,iuous
Now to all this fierce TRADE we put in gene
ral plea of Not Guilty, and proceed to specify in
our defence as follows
l. We do indeed believe that, with different
Society and Education, human beings might be
so trained or developed not to need the apph,
cation of stripes or iettcrs TO deter them which
these so not from outragcs on the lives or pro.
perty of their fellow ; but we understand full
well that persons trained under the influence OF
selfshness, violence and force, and living in the
midst of them, will need to be restrained by force
and terror from outrages on the rights Of others
We reverently appreciate the beauty and wisdom
of the Divine injunction TO put the new wine In
new bottlcs,' and have never proposed or advo
Gated any radical change in our modes Of punish
ing outrages on Property. Instead of advocating
the abolition or modification OF State Prison pun.
ishments, we are in favor of extending them to
the crimes of Adultery and Seduction. Such Is
our view of the question Of Punishmcnts True,
we would inflict no wanton pain on telons, for
We never heard of one reformed or rendered HARM
less (unless killed. by toTtures and we have little
faith in their deterrlng power; but we View the
wilful criminal as we do the lunatic, as one TO be
deprived of the power OF doing farther mischief.
Our basis for Prison Discipline is different from
that of most, but We do not differ essentially as
to the expediency of the ;hing itself.
3. But when We are accused OF forgetting
entirely The great body OF good and virtuous peo-
ple," and of "of shielding the black and blood,
stained villain from the reward of his Deeds" we
Indignantly repcl the accusation. We are firm.
ly opposed, on grounds of principle and policy,
to such capricous, fitiul justice as is generally
exercised by means OF our system OF alternate
punishments and pardons. We are opposed to
all pardoning except on the ground OF the essen
tial innocence or adequate punishment OF the
convict on whose behalf it is sought. On this
gronnd, while opposed to Capital Punishment, VIC
offended excellent friends by steadily refusing 10
petition for a communication OF the sentence oi
John c. Colt, or Go any thing calculated TO favor
snch communication. We never petitioned for
pardons, but in two instances, and one OF those
in defiance OF strong misgiyings-was for the
pardon Of the Editor OF the Courier and Enquirer,
then awaiting his removal 10 this very Sing Sing
Prison. We were only persuaded 10 do that by
urgent representations that he had received severe
and ample punishment in tic very act OF consiin-
mating his crime. Perhaps we were moved to
do wrong in tins case. But does !, now become
that same Courier and Enquirer 10 rcproach our
philanthropy as shielding the black and blood,
stained villain from the reward OF bus deeds, and
rcveling in the destruction OF the innocent ard
yrtuous7'