New-York daily tribune., 1846-12-26
Prison Discipline.

To Ike Ocrs and Members Of the " Y Prison Association
RESPECTED FRIENDS: The Philadelphia Society
for Aevisting the Mseres of Public Prisons gratefully
acknowledges the reception Jour kind and courteous
invitation 10 attend the anniversary meeting of you. be
nevolsn and useful Association be held in the city of
NewYork on the o2d of this month They have accord
ngy appointed three o their officers TO proceed to your
civ, 10 congratulate and counsel with you-namely
Prof c. D Cleveland and Wm 2. Fouike and George
w. Smith, Esqrs.
They have heard with increased qualification the re-
sui, OF your Jealous abors in the improvement OF pris
ons and in TIE attention to prisoners after their discharge
Fellow aborers in the same they trust that your
efforts may continue be prosecuted with energy and
crowned with success
The ssDzyG,ioa Of prisoners from communicating nAu
euces and carefully training them by means OF Judi
cious instruction form portion OF the discipline OF
every prison where reformation IS regarded The Phila
delphia Society Aueviatng the Miseries OF Pubic
Prisons than hfty years ago was convinced tna
evil association corrupts good ulo-as so such asso-
ciaton wcali De deleteriors in increased measure
within the walls Of prison. They inferred, thai ca
reer in sin might be retzred and N many cases ter
minated By rsTnorEs o1racr from ne soeeg q the
cked and associcne kn e-ciHsfrely eia IKE fneHysa
cRd r:-tucus They have never desired much less al
tempted, the separation OF PRISONER from a.! society
nor has such plan ever been sahcaoTsa al any ...e
tha, man as social being requires intercourse with
his fellow men sad rhst ne also requires retirement TO
his chamber where be may commune with MS con-
science and his Maker alone. Iney cannot conceive
that intercourse either verbal By sgrs looks with
herd of corrupt coavcts be beneficial far less
serAl 70 either he bodily mental, spiritual health
of prisoner while in confinement They canno;
ceve thar society Il dur! 10 couvIcs 70 INTRO
drce them 10 each other; 20 compel them 20 form an
acquaintance which, once formed may never De forgot
ten; 81 e-sca;rtsnce which May e1tnzgish II their
rfpy M 4af
which inevitably subjects the penrent 20 he ssd corse
Gusnces of RECOGNITION and sinoss inevitably establishes
in the bosom of society permanent hand OF disciplined
offenders. bound together BY communion OF know
Ledge OF the persons and character OF each other.
Such zre some Of The reasons WnicH induced tne1 70
Introduce the Sprr1k a 10 tse tsSofGote nocce oil
TIE punc and all TIER experience has confirmed the-
opiniors The term soiic-y confinement nss been AZ
unfortunate r,isnoner fc- the prisoners Il weregu-
lA:ed prisons on the s.e system eave al least as
much aisrcorrs not indeed wItn each other bur with
those who are appointed aud permitted to vist them,
as ,sy De founa IA prisons on the Associated System
and fsr more than q siruted 70 eNst N tee !Aef oT
many Of il supporters. Where s1cn intercourse Ii
found 70 Be insnHc:ea, il must be attributed not 70 an
inherent and ascpsraole defect N the separate system
but to defects in the administration which should be
reuedied and which they as well as your AssocAt!on
unite IN condcnning.
Signed n hekalf Of the Phlade.phis Society for Ale
visrns the M:series of Public prisonl.
GEORGE WILLIAMS, President,
james J. BLscLAY. tyi.. pra,,s.nr.
CHlA. Ss 2 DErSs,
mhiiAa sInoir lsecrsssr:ss
GEoasE w. SAr-H.
PsiaaassaiH 0=F y, 1sss,