The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-13

laws are executed, OF, n they are executed al all,
pnnl private company 1T benevolent Individuals,
moved by The deslre Of performing works OF cha
rlty, arises 10 find out aud discover that we have
laws indeed aud il may be good ones, but that
they are null and disregardrd We think great
thanks due TO this institution for the pains II
has taken while we Iegrei and deplore the
in our ~ stem of administration, that such things
should be, and go on and continue. We evidently
want a strong power, "A Just power, severe one
and q certain one; 10 our system IL Is now mani
feet 10 all the world that Legislature 10 make
laws, however good does not complete a good
System; VIZ want also, some one. with power To
lhsI these laws are surely obeyed and regarded.
The report proceeds 10 dev-lope other extraOr-
dinar, discoveries made, such as inhuman treat.
meDt OF prlsonsTs abusrs OF the most serious aud
revolving character. The Inspectors are. IL seems
interested in particular efhces, the officers are
Instruments Of iheIr own appointment, they are
friends Of long standing; ther. FORE their failure to
repres. mt all lhese abuses 10 The Leglslaturel
In the cases brought To light uf the iahuman
treatment Of prisoners, the following stands for
wand IN bold rellef, aud presents aplcture almost
frehtful 10 contemplate. We sincerely hope there
is no passion, no extreme feeling, no high color
ing, made Of Ibis subject The statement, how
ever, commences with andation of the associa-
ton. by which II would appear that high wrought
VANITY and self-admlraiion II sometimes the pro-
perry of bodrs-and religious bodies, too-as well
as of individuals.
II has been through the fundamentally of the as
tocison when the officers of our prisons wers silent
on the subject 10 their reports TO the Legislature that
several ibstspc.s OF inkumsn treatment were disco
yereo and exposrd
thiTt eff when orceTed preparatory to being whipped
He was obstinate and insoent 10 bis refusal aud
aoubediy ought to have been punished, for the
ps's sake at least; but he pushed to the whip
ping by the bsyonets Of the guard He struck
which broke in two He was then be sten With 9 cane
He Tushed into his cell, where he safely lodged
and there tie principal keeper pistols through
hun in the arm. He was then poked at With long
hickory poles through the bars of his cell until be fell
down. The officers then rushed in upon him, and,
while some pulled him by the heels otasrs beat him
over the b. ad With hickory cluba he the oor
Covered with blood from the bsyonet stsbs the pistol
shot end the beating he ned UP to the ring and
and received ffty lasbes on his bare back lie was
confined his cell on bread and water for long time
and Was bot let out uIii eight months from
be was committed Yet not word Of this affair
ever reached the public eysexcept through report,
Asis naturally TO be expected, great opposition
has been made TO this benevolent institution, and
even d committee OF the Legislature once made
report adverse 10 1t. l.rge portion of the report
before US is taken up with discussing this matter,
vlndicatlng the institution, and stating its
grievances, &c. We shall pass this over for the
present, for we think it unsuitable matter in what
ought 10 be business report, and not a contro-
veTslsl Argument
The report then proceeds to statements in rela-
ton TO the finances OF the institution. Ii seems
The Legislature have imposed OIerous duties upon
the visitors, but 1t has made provision for pay
ing Tor the work and labor which il has required
The subject Of deientions is next taken up, ana
schedules are gwen OF the number Of persons de-
FAMED IN the several prisons and the oilrnces they
have seveIaly committed The report then passes
GU 10 speak OF lis Efforts 10 induce the Common
Council Ut the CITY OF New YORK TO effect a reform
in the city prisons. The advice given by the To-
sn,uilon, and the separate items Of advice or of
reforms proposed, are then slngly enumerated. No
ofhcial notice, II appeals has been taken either Of
the advisers, or their advice but the report states
that the officers II the city prisons have taken the
hint from them, and have made several great I'M
proyements IN the sense desired.
The report then goes on, in a manner rather de-
hcient IN order and classification, to make some
highly interesting statements and suggestions, and
10 give some extensive and minute tables, upon the
miscellaneous subjects OF the statistics of prisons,
OF PRISON discipline, II length Of sentences, OF DIS
uict PRISONS OF lines, OF The register OF State pri-
sons OF The results OF kindness, OF punishments, of
the manner of arrest, OF Inspectors of prisons, of
discharged conyicts, &c, &c. A correspondence
fem several persons then introduced, with their
verbose letters IN full, giving opinions and state
mtnts upon iorelgn statistics Of foreign prisons,
sources OF crime, nc. There is a long letter, by a
Mr. Gonld, on the last subject, and letter from
Mrs. Farnhsm on the length Of sentences, with
other domestic and foreign correspondence !; and
ihls makes up the whole report, with some, it may
o.. useful remarks on prison architecture, and the
bilei report OF the Treasurer aud Finance Com
mItt.e. We must honestly here intimate our
OPINION, that the arrangement is defective and dis
orderly, the remarks dscursive and unconnected;
led on, consisting of favorite theories and opin-
ioDs, and mere sentiment. The one great point of
utility is the discovery OF abuses OF which we have
given specimen. The composition Of The report,
In other respects, Is sngulary defective, hetero-
geneous, and confused. There is an appendix Of
statistics from al parts Of the Union, which makes
~ about iouifitths Of the whole volume, making
Ms name palPabe mlsnoIner. The report Is 1T
Tie birdie, " iii big horse hanging TO 1t Under
the items Of manner OF arrest, the following is de-
serving OF consideration -
In macy cases, ~ Il is known to the otscer
that prisoner has money, his next movement is TO
in,rm some lawyer With whom he is iniimste of the
sct and the door Of the cell L. hardly closed the
prisoner before come hind fend offers his assistance 10
oDhsr the PRISON. provided order should be given
fer III. money part Of IT, which Is lodged with the
mseistrsie An instance Of this nature occurred not
obg since when man bad just arrived In this couu
Try fIcm England. aud the next day robbery having
been con nt,ed In the house where he stopped he
VISA stranger. His examination having disclosed the
Tact that he vas Ia rutsson Of some twenty 1--WE
police poupced upon him and offered his services In
caicsrsted for the hrst time stranger In the city
without Acqnsiofsnce and friends, like q drovnng
nan be gtped a. the first faint ray Of hope the Ia
Der would secure his release for twenty pounds the
man 'nerd him ten. aid, frsiy. the matter was
rams ed at fifteen An exsmin alton had no testi-
mopy OF . character 20 convist vas discovered lie
wss however. rrnisnded 10 prison. By which he
our agent that he would ineVit.by obtain his release
In oay two, he stii induced to add the othe
i've pounds 81 pos'bls to hasten the delivery. Scenes
a. this kind doubt Of frequent in
our large cities TO which soas these remarks per-
tirett
In CONCLUSION, we would remark, that though
the valuable In this report great yet IL is irrd
under too much rubbish. There is want of con-
ne elton. order, ausng. nent, and soldlty, IN the
report; IL looks too much like a book-making. or
a report making job. Condensation might have
reduce d II 20 one-sisih. without losing one atom
Of what may b. valuable. We have given some
idea of the most interesting and most valuable
Icrtion 81 the mertorious ard active ldbOrs Of
this valuable society, whish, though not success
iul, IN clear, distinct, and plain reporting, seems
to " Nery successful IN opening the eyes OF the
Iuthc 70 abuses which call for the speedy action
~ The hnie ot the anipuia,or, and the prompt and
careful pruning Of the husbandman.