Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-05-08
PRISON REFORM.

oihASN
PRISON REFORM.
We are certain that our readers will read
the following incident with great pleasure.-
1t is from the pen of that highly gifted wri-
ter, Mrs. Child. Would to heaven we could
witness more of such experiments. Who
knows but the day may come when dungeons
and chains may be wholly laid aside. When
too, the gallows shall no longer be known
throughout the world. Thank heaven, socie-
ty is beginning to realize the great truth that
the criminal Is a man and a brother. But we
leave this beautiful and touching incident to
speak for itself.-PrisOner's Friend.
"a new State Prison is being built near
Plattsburgh, for the purpose OF employing
c%onvicts in the iron mines. When this sub
ject was first undertaken, the men prisoners
at Sing Sing were called together and In
formed of the nature of the enterprise.
"They were told that the labor Of quarry
ing stone, telling timber, &c., would be very
severe; that their condition would render 1t
necessary for them to travel chained, and
work chained. Those who were willing to
encounter these hardships were requested to
hold up their hands. The plan was adopted
in order to secure laborers of stout heart, and
those who were least adverse to the proposed
task. But as the prisoners listened, a vision
of the broad blue heavens looked on them
kindly, and the green boughs Of the forest
beckoned cheerfully. The absence of onclos-
ing walls was Indictment strong enough for
any amount of toll and they all held up
their hands. AS it was impossible to take
them all, the necessary number was chosen
from those most likely to endure fatigue
THAR nlann sc I1a.. -t.,, No Iptll-
ing more secure than woodland ,shantee: they
were chained to the floor during the night,
and through the day they worked in iron fet-
tiers. But there are stronger bands than these.
MIR. Cook. their superintendent, treated them
like a brother. Nationally and kindly he ex-
planned to them that none of the restraints
imposed on them were from vindictive mo-
tlves, that he sincerely desired to do them
good, and would gladly enlarge their freedom
If he felt confident that they deserved it.
He proved the truth of his words by deeds.
tie was careful to hold the scales of justice
with an even hand, and as far as his official
duty permitted, he attended to the little wants
OF each individual Good behaviour was re-
warded with increased marks of confidence.
Under this influence, it soon became evil
dent that they might be trusted at their daily
labor without shackles; and as this had a sal
utary effect, chains in the night were after
wards dispensed with, also. One hundred
and eighty c~onvicts were in the shantee in
the woods, and only four keepers to guard
them. Did they feel inclined to abuse the
confidence bestowed on them? Four or five
OF the most desperate ~ruffians did /; they tried
to seduce the others into a plan of escape
Had they been pinioned and chained, and
driven by mere brute force, they would pro-
baby have tried the experiment, even at the
price of murder. But they had been treated
like men, some of them perhaps for the first
time IN their lives and this aroused the man.
hood In them. They saw that their captivi-
ty was occasioned by their own errors-thai
there was a sincere wish 10 lead them out Of
ms captivity and TO do them good. Not
wlthstanding their immense superiority Of
numbers, they were not tempted 10 deceive
The man who had treated them like a broth
er, and who had showed them that he dared
to trust them. He had a voluntary guard OF
one hundred and seventy-fve men, bound 10
MIN by respect and gratitude. Yet these
same men have doubtless knocked down pc.
lice officers, and might do il again should
they fall into their hands because the usual
mode OF proceeding excites the tigerhood in
stead OF the manhood in them. 1t is in vain
to call upon criminals TO respect those in au.
thorlty. Character alone demands it. When
"a thief is sent to catch a thief the criminal
does not perceive very clearly, through this
appointed medium, that government is or
dalned of God. The chaplain of one of ouI
prisons asked one of the convicts, 'Wha
brought you here?'
Two %sheriffs,' was the %laconic answer.
II mean what brought you into prison
said the chaplain: Had liquor nothing to dc
with it?'
YES, they were both drunk was the
shrewd reply.