New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-02-04

3tS paget We Ne Hoeoscu 10 Afxx n. WE'LL
sx oopy The total number Of ooavicss in the
prisoSs on the LIST Of Dec. was $50. being an IN
crease Of u. over the number Of last year Thu
increase "a accounted sr by the great saninstson q
pariOns AID perhaps in part by the reflex csase
anen-es Of the tfisouusinaance OF the Mexican va
and perhaps in pan by the increased tntempersnas
and recklessness % strangely Induced BY ne prev
alence Of the cholera
The Inspector think that occasional Psrtoaa
exert good influence on the coadacf d che prs
oners BY holing out Inducements 20 good behavior
ne Whole nanher Of tesfhs q eenvsco a ne Ashcrn
Pnsoa darsas ~ year sD.ins Nov 80 is<s vss.....
At he s0g SING PrisOu srss
Al Snnion rrsea
rOsal IN all ne Prisons -
| The average namber u ooav,cts az Auburn Prs
On being Sl2. and the deaths :, the mortality v.s
| in - -. " shout IA per cent
The average number AZ Sing sing male PRISON
being S5S, and the deaths % the mortality was
in ~ OF the - deaths. however, were aoci
dental leaving the ordinary us-tshsy -. IA
about ssh about per cent
The average number at the Sing Sing female
prison beng about ~. and the deaths l, the NOR
tshty was less than per cent
The average namber at Clinton Prtsoa bcinS
| ! 81. and the deaths Z. the mortality wss sbos,
| IN 3si, or little over n per cent
| The average number OF the convicts IN all The
prisons being i,3sSi and the deaths except &C
cidensal) being 81, the mortality was IN "a "a ~
about 81 per cent
This is favorable ratio, compared with the m<
tahty IN the state Pnsons Of other States In the
year ending In the tall OF ists the mortality In the
O"SSeS,cS, state Prison was about q per cent,
10 hooie Island. over y in Pennsyvsnis over al
fmiadelphis. and over At Pittsburgh, IN Mar
and. , in Washington City, a in Virginia Al
m Massachusetts little over |
The 6Howing extracts from the Repost oa the
subec, OF the Terms OF Sentence deserves astea
ton;
TERMS OF SENTENCE
At sing Sing Prison. the terms OF sentence OF as
convicns in the male prison mot including Ia ses
teRcei Dor htel average years. y months and ID
days, 13l OF the number, little over onehal. are
ior years and over, aud lSs Cor 10 20 rs yesr
AZ Auburn Prison the terms Of SOC con,icts laos
including is sentenced tor HE average syvssss
months aud Is days a2s of the number nr years
aud over 70 trum 10 "a ~ years OF 700, mot In
Guiding tor hiel received last year the average
IS years. II months and ~ days each - 6r 8
years and over and IS Tor 10 10 20 years II from
the number received during the last year, ~ who
transferred from other prisons. wbose average
sentences were years and 6 months. be deducted.
the average OF the ESQ sentenced within the year
will BE- only years months and day
At Clinton Prison, the terms OF ls3 copsicts mot
including sentenced ior hfel average fraction
ess than Al years ~ Of the number are Tor years
and over: IL Tor 10 20 ~ years.
the idea embraced in the prison law ci this State.
declaring The establishment OF the State Prsons %
be ior the security and rgfOrmatoa IT conslcts.
has favored reduction of the terms oi sentence,
especially tor hrst offences In this sentiment the
Prison officers particularly those beat able 20 judge
uf the influence and effect OF long terms OF mprson
nent upon the temper and physical and msntsl
IgOr OF conyicis, have participated and tina War
len and Physician Ut Auburn Prison, In their re
ports last year, particularly directed attention to
this subject. The Warden was satisfied that few
'oald bear an imprisonment eight or ten years
without becoming both mentally aud physically do
oinated !" and the Physician expressed the opin
on that I" five years 10 the hngest term which
,onyict can pass IN confinement. and be restored ~
he world with sound mind In a sound body"
The permanent security Of the community 10
best effected by the adoptun OF such term Of con
inement will be most likely % eventuste In the
defamation OF the offender and his restoration 90
society in that frame Of mind and sousdness VI
body " hch will induce and enable him 10 become
an honest and useful citizen, IL Is sery questions
Bile whether this s consistent with long terms OF
Imprisonment The convict looks upon the spps
emily extreme rgor of the law, 0f which he IL Tho
object in the lifht OF yindctiyeness or revenge
he considers society. to use prison phrase, ~
" down upon him. and he brods IN suen moross
1ess over his supposed real wrongs, thus indals
ing in a frame Of mind exceedingly anisvorsblc b.
moral impressions or religious influences. IT, how
peled to feel that mercy has been attendant "a
Justice, his heart is affected his feelings softenes.
| and he is in a frame Of mind most congenial ~
| right Impressions and most ready "a fofm aud
| cherish good resolutions
Our criminal statutes, though evidently intended
10 graduate the term Of incarceration according ~
The aggrayation OF the ohensc and the degree Of
crminslity Of the offender. yet distinctly embrace
the policy Of reformation. and presupYoss the res
tOration OF the criminal ior q renewed trial la us
BOSOM Of society. With this view the teacher n
provided 10 give instruction Ia the rudiments d
common education % those who need u. and Ire
hapain to inculcate moral and religious truth and
duty, and the Word Of God placed In the cell q
each prisoner II the criminal can be- reformed NJ
ALL we doubt q two three years effort VIII not
be effectual as though prolonged 10 i've OF tea
years. Indeed We consider an excessive innictso"
as prejudcisl To every influence calculated 10 re-
store him 10 the world Ia that health Ct mind and
body which would make him respected and use
ll citizen. Long confinement impsirs the free and
healthy working OF the mind. well 90 the vigor
IT the body. hamilton 9 un favorable 10 both The
resh, uncontaminsted air IL probably as essential
to the pure action u the mind. ss 10 the healthy
condition OF the physical system Neither viii
thrive in vtiaed atmosphere or retain their yigor
without constant exercise. Passing hs nights
where the breath OF hundreds loads and m'nsies
with the air he brestbes and has days In the crowd
III shop room, the prisoner has but limited supply
Of the free and pure air of heaven The sraduai
undermining OF his physical constitution, and dete
noration OF his mental faculties follow a. q neces
sary consequence. Hence. tho prisoner Of log
years, If he survive his Incarceration, goes osth
with debilitated frame and impaired faculties under
the impression that Justice unminged with the 81
tribute OF mercy has claimed and received her own
in full measure ami little prepared 10 encounter ses
prejudices or combat the adyersities with whichhs
will find himself surrounded
r. however, a more brief and mercifai term OF
sentence in the first instance than our laws nov
provide and courts award, fail 70 sec5ro the resof
N alton OF the offender, public security undoubtedly
demands that on subsequent conviction mo term
be increased And should our criminal statutes De
30 modified as 10 prescribe . more limited term
or fret offences provision should donbfisss be
made ior sscertsinng. BY competent proof subss-
quent 10 each conviction for q criminal offence.
and before pr0nounciBg sentence, whether The In
dividoal thus convicted had previously endured
term Of confinement M q State Prison
The Report contains the following comparisons
10 regard 20 the productive isbon OF the inmates q
the prisons of several different States
+ IL yegarf 10 me PRODUCTIVE IsDusrKr Of each
r1Hrgcff
IN Auban ITsOn ss1h convict earned 10 $50. .sss -
Ia sing Sing NAE psoE eseh coayict earned 1913 100 os
10 stnk sing female prism, eesh convict earnet nB - 81
H. Name stats prsot each conylet canned IA ists q ~
l. <n.f