The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-10-02

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does not see proper to institute the proper
inquiries, or, 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, reinquish the fine and per-
nit him TO go at large. 10 consequence,
large numbers, preying upon society IN
the way OF petty larceny, or inlerrupllng
its peace and harmony by drunken riots
in our streets, are found in our midst.
That the establishment of a House of
Correction is necessary TO the proper reg.
ulation OF our Poor Houses, seeme 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
10 want by idIeness and vice. The Poor
House should be supported exclusively
tor such, as, because OF age or unavoidable
misfortune, are unable TO support them
selves. A generous community would re.
gard such as fit obi ects of liberia charity.
The simple wants OF such can be easily
and cheapy supplied by each town. But
where the virluous and the vicious, the
deserving and The undeserving, the order>
ly and the dlsOrdery are crowded into the
same receptacle, it is impossible in the
treatment OF the inmates TO make any such
distinction as is necessary for the comfort
Of the one class, or the proper discipline
of the other. Our Poor Houses, as at
resent regulated, are at once A Inns Houses
and Houses of Correction, while from the
very nature Of the case, they cannot an
swer the purpose of the one or the other.
Furthermore, the support Of an establish
ment requisite for the restraint and disoi-
pline OF the idle and vicious requires an
expense vastly dsproportionae to the mum.
Der Of such in each town.
BY House of CORRECTION, we mean
County establishment, so regulated as 10
enlb'e society TO contGne, for proper pc
RODS of time AT WORK AND UNDER SUIT
ABLE MORAL AND RELIGIOUS INFLUENC>
Es, all such petty offenders as are now
punishable by Imprisonment in the com>
mon jail together with such as, being com.
mon drunkatds, Migrants and such like,
are nuisance and OF evil example in COM
munltv.
1t is confidently believed that such an
establishment, with such an alteration OF
our criminal laws as to enable our courts
to sentence to confinement therein, while
it would furnish fit receptacle not only
for all offenders punishable by imprson-
ment in he common jail, but also for ma
nv others guilty of petty Offences overlook
ed by our laws, (nmong whom we would
place first and foremost cOmmon drunk
ards) and while it would place all such
under wholesome restraint, atfordng an
opportunity TO reclaim them from vice and
correct their evil habits, thus contributing
10 good order in society aud to the proven
ton OF crime and paupersm, would at the
same time relieve society from the chief if
not the entire, expense their punishment
and reformation.
1t is true, that our Poor Houses, as at
present regulated. are intended 10 be
Houses of Correction. Il is furthermore
true, that any number Of towns may unite
for the support of Poor House. Il is
believed however, that our Poor Houses
are wholly inadequate to meet the wants
of community. Ii is sufficient to notice,
that no power is any where lodged 10 sen
tence 10 confinement in our Poor Houses.
The overseer Of the Poor has genera
underlined power in some cases to confne
10 labor therein, but such power is 50 gen.
erai aod underlined as TO render its exer-
else of doubtful expediency, aud in some !
cases wholly inadmissibIe.
Again. Poor Houses erected by more |
towns than one united, being chiefly for
the support OF such as are, In the strict
sense of the word, p0upers, the proper ad,
justment of the expenses among the towns,
parties TO such union, is a mater Of so diff |
ficult attainment, that towns can not be |
procured voluntarily 10 associate, or when
associated, to continue so, for the support
OF Poor House.
1t is confidently believed for the orego>
ing reasons, that the wants of community,
as regards the support Of the Poor and the
punishment of petty offenders, demand
new legislation, The undersigned would
therefore respectfully request The Public
Authorities Of the various towns in the
County Of Windsor to meet at the Inn of
SAMUEL WHITNEY in Woodstock on Fri
day the 1911 day Of Sept, inst. at 10
O'Clock, A NJ, TO confer on the subject
matter Of this communication, and to con-
cert such measures as then and there may
be deemed advisable !c bring the subject
before The next Legislature Aud for the
purpose of collecting such statistical infor-
nation as may throw light on the whole
subject, the undersigned would respectful
ly and earnestly request, that answers to
the annexed questions be made and brought
10 the proposed meeting, or forwarded 10
the undersigned
SAM'L II. PRIcE,
s. E. ROBBINS, : Committee
THos. f HAMMOND.