New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-01-13
Prison Discipline->iug sing.

To The Edt0r 81 Tie Jri5kEf'
Ii appears that the New Year celebration in the
female department OF the sing Sing Prison has
somewhat disturbed the equanimi;y ofzeyerslNew
York Editors They seem to spprchend SER us
consequences to society from the practice Of little
hunsnity 70 few female state eoEvieis They tear
that this ntringner upon the "a theory OF inpr'on'
ment will endanser the safety Of the community and
that people will rush into crime for the mere pleasure
Of enjoying An annual holiday in state Prison The
Courier says
..T,e ssfety of the community the power OF example,
and every consideration connected with the wehSeips
OF the state demand that they convicts) shoudoe pun
shed for the crimes OF which they have been guilty
/. Hitherto it has always been understood,
that the Prison made for the punishment ~ conye's
that fror. and indicators whom the laws OF the state
had sent thfhcr to be punished Tor their III de-
serts."
Undoubtedly, one object sought BY the Imprisonment
of criminal is to deter aim from crime thereafter BY
dread OF the evils he has already experienced but Is
no punishment to be deprived of Hbertyone Of the
mos, precious of all earthly boonsto the striped
badge Of infamy to be condemned to unvarying toll
with no motive thereto but the fear Of the lssh
Ifsubicction to these conditions be punishment will
the Editor Of the Courier some other person define
the precise amount OF torture which the law contem'
Diace should DC luultteu On SeoAt
tain amount of suffering and pain of whatever kind ia
to be inflicted merely punishment is of the highest
importance that thi. point should be made clear ard de-
finite to every Keeper Matron and aker in all Grim
ins nstitutions-hat they may know how to mete out
TO each particular individual the exact amount Of suffer
ius bis case mag be supposed to require Cunning men
should be employed by State plan graduated scale
OF fortunes adjusted to the grades Of state Grim
i,afs hint should in all
be employed as Keepers such as have peculiar
skill in the o the bloody onines. and apt in
finding occasions to ntrench upon the scany privileges
of the wretched convict
II this view of criminal punishment should obtain ex
tensively it will be discovered that we ghened
people in general and Americans in particular,
lanensbly defcien, in the knowledge and practice Of
what Ia requisite to render the condition of the State
criminal in tho highest degree wretched and painful
II mere physical suffering lie the principal object the
people have in view by ncsrccrsing those who depre
date on society we had better borrow the Russian
knout construct PRISONS the plan of the dsnk and
loathsome dungeons of Austria and introduce the nsen
ious crueltes OF the lnquisition-
No we may safely aver that the age demands souio
innovation upon the old theory Of Imprisonment IL
is evident that in this country least the law does not
contemplate any physical punishment Of the State
criminal beyond what is necessarily annexed 10 his
condition State laborer deprived OF all advantages
of social life beyond the walls Of his gloomy prison. To
all beings Of human mould and constitution these depri
ya,ions punishment enough Fiends and devils In
carnate will scarcely be made better by greater
elites
While the criminal is in prison society IS secure from
his depredsions and who will pretend that the dis
CHARGED convict whose term Of service has expired "a
better prepared 10 commence an honest life by the re
inemorsnce OF the wsnon wrongs and outrsges he was
compelled 20 endure in prison. On the contrary think
seyeral Institutions in land have demonstrated The
assertion that generous and cOnfdnr treatment OF the
prisoner has diminished the number of rccommitments
tngrattuie may sometimes be the return tor Kindness
bu; In general IL will be found that the worst are msfe
better BY humsne treatment To diminish the amour, /
Of crime throughOu the land Il IS not necessary make
punishmeuts It s only requisite to render
conviction certain. ID.