New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-02-27

Prison Discipline.
We give below some farther extracts from the
Report OF NJ. Cook, Agent of the new State Prison
commencing them TO the serious and earnest ailen
ZION Of the whole community.
COMPENSATION oy PR1soS.KEEPERs-THEin QUAIL
yrrATroxs-rhe salary provided by law Tor the assist
an, keepers in This Prison s only four auncreo ooars
year with pcrquisites or other compensation wHal
ever This, their duties require thelr attenaance
every dsy in the year amounts 10 one dollar ano zen
rents Gay a insufficient 10 secure the services OF
any mechanic In the yard AZ both the other prisons
the game officers receive FIVE hundred and htty dollars
wear This distinction invidous, Is II must De
evident to ALL that their dcprvations are greater shG
ties arduous here than at the otne! prisons
all are surrounded by the comforts OF NE ana nave
,.ens of aerurnc the convcts The Keepers are mere
necessarily duty fifteen hours Oh eacn aay aiu W.
the nrison shall be- finished and the manufacture OF IRON
commenced IA business requiring prosecutor uo'u nsu
80 a., tbcr dptles will still be la5oHous than
those Of the same officers at the other PRISONS mere
fore If difference be made IN their compensation II
shoud be 10 favor the keepers mere during the past
s,oner four assistant keepers nave resigned their ap
Dointuents and left the place on account OF the neager
,npensaon for such labO!ious duties those appoint
ID m suuDly their places decline permauent engage
mont upt The sense OF the Legislature can be obtained
on the gubecl An ardent devotion TO the success OF he
undertaking, the general harmony prevailne among
tbsr and reliance upon the Justice OF the Legislature,
have sustained them thus far but not one oil them VIII
remain for the salary paid them 1T present Cndef
these circumstances Il Ia evident mat eutaoe men can
1t hp
is not satisfactory 10 this request mat
l.rrs number OF ROBUST DC employed LOT the
compensation now allowed. Mucn more Is requisite IN
kerper than capacity for gOading an OK or beating
nurse although experience teaches us, that men nave
horn TOO often appointed these stations, who were u
qualified 10 govern even brutes. appointed 10 Walcn
over and control the and violent passions OF Others
when they possessed passions equally Degrading anu
h,d never learned 10 control themselves. Many sucn
have seemed ~ entertain oGy the idea, tnat convicts
were them to be tortured ana ne VINO inuicteo
II with the greatest severity most faithfully discharged
his duty. No matter how much labor treasure ana
thought may be expended IN establishing our pehiieh'
,ary system its must after all depend on tnose
having IL in charge The keepers should therefore, iuy
an,rec,, th. objects of cur system Of punishment
They should possess tact Kindness, intelligence Hi-
ness and self possession Their mental and moral quail
6catious should be such secure the respect ano
esteem OF the convcis without hcee no oenehcia e.
suits will follow their supervision and discipline AS
talent can generally command It's worth sucn men can
not be obtained for the compensation mere allowed
KINDNESS Vs. CRUELTT-lt may again be urged as 1t
reoueny has been that force and severity are the only
Requisites in prison discipline; that, the mild treatment
OF convicts and full supply OF good provisions are cal
cu!ated increase the commission oil crime py renoer'
ing our commentaries desirable residences rather than
places of punishment
But with al! due respect those who make this OBJ
lection the DOUBT may be modesuy INDUCED, whether
,ynca knowledge oil human nature, proiundity OF
thought sodity OF argument Regardless OF the uni
form experience OF man the argument would sui strive
10 produce the reformation OF offenders by the severity
of their punishment II sso contains contradiction Of
Itself admitting the influence OF the Kindness con-
demns while it supposcs the state OF society IN our
country so utolarablc ihet the honest would voluntarily
become criminals and leave it TO enjoy the blessings Of
humanity in state Prison.
when il is found that in the world AT large violence
secures esteem cruelty WINS eDde, and torture cor
reefs the errors OF the sufferer, it may reasonably
be Inferred that moral propenstcs may be beaten into
the heads OF conycts with cUdgcls.
The convict well knows that by his sentence he is de
graded as fcon OFF from society, and stripped OF
his right OF citizenship That he to be confined given
number years hard labor without Zee or reward
All this he knows he must bear and he very naturally
feels that his punishment is sufficiently But he
also knows that cold hunger unnecessary hageilaton
aud all cruelty, however inflicted, form no part OF his
sentence When therefore, be those In authority
inictne tortures which his hardened nature
volts he readily concludes that himself though ielon
is better than his keeper, who holds responsible
office This conclusion leads him To the conviction that
merit without its reward and promotion is obtained by
villany belief that the world is bad or worse than
himself; that he is victim of oppression rather than
subject of penitenary REFORM is adopted An lnl
patience orestraint and hatred Of ali law and IFS officers
speedily follows lie consequently leaves the prison
much than he entered IL at war with his race and
urged by desire of avcneng his former injuries
His subsequent conviction and return TO the prison,
which soon follows his discharge, is then triumphnnty
urged rs proof that he mcritcd the cruelties inflicted
and even much This routine of severity OF disci
pine discharges from prison and subsequent convic-
ons instead OF awakening suspicion MS to the correct
OF the policy pursued seems only TO nave conhrine
s dyocates in conviction OF its Justice TO ave rem
dercd keepers cslous aud tho public more indlt
ercnt.
Tina, the power OF kindness the strongest known 10
human nature. is sensbly felt and too well under
stood by all To be taught new discovered truth
Under lis benign and soening influence vice is abashed
erocy tanned and voluntarily lays down his lie Tor
his friend When il can be shown that harshncss and
cruelty are capable OF producing the same results we
may lind an excuse discussing the proprety of adopt
ing the one the other system in prison discipline *
CLERICAL Wit" If we go 10 war, lather,
said bright eyed boy the Other day his clerical pa
rent, from what part of the Bible shall you get the
text for new q The COED minister being taken
by surprise at the question thought moment and then
smoothing the locks OF the child with sort OF paiernai
pride answered that he believed would be from Lam
cntd{ons Boston Transcript
sales nj the stock Exchange. Feb. 70.
10000 Penn Sc. GODS III 800 Nor Wor.--..-. IS
5000 do. $50 7lil75 do.--------.b3 IS
1000 Ohio 6s, TO-. 80! IS do..--.s3 %