New-York daily tribune., 1846-01-16
Prison Discipline.

We are pleased with the terms in which Gov.
Briggs refers to the management Of the Massachu-
sets State Prison. His commedaton is the more
honorable in consideration of the fact that the W"r
den is political opponent having been appoiJ''
during the temporary ascendancy in that State OF the
Loco-Focos. A few weeks ago we visited that in
s;tution in company with one OF the Matrons OF the
Female Prison AT Sing Sing, and were impressed by
what we saw and heard with conviction that Mr.
Robinson is admirably qualified by his thorough ac
quaintance with human nature, his kindly deport-
ment aud wise sympathy with the erring and un-
fortunate TO fulfil the high duties OF his station. He
entered the Prison soon after his predecessor had
been murdered by prisoner in open day, when the
temptation 10 adopt rigorous and severe course
of discipline would have been too strong for one
who had less faith than himself in the susceptibility
to improvement of even the worst Of criminals So
far from endeavoring to rePress the risngs of dis
content by restricting still the few privileges
enjoyed by the inmates of the Prison, he manifested
toward them degree of kindness and compassion
which at once secured their respect and confidence
and thus laid the only solid foundation for proper
system of diseipline-a system which looks to the
reform of the prisoner not something opposed 10
the welfare of the State, but identical with it,
least indispensabeto its complete security. The
of supposng that the interests of Society are incon-
sistent with the mode of treatment adapted TO work
a proper change in the moral character of the in
mates of our Prisons has sometimes led to cruelties
in contemplation of which the mind of every humane
person must be filled with indignation and sorrow
and, although in the general progress of the human
mind better and more enlightened views are begin
ming prevail this error is not yet entirely exploded.
In Mr.. Robinsons mind, however, it has no place;
and we were delighted by the information that his
faith in the magic influence of Kindness and Love
when exercised toward those whom Society, from
regard TO its own safety, deprives OF their liberty,
had been strengthened and confirmed by the expe-
rience of years There are thousand ways in which
! the Superintendent of Prison, without any sudden
or startling change in the forms of discipline, may
win the esteem-aye, the lore of those placed under
his care; and when this has been done the work of
Reform has been relieved of its main difficulty
As we moved about in the workshops of the Mas
sachuse;ts Prison we were struck with the apparen,
cheerlunefs OF the inmates. Except their dress
there was nothing in their external appearance 10
indicate their situation, and but for the stripes of
red and white in their garments might have sup
posed that standing in the presence OF
company of laborers on whose movements there
was no other restraint than that which was selfim-
posed When we mentioned this pleasing circum-
stance 20 the keeper, he remarked that great
change in the demeanor Of the prisoners had been
produced by aboshing the old rule which prohibit.
cd Them IRON looking up from their work in the pre-
sence OF strangers. Under that absurd rule-absurd
If for no other reason, because il could not be en-
torced-'he prisoners wore sheepish, downcas,
look. and were constantly stealing glances at viscrs
in way which tended to destroy in them all re-
mains of selfrespect. There was however, no un.
uannerly staring in consequence OF the abolition OF
the old rule in fact the prisoners relieved from the
unnatural stimulus OF curiosity checked by arbitrary
arrangement probably take far less notice of ssran-
gers now than formerly.
II was Saturday afternoon when we visited the
Prison and there were two circumstances which in
teres,ed deeply. One was the sight OF the pris
oners coming one after another 10 window through
which they received books from the hand Of the Ii
brarian. The other was the meeting in the Chapel
of the Prison Choir, composed Of such prisoners as
had learned to read music before their imprise'n
mcnt. The leader had been teacher of singing,
and performed his duties with admirable skill Two
violins and csrionet answered as substitute for
female voices, while bass-viol skilfully played N,
parted strength to the fundamental part. We ha We
rarely heard better music even in the most taste ful
churches Ever since we Were privileged TO " il
ness the effects produced by the delightful harm 10
ny o' the Hutchinson Family upon the prisoners a,
sing s'ns our faith in the power OF music to re-
press uhhoiy passion and awaken the best eelin gs
of the heart had steadily increased, and we we re
pleased 10 learn that the Choir in the Charleston vn
Prison were allowed Saturday afternoons 70 -