The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-03-11

justice and philanthropy demanded such law
as that proposed
We are apt, when anxious 70 accomplish re-
forms Of this character, TO exaggerate the evils
which we seek TO remedy. Bat we fear a fair |
and full report of the sufferings Of prisoners In
our iails would shock every man in the COM
munity. In some Of them, they are exposed TO |
all the severity Of the weather. In too many, |
no proper care is taken Of the prisoners body,
as 10 health or anything else.
Suppose, during the late flood, it had been de-
clar red that men in our city Jail were allowed TO
remain in cells which were some six inches In
waierl Suppose, on the coolest days oil last
winter, We had been told that the criminals
there had not clothing enough to keep them
from being frost-bitten2 Suppose in addition to
Thu, neglect, that the prisoners were sick-so
feeble as to be hardly able to live, amid this
neglect Why, in any, and in all these cases,
public opinion would have protected these out
casts, and enforced just observance OF the
rights of humanity towards them. No such
complaint can be lodged against the Louisville
Jail but it can be made-it was made last
winter at Frankfort, against many of the Jailors
in other counties in the State. few examples Of
cruelty and neglect we may be able to give in
few weeks.
There is no need of any sickly sentimental
ity on this SUBJECT" sxclam many. So be it.
But there is need Of good jails, and an ordinary
regard to humanity in the treatment Of prison.
er And the different counties should be made
by law to attend carefully to this matter. Ad-
nit that It increases taxation. Who shall put
that against the claims of humanity Besides,
this increase would be so triaing as hardly to
be ielt by any man, in any county, in the State
'.I3ut we doubt II there be much suffering"
add others. A mistake-a sad mistake! Show
US miserable Jail and We will show you most
miserable tenants. Not one keeper out Of an
hundred will care for the prisoners one iOta be-
yond what he is bound to do, If the prison
house be shackling and bad. Show US again
"a Jsilors who not properly paid, and We viii
show you criminals who are brutality treated
~ The experience of all the world proves this
/. The experience of our own land proves it a
=. strongly as any.
n
:. Pleasant Prison, New York, where the YER,
same answers were made that we have notices
above to those who proposed prison reforms. II
4. 1899, the prisoners were punished by any an
:, everybody. Keepers, guards, attendants, kick
>, ed, beat, bruised them without mercy; the ca
=, was used til they were one gore of blood; evel
:, the insane were thus inhumanly dealt with
And for what Because the convicts "made
= noise, or talked, or would not work" The re
port says:
- "One or two instances have occurred, wher
assistant keepers have been permitted TO stri
n and whip the convict, on his coming into prso
C for insults offered 10 such keepers, alleged o.
fences committed, previous 10 eonrietion
b. This monstrous cruelty reused public atten
n ton, and a change was quickly wrought so e.
AZ az regards such shocking inhumanty.
,es BY looking well to the fitness of men for Il
post Of jaior.
By having jas put up which were comforts
BILE to all in them.
BY dispensing with harsh and cruel treatme1
of every kind.
BY keeping a strict watch over all entrust,
III with the management of criminals.
me This involved additional outlay of course
y But the result is most satisfactory. The col
rec vcts work better; they violate the rules of ai
y. and penitentiaries less frequently the lash col
sequenily is nearly dispensed with-and all tn
because they are treated as human beings.
keeper Of experience and humane feeling sa,
in this New York Report:
Convicts have the same feelings and suscept
bilities as other men, and can be and are inf
enced by the same motives; and these fac
should always be recognized in their treatmen
IL Is always dangerous, as well as cruel aud nj
Just, TO impose upon any class Of human bein,
rules and restrictions, and to inAict punishment
upon them, which are not recognised as nece
De- sary and just by the better judgment and col
fo' science of the governed.
ne The idea that prison is a place of tortu re-
Ar that convicts are to be regarded and treated
by criminals merely their offences TO be kept co..
Ms tinusy before them, and that the discipline
ne prison should be a system Of pains aud pena
SEES ties for past offences, ought to be forever di
om carded.
use The inmates Of our prisons have not forfeit
~, all their rights, neither is society released fro
its obligations and duties toward them; they ha
leu a claim TO protection against injustice, and
ie' the means Of intellectual and moral mprov
ment. No one has the right to deprive hi
N man being of these. Those whose educatic
be and early training have been neglected, al
who, perhaps from this cause, have fallen in
vice, should be cared for, educated, and taugl
al some trade, by which, when liberated they ma
70, gain an honest living. Society, looking onl
to its own interests, should attend TO the,
things.
TO The whole discipline and arrangements of
prison should be framed and conducted with ii
view to restore to society the outcast, reforms
and acknowledgement and qualified to lea
an honest and peaceable life, and TO act the pa
D OF useful and virtuous citizen.
- Can any one deny the correctness of the.
CHI sentiments' Does not every heart respond
err, once TO their justicel Yet they cannot be cal
ried out unless we do what has been done els,
where, and, in addition to that, attend CAREFUL
,ri to the Classification of prisoners-that is. sepa
hit ate, and keep separated, the young offender
" and incorrigible felons. the inexperienced, an
NJ the hardened Crime spreads like contagiou.
to Put willy heartless convict among a crowd ,
n unfortunate beginners, and he will teach the,
We to hug villainy as If it were heroic.
:, We cannot but thank our represe ntntiye, NJ
Speed, for mis- phianthopic endeavors to reacl
through the law, the evils to which we have Al
luded, and trust that he will persevere in tbes
endsavers. We hope, at the proper time, h
may be induced to publish the many facts whic
or came to his knowledge last winter, a, Frank
st FORT asto the condition of ais and the trea,
d. mert of the prisoners in them. We incline I
1 Al