Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-10-09

The Legislature Of this state assembled to-day,
(Thursday,) at Montpelier. There will probably be
several exciting topics brought upon the taps during
the session. First will the election Tor Govern
or and other State Officers. Then the discussion with
view 10 alter repeal the law OF last year, providing
for the election of County Commissioners to regulate
Licences. The discussion the subject Of amending
the Central Railroad Charter will create small de-
gree of sensation, we opine Then there will come
up from Windsor County the question Of establishing
House Of Correction, which certain individuals Of
said county wish to have among them for the follow
ing, among other reasons;
I" To put under proper restraint and dicipEne the
idle and vicious.
"To avoid the expense and bad effects Of imprison-
ment in the common jail-and
"To better regulate our Poor Houses by removing
thererom all except those who, because OF age, or IN
trinity, are unable TO earn their support. 80
'By an examination of our Statute laws Il will be
found, that very large number OF offences are MADE
punishable either BY imprisonment in the common jail,
or by ine in some both these penalties may be
inflicted the cuprh in all Of fine being liable TO
imprisonment in the common Jail until the sentence OF
the court is complied with.
snow, punishment by Imprisonment in the common
jail would seem 70 be subject 10 very strong objections
some Of which we will enumerate:
'I 1t is not in its nature calculated TO produce the
desired effect upon the offender. Placing the offender
only on level with the unfortunate debtor, Il does
not deter from crimes and excluding him from the salu-
tary effects of exercise and employment and subecng
him to all tne degrading effects Of morose feeling, IL
-sVrs Hvt n VtfSse CT sJOfTsusfV'.
&c., Not required 10 do aRy thing for his own sup
port the punishment Of the criminal, IN this way, is
only burden 10 society. Society is thus subjected
double burden, that Of the crime and also that Of the
punishment.
u.s. Its operation in this latter respect lends 10 pre-
gent the punishment of me criminal Rather than IN
eur the expense Of his conviction and Imprisonment
ciety prefers to permit the criminal TO escape punish
men This s very frequently true IN cases where the
fine goes to the town. The prosecuting oheer does
not see proper institute the proper inquiries, the
offender having been committed for want OF ability TO
pay his fine the town authorities, at an early date and
TO prevent further expense in the way OF his support
relinquish the fine and permit him 10 go at large In
consequence large numbers, proving upon society in
the way of petty larceny nterrupting its peace and
harmony by drunken riots on our streets, are found in
midst
"rhat the establishment OF House Of Correction is
necessary the proper regulations of our Poor Hous
to be true from the consideration, that by law
and in practice the Poor House is made the recipient
not only OF fit subjects of charity, but also OF those
who are reduced to want by dieness and vice. The
Poor House should be supported exclusively for such,
as, because Of age unavoidable misfortune,
bic to support themselves. generous community
would regard such fit objects Of liberal charity
The simple wants Of such can be easily and cheaply
supplied by each town. But where the virtuous and
vicious the deserving and the undeservng, the orderly
and the disorderly crowded into the recepta
be il is impossible in the of the inmates
make any such distinction as is necessary for the
fort Of the class, the proper discipline of the 9TH
cr Our Poor Houses as at present regulated, are at
once Aims Houses and Houses OF Correction, while
from the very nature Of the case, they cannot
the. purpose of the the other. Furthermore,
the support Of an establishment requisite for the
straint and discipline of the idle and vicious requires
expense vastly dsproporionate 10 the number of such
in each town.
"By House Of Correction we mean County es-
tablishment regulated TO enable society 10 con-
fine lsaF raato q
SUITABLE MoRALAND RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE, all such
petty offenders are now punishable by imprisonment
in the common Jail together with such as, being
mon drunkards Migrants and such like, nuisance
and Of evil example in community.
alt is confidently believed that such establishment
with such alteration Of criminal laws TO ena-
BILE courts sentence To confinement therein while
il wond furnish fiji receptacle not only for all Offend
Punishable by imprisonment in the common jail but
also for many Others guilty Of petty offences overlook
ed by our laws (among whom we would place first and
foremost common drunkards) and while il would place
all such under Wholesome restraint, aordng oppor
tunity reclaim them from vice and their evil
habits, thus contributing to good order in society and
to the prevention of crime and pauperism, would
the time relieve society from the chief If the
entire, expense OF their punishment and reformation
SIT is true, that Poor Houses, present reg
ulated, intended TO be Houses of Correction. tits
furthermore true, that any number OF towns may unite
for the support Of Poor Pouse II is believed how
ever, that our Poor houses wholly inadequate TO
meet the wants Of community. II is sufficient TO no.
tce that power is any where lodged TO sentence
confinement in our Poor Houses The overseer of the
Pour has general underlined power in cases 10
confne to labor therein but such power is general
and underlined TO render its exercise Of doubtful
pediency and in some wholly inadmissble
"Again. Poor Houses, erected by more towns than
one, united, being chiefly for the support ofsuch
in the strict Of the word paupers The proper ad-
justment of the expenses among the towns, parties
such union is matter of so difficult attainment that
towns cannot be procured voluntarily associate or
when associated to continue So Tor the support of
Poor House.
at is confidently believed for the foregoing reasons
that the wants Of community, regards the support of
the Poor and the punishment of petty Offenders de-
maDd new legislation.
SAM'L II. PRICE,
S. E. ROBBINS, Committee.
THO'S F. HAMMOND, y
Windsor September 8, 1s45.