Weekly national intelligencer., 1845-11-22

tends 70 blunt the moral scspbaliss ~ 49,. -, A..
cipine Of the dispositions and * a. habl n r,is~ ~
GERS are too severe 70 be psEnlg = sp1ssa over wboI.
le five ten years, without inefvaL - rI,s,~ ~ @
period loI holding these Offices lie keepers sol s
on would really prove advantageous 70 he insiudon
Nor can wercfrain from extracting tie followi,,o
sentences, which appear n rs 10 breathe tie verv
philosophy Of the subject in words Of the purcst
and best directed beneyolence
"I is desirable that penten.ares shouid not bc cost 10
Government on the other hand they should not be source
q profit II the mechanic arts can 10 conducted with such
diligence and success to exceed the demand for the prison
penses would be well to apply the surplus to increasing the
means Of moral and general instruction for Tho prisoners by
esablsng and maintaining libraries Of well chosen books by
multiplying discreet and earnest teachers and by appoon
ing part Of overy day for giving and receiving instruction.
considerable has been derived prisons by
admission money! that is receiving the entrance the sum
q twenty-five cents each, from yisiters This
should not be allowed None but official ycs and persons
who visit prisons for some definite objects connected with the
adminisratonof these estabhmcn and such Of the rela
lives friends Of the prisoner BY law have the liberty
be admitted, ought 70 DO received All who so crafty
mere curiosity to the place. and TO how the prisoners
look, should be excluded The effect Of this nLiscrinratc
exposure upon the prisoner is bad or If il does not nure
him. only proves that he hardened in guilt and SO de-
based that IN being made spectacle for the qualification
the ougtess and the curious he Is willing his degradation
should bc public his life has been debased Of this class
there not many y ss s<a
81 believe the best mode Of aiding coycts SO 10 appor
ton their tasks in prison as @ give 70 tho industrious tie OPP
porunty Of earning for themselves BY sover-work
usually values that most for which lie has ahoe he uses
that most ugay which e has oed hour by hour md day by
day to acquire believe every convict viii disposed
make better Of the money he than OF thai lie re-
ceives gfaulousy He who work. his maintenance has
higher Of self respect than he who receives his SUPPORT
from others No man is quickly and certainly brought
low N his own Or others esteem as the common pauper In
duged habits Of dependence habits OF dolence and
Incidence opens the portal TO petty errors many degrading
habits and to vice and crm with their attendant Tain Of
mseries."
sWhile diminish the stimulant Of fear we must in
crease 70 prisoners the indictments Of hope. proportion as
exnguish the te7ors Of the law should awaken and
strengthen the control Of the Wle governed by
humanity place the prisoner under the cwest possible
srants and multiply the decent comforts Of well ordcred
life, must impress him with their value as to
dsplace habits Of ndolence and personal neglect is not
made better by being degraded he is seldom restrained from
crime by harsh except the principle Of fear prcom
mates his character and then he radically
better for its influence. ~
81 earnestly plead for mild In governing the bad
the corrupt and not the less urgently because il the
ects Of social organzao 70 the multiplied and multiply
ing temptations CRIME, fact il is wealth aud pros
perity, and very civilization that chiefly owe the
increase Of evdoes In the exercise Of mercy
have sway, but mercy comDingled with morbid sesbiies
and unholesome uniimey sympathy the njudcious indu
gence Of these false sentiments tends establish the criminal
in criminal purposes and to confirm tho vicious
propensies." !"
There is nothing connected with our subject
which appears to demand such earnest and instant
consideration and correction the great extent, we
had almost said abuse to which the pardoning pow
er has been lately exered. Miss DIxs observations
are most forcible and correct
Crimes says Monesquieu, are more frequently pre-
vented by the certainty than by the severity of punishment
Of what is it to enact laws for the security of
ciey to institute Of justice for the execution Of them
to organize active police force and establish municipal
guaons Of what construct county prisons and build
pententaes arrests, ndtas and conyictions and
sentences frequently followed BY unconditional pardons
have produced throughout country such assured
lief amongst all Glasses Of offenders that many chances
favor of their escape from condgn punishment even the
event Of arrest trial. and conviction So frequently and IN
discriminatory has the paoning power been exercised
many Of the States during the last twenty years. that nothing
the bold and soaden q = ses s
larsemen Either friends have promised to in,ercede or
legal advisers have encouraged the dea reliance the
sanguine and the prisoner goes cell or the
workshop, in frame Of mind obey the rules Of the
prison. disposed to apply himself assigned employ ments
not directing his thoughts TO repentance and future good pur
pose but determined 10 resist Wholesome Influences and
tvae indifference obstinacy. speak Of the ma6iity Of
conycis there always exceptions there some who
confirmed in criminal habits and who have committed
felonies while under peculiar trials and temptations The
claims Of these mercifu consideration should not put
aside to make place for opportunities in lavor Of the bascs
Of offenders. ~
The wardens Of the prisons have years testified agais,
the extreme and njucious exercise of the parong
increasing, il does in the PRISONS the difficulty Of subord-
nation and ndspesng the prisoners TO learn the several trades
al which they placed in manner produce mcrchantabe
work The courts have consuc, and communities have re-
marked upon this abuse Of executive power bot notwit-
standing is that these favored convcts cases
either return their criminal practices, fail establish
themselves useful citizens the evil though diminishing the
five years. seriously affecting the peace and morals
Of society large call for something effective than
the expression Of public opinion.
The restraining influence Of penal justice destroyed by
the frequency of pardons The Jo OF doubtful purposes
and character thus benefited the of The mann and
the best interests Of the public Laws which continually
set aside, dcrded and sentences continually reversed
bring the dignity and authority OF the highest Of Justice
into contempt Let tho periods Of sentence except for wil-
ul MURDER be shortened by the judges but let hc unless
in extreme cases, be served out. sa M ss
ain nearly ALL Of some hundred examples, which have
my knowledge, the pardoned cup has not become
the upright citizen, and in many cases, the lapse Of few
months weeks, days cvcn finds the offender pursuing
his accustomed career Of vice and crnc.' 60 81
The following is an enumeration Of pardons and
remissions of sentences at some Of the principal
penitentiaries, &c.:
s Conyicts Psrdoned.
Ohio Pcnitentiary. $50. lsf3. 400. .45
lS44........ 80 q
Massachusetts Prison.. 1910. ~. .322 .....14 t
Maine State Prison. !. ls24 10 1912 ..7sI ...1I9
| Vermont do .-IsA. ..-..l.. .6T,....1I
| New Hampshire Prison. Is40. ..... .7s.....4 &
E 1871 "a. ......7 =
@ 1912. o.. .....3 "
Il