The North-Carolina standard., 1846-03-25
Fo- The NorIh CaroIlna Standard
The PcnitentEarY system. NO. g.

er. Here permit me TO remark that am of
the number who believe that "a large majority o:
those who violate the laws of society, and conse-
quentY receive the: penalties, may, by the exer-
else OF judcous influences, be redeemed from their
unhappy condition. However low and degraded
may be; however deep he may be sunk IN
vice and immortality, spark of that nobility with
which all have been endowed will remain, and
may be kinded into fame which will destroy the
ties that bind him to his corrupt waYs, and enable
him TO arise from his despised position But ma
nv of those who commit offences have not become,
By any means, settled in vice they violate the
laws from revenge, resentment fdleness or some
other accidental circumstance while their thoughts
and intentions not totally corrupt; these eSl-
IDENTITY may be operated upon with success. But
all experience shows that "prlSonS which nave
been conducted on the principle of retaliation have
everywhere multiplied felons, while those which
have been conducted on the principle OF rendering
a prison a school of moral reformation have thus
far succeeded beyond the anticipatons OF
their friends" If you desire 10 reform man, you
must operate upon his mind, upon the nober parts
of his nature. John Howard devoted years OF un-
firing industry and laborous research to punish
ment-especiallY to prisons the instruments OF
punishment-and he came to The conclusion that
"it is in vain to punish the wicked, unless you
seek to reclaim them"
Is Peniientiary calculated to reform the vi
eious2 Inthe first place, it weans them from their
wicked associations / need not remark upon the
influence which the companions of man exert
upon him. He often continues in a course OF con
duct which he would desert, were it not for them;
he fears their disaPproVal, their SCOTS aud Jeers
hence he often goes on, though his judgment may
convince him he is wrong. Iu PenilentiarY no
association or communication is permitted between
the inmates except perhaps few words about the
empfogm before them They have neither time
opportunity talk of their past lIves tell of
their various crimes and EXPLOITS and consequent
II strengthen each other in vice; the old and des
perate criminal cannot impaTt his spirit and render
yet more vicious the young and comparatively in
Docent offender. Prisons in common with no labor |
have been found TO be rather hotbeds than prevent
ives of crime; and against them has Eugene Sue
directed his battery with great skill and ability.
In his "MYsteries of Paris " he has portrayed with
a pencil of light and with the spirit of philan-
lhropist The effects of such a system and for one
l return him my thanks for The enlarged and liberal
views he has promuged. We shall gain much if
we succeed in weaving the offender from wicked
associations which we will unquestionabiy do if
walls Of The Penitentiary, and prevent him from
forming others WIthln-time his new situation
Will soon destroy all attachment for them and he
will also become estranged from the life he has led
We know that even the wicked become attached
TO their modes of life, and shat this attachment in
creases IN strength The they indulge them.
But when they are no longer permitted 10 follow
them and are surrounded bY new and favorable {
circumstances, they will be weaned efectualy
from them. s
Again: The prisoner, shut out from all society,
and left 10 the solitude of his thoughts, will
reflect seriously and imparliay upon his past life
With nothing for al least half his time divert his
attention, the voice of conscience, so long hushed
will again make itself be heard and tell 10 him the
errors of his he will perceive the wrongs
he has committed and the justice and propriety of n
his punishment and will be ethankfuI 10 society for RI
placing him in a position where the scales could f.
fall from his eyes and he could the deformity AZ
of his character in its true light In addition to ="
this, the sounds of the GOSPEL will fall week1H
y upon his ear; he will hear the glad tiGings of ~
peace and salvation; that Christ died for Sinners o,
and that, wicked and degraded he may be- he ss21
;an obtain forgiveness through His pardoning mer- -
~. His Bible-the book of books-wi i'll be his m
'ny companion in the reIiracy of his CELL and he r.
will turn over its leaves and read its blessed pre- m
'eptS- The bright homes and encouraging pros W,
'ects OF the chrlstan-happness earth and go- be
y IN heaVen,-and the awful and unquesIionable M
loom of the wicked-misery on earth and damna- NJ NJ
ION in the world to come,-wl be brought vividy to
'eiore his mind. Moreover, ministers Of the Cos e
'el and other pious persons will visit him in his mi
ell and endeaVor TO impress upon his mind the P
essons which he has been taught and 10 induce r.
I'm 10 leave the paths of and walk in those
virtue Is there not great probability that un- or
er such circumstances the guilty. will Weld and 49,
hange the tenor Of their lives do not pretend r
assert that all who may be subjected to these :; 6
ed in such an assertion Tn, tbs, ~1n were pLa
unshed, yea great many, may be reclaimed and L.
lade useful members of society e"'
nd ~ 49, -: "c'on WIN oe lhu@ht them VIII Yo
le time of their confinement exrires ard thew are -:
lrned out upon society, they will be enabled 10 .d
am for themselves honest living by The sweat
lneii OIo"S. III Is we'll known fact, that many *
e induced 10 offend by dleness that parent of
ces, and therefo it is highly proper that society
punishlng them should endeavor 10 remove
ese idle habits and cause them to love industry p
his can be accomplished 10 certain extent by crat
labor they will be required TO perform while in and
lsQn Ii Will present terror to them before thew Ma
e tnearceraIed but they will become babituated caI,
IL, and will regard it an alleviation of their q
Elshment. 1t may be said that no one will be onr,
sposed 10 countenance the liberated convict how ,i
uch SO ever ne may desire 10 change his course r
d walk uprlghuy. Men will certainly regard turn
m with suspicion al rst but when thew see him foo
living 10 do right, 10 be honest and industrious dnn
ey VIII lend him helping hand and cheer him r
10 MS course. In every community there are IN h.
me noble aud generous souls who delight in Ia;gI
tendIng assistance TO suffering but WORTHY of n
1ther. '"S Vi ~
In conclusion, We desire in PenItentiary. "bv p
oriety, cleanliness, and medical assistance bv in l.
'uar series of labor by solitary confinement dur
tne intervals OF work. and by Que religious in MOI
uctIon, to preserve and amend the health of the over
haPPy offenders, to inure them TO habits of in Y
;n, b tnenl rom pernIcIous company, to SheI
IN bo,b ,ba ;iI Ius Iehection, and to teach ton,
rIs;ian duty" VI 'E SeIo ~
shall 10 my next number consider more mar our ,
niarly the reasons why North Carolina should M A
GILES. reel
For The Nor,t c.--i;- r.
Ma EnrroD. u.;u ~ '0N ~ 0tanoaro' five
ders son,o - c " you Perhu me TO give your in ih
'o4Ha d Nutnal Insurance Company lately estab Hold