The North-Carolina standard., 1846-03-18
THE PENITENTIaRY QUESTION.


OIina. Commissioners were appointed to collect
Information upon the subject, and these Com.
missioners, consisting Of Messrs j. WinsIow, Fl.
Potter, and William Kirkland reported on the
26th day of November in favor of. such an In
stitution. On the 18th Of December the bill was
ably, discussed in the House 4of Commons BY
Messrs. Badger, Nash, King, Gilehrist, and others;
and the following vote is recorded by the Raleigh
Register (and copied into the Federal Republ-
can, printed at Newbern from which we take ii
upon motion made by Mr.. Badger to postpone
the bill indefinitely. Those who voted for indef-
mite postponement were: s-ex-I So s- 7.a4 -
Messrs. Joseph Allen, Jesse Allen, Bell, Brit
tain, BLACKWELL Badger, Boylan, Bryan, Colline,
Galloway, Cotton, Cherry, Carson, Davis, Dawson,
Drew, Dndy, Eastwood, Guyton, Glenn, Hamp-
Handy, HALEY, Jefreys, D. Jones, w. Jones, r.
H. Jones, Inge. S. Jones, r. Jones, Lowry Leigh
Mixson. Murcheson, Phagan, Pope, Prince, Rid
dick, Simmonds, Spencer, Settle, Slocumb, ST.
Clair, Webb, y. NJ. WaIker-50.i 5f5P
Those who voted against postponing were:
Adams, Alexander, S. A. Bryan, Browning,
Brown, Benton, Boon, Bateman, Blackman, Cow
an, Caldwell, Crump. Coleman, Craven, Chambers,
Cook, Joel Cherry, Dismukes, T. Deans, B. Deans,
sey, Hudgins, Hoke, Hoyle, Holt, Henderson, ia
cocks, VIM. Jones, (Perq) T. Jordan, King. Mills
MNairy, M'Neil, Morrison, M'Daniel, Moseley,
Martin, Moore, MCorkle, Mathis, Nelson, Nash,
O'Kelly, O'BIyan, Pickett Pigot, Pearsall, Par
rish, Porter, Phifer, Ryan, Randle, D. Ricks Sell
lers, Stephenson, Stewart, Smith, StaIling Tror-
man, Thomas, Tyson, Vines j. OK. Williams,
J. c. Williams, L. D. Wilson, 2Weich, j. Wilson,
Ward, T. H. Walker, Winslow-75. .a @k
The bill finally passed the House, but was lost
in the Senate.
Mr.. Badger served this session in The House
from the town of Newbern--the only session he
ever served. The Comnoners from Wake were
William BoyIan and Seth Jones, Esqulres.
We subioin the Report Of the Commissioners
REPORT ON THE PENITENTIARY.s essysa
Mr. WinsIoi0 presented the following report;
The undersigned, commissioners" appointed to
collect information upon the subject Of peniten-
iary beg leave to report the result OF their abors
They have 10 regret that on some Of the points
of enquiry, their Information is incomplete: but If
enough is collected on which to form opinion as
to the expediency and policy of establishing such
Institution the necessary details can easily be
procured in due time. They addressed a circular
to each of the clerks of the superior and county
courts of this stale, requesting lists of criminal
prosecutions for the last FIVE years; but, of one
hundred and twenty-three clerks, sixty -four only
have made returns. These returns have been re-
d1ced TO method, and are now presented in the
shape of an abstract, giving several views of the
subject: and although the number of returns is
greatly deficient, yet the Tatio II is presumed ex-
hIDltS reSun,t every pracucat use the present
subject, as satisfactory as the whole would do.
The commissioners addressed letters TO Massa-
chusetts aud Kentucky, making minute enquiries
ON the subject OF The penilentiary in these states
and requesting be furnished with plans and with
reports of their Proceedings: but answer has
yet come 10 hand. To SIMILAR address, howeV-
.er, to gentleman of Richmond, in the state of
Virginia, prompt and satisfactory answer was
given in which the keeper, who makes the COM
municatIon, and who appears 10 be very oblIging
and intelligent man, expresses an expectation Of
visiting. shortly all the PenentlarIes IN the north
states, and offers, his return, 10 furnish the
state with an improved plan, should il be desired
This letter and statements, and the plan accompa-
nying them, will be found interesting and useful.
gentleman has politely put INTO the hands OF
the commissioners, for their inspection, draft OF
the state prison aud penitentiary OF New Jersey;
which it Is believed would afford useful hints
In the structure of one in this state. And they
have been furnished with an elegant plan drawn
by VIM. Nichols, professional architect Of Eden
ton, in this state, together with some remarks and
explanations and an offer Of his services, should
the measure be adopted 49, E. q
The commissioners wishing the state TO avail
herself Of the best possible plan in point of conve
nIence, durability and comfort, forbear at this
time TO recommend any specific form or size for
the building from belief Iha: much aid may here
after be derived from the practical Information Of
the keeper OF the state prison Richmond, and
probably from the states of Kentucky and
Massachusetts. And as to the prices Of the ne
cessarY materials for building, the commissioners
are unable to give any precise account, for since
the receipt of the plans, by which they Intormed OF
the kind of materials proper FOR such work. they
have had no opportunity of satisfying themselves
on this part of the subject, and cannot, for the
same reason furnish the relative cost of building
at Hillsborough, Raleigh and Fayetteville. But
they are satisfied the houses and walls should be
built of stone brick and if of the latter, still
would be required for the caps and sills
at least
From ali the information the commissioners have
been able foprocure, and from their own refiec-
tions deliberately exercised on the subject, they
sand dollars would be suficient TO erect such an
igence, population and public expectation in this
state. If HAe sum were SO appropriated as to be
advanced by annual instalmenls of twenty thou
sand dollars, the burthens, ii is respectfully sub
mitted, would scarcely be felt and the advances
would be as fast probably, as the money could be
2roftabIy laid out. Thus, in FIVE years, the whole
work might be completed But the plan should be
so formed that one part of the buildings n light
be finished for reception of criminals, and for the
usual operations of the institution while the other
Is progressing. ...=-5 ~
Here follows detail of the papers accompany
ing the report, with account of the expences
ascsrtained be incurred in collecting information,
amounting to $l73 cents.
The commissioners have now laid before your
honorable body all the information they possess on
this important subject; hut they cannot conclude
their report without IndulgIng for moment IN the
expression of solicitude for suffering humanity.
If to meliorate the condition of wretched man De
an object worthy of legislative employment; IL