Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-12-04
MIR. GRAY ON PRISON DISCIPLINE.
FROM rHE BOSTON DAILY ADVERTISER.

Gray, Boston Charles G. Little and James
Brown, publishers, l847. PIP. 2O3, svo.
This is very important and very able pamph-
let. II had It's erign doubtless, in the public dis
cussions which took place on the subject in this
city, in the course of the last spring. in the Boston
Prison Discipline Society; but the writer, although
he bore distinguished part in those discussions,
does not, in his present publication enter into the
local and personal controversies which arose at that
time. His work is written for wider theatre, and
is addressed to greater audience than even the
very respectable audiences of the fremont Temple.
Blu: il will have its vaue-and high value-here
as well as elsewhere. 1t will command attention
in this country and in Europe, wherever intelligent
minds prosecuting liberal inquiries on this ine-
resting and important subject. It's calm scientific
tone, its rigid and clear yss, its practical good
sense and directness, and its marked ability will
give great weight wherever it is dispassionately
read. The mind of the writer evinces remark
able union OF acuteness with strength and grasp.
Few persons among us can bring to bear upon any
subject more power, clearer logic, more judicial
temper, or more thoroughly instructed intellect,
than the writer of this pamphlet; and there are
very few among us who understand this particular
subject better than he, if there any who under
stand it SO well. Whatever effect this pamphlet
may produce elsewhere, we think that here, among
intelligent and unprejudiced persons of all classes
who may read it, it will create conviction that the
efforts which have been made here TO produce the
impression on the public mind that the system adj
minisered in Philadelphia is better, WISER and more
successful than that in operation at Charestown,
were not in point of fact, however intended, efforts
in the cause of true and sound policy.
As we have said the writer does not enter into
the personal controversies with which this subject
has become connected here. But we find, in the
following excellent remarks on the spirit in which
such discussions should be conducted, an allusion
which will Misunderstood in this locality:
In such discussions there neither propey nor justice
in impeachng the motives of those who differ from They
cannot be supposed have corrupt motives for preng
system to another and pride of opinion like cause
leads them misrepreen facts and arguments they are pro-
badly unconscious of it and their should be met by
evidence and by reasoning not by vtupeaon Coarse and
vulgar epthes add weight TO argument, but always
strong indications OF weak cause weak advocateofen
of both 1t is be hoped that there few among who
would initiate the example of transatlantic writers
Gently cited here, in casting such foul aspesons few who
would be reckless to repeat them publicly without rep
rehenson and think to themselves the ground that
they merely state but do not adopt them forgetting that
such would be no justification in of law for
repeating words of SANDER apology for dssemina
ting any mputaton the veracty integrity of others
court of conscience Of honor But enough of this There
little danger that such aspersons will have any material in
uence the public mind that they will inure any but
those who invent and those who circulate them"
have been the object of Mr. Gray in this pub
caton to show that upon the present of the evidence
and the inconuoverbe facts already known be af
med that the separate system of punishment represented
by the Eastern Penentiay, Philadelphia, the system Of
continued solitary confinement with labor, is
full perfect system than the system of social
labor with the injunction of silence under strict supervision
instruction and labor which is in force at Charestown The
argumenave portions of the discussion exceedingly able
and instructive but the facts which Mr. Gray presents
OF character quite conclusive These facts relate to three
important topics polucveness of labor health and sanity
With regard to labor he shows that while the average
ngs of the prisoners ChaIlesown than dollars
month, those of the prisoners at Philadelphia less than
four As to bodily heah appears that, during period of
years last past the whole number of prisoners the PR
at Philadelphia 3,64l, and the whole number Of
deaths 55. During the period Chaestown the
whole number Of prisoners 2,949, and the whole
Der of deaths 35. As sanity is shown that during the
last years. there have been the lowest calculation
Philadelphia, wenythee and fifty Eight one hundredths
Of insanity in thousand white persons originating in
The prison. while, in the period of time Charles
town. there have been less than thousand both blacks
and whites, originating ia the prison that the Of
insanity thus originating among the white prisoners alone
Philadelphia have been almost thysix times many as
among all the prisoners, white and black, Charlestown
Only two of insanity have originated within the prison
at Charestown during the last ten years, out OF 2,949 p
while Philadelphia there have been lO9 such cases
out Of 3,64l prisoners.
''Such the necessary deductions" says Mr.. Gray
from the experience Of Pennsylvania and that of Massachu
sets To ascbe the difference between the results of the
to health and sanity TO any local would be alb
surd for reutnton TO ascrbe them any whatever
not local has not the slightest effect upon the argument for
If that cause be il what may be equally frequent under
both systems must produce the consequences in BOTH
and account for any difference in their results If on
the contrary it is most frequent under SYSTEM then this
greater frequency ITSELF and all its consequences are Justly to
be Gscribed to that system"
"But the tables above given, appalling they are do
afford the full measure of this evil for it is important
remark that they contain but those Of actual death or
insanity. No Of debility disease, bodily or mental
entered here until il reach that last extremity Now il
possible TO believe that there such cases. that all those
who have attained this fatal consummaion are full of
health and vgor and able go forth and battle manfuy with
the world II cannot be. Many be treading the
dark and downward path who yet less distant from
It's end is the natural nay, is the necessary presump
ton that mode Of treatment which utterly destroys the health
and of many, cannot leave those of others unmpa
ed. Is it consistent with justice humanity inc pun
ishment which has this tendency I"
The government Of Massachusetts, has been rdculed and
reprobated by Of lis citizens for the care which
bcstows to make the labor Of the prisoners reasonably pro-
ducvc as to equal at least the cost of their confinement and