The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-25
Nassrs Of Crime.

Writing tirs.isnins let
Total. ,......... o04 II 7a2 ia lsll
INSTRUCTION.
The wise and beneflcent provision of the law OF
lS47, authorizing the employment of teachers to
instruct the convcts in the rudiments OF a common
English education, has been improved with decided
advantage to those who could be induced to avail
themselves of it. Many have made considerable
advancement, and a large number who can now
read their Bibles Understandings, and write le-
gible hand, will feel indebted to the authors
OF this law for these useful requirements. The ru-
diments have been given to i72 criminals in the
various prisons.
CONVICT EMPLOYMENT.
In the vicinity of the city of Auburn there are Z
number OF discharged convicts' who had acquired
trades during their imprisonment, and who found
employment imme diaIely upon leaving the prison.
They said to be industrious, sober, and upright
citizens. On the other hand, al least hive OF every
SIX W no are committed on second conviction, are
among those who had not acquired the knowledge
of any mechanical business at which they could
find employment afterleaving the prison.
Of the L, $40 male convcts now in prison, 92S are
under 30 years of age, and QDcuding teacher, 4
lawyers, physicians, and y mercantile clerks,
none of whom will be likely to prosecute those pro-
fessoRs successfully hereafter) there are ,O42 who
have never learned any mechanical trade. Over
two hundred of these are under twenty, and a
large majority are under twenty. five years OF age.
The law prohibiting the teaching of trades in our
prisons, was adopted prior TO the present admirable
and reforming system OF discipline and inst ruction,
and had It's origin in the injury which their learn
ing trades was supposed TO infflct upon those en-
gagged in similar calhDgs. The fallacy OF this
objection has been frequently exposed; and, we
think we may truly aver, that II all the convicts IN
the State were employed upon the same branch,
the product of their united labor would not affect
The prce OF the article, or seriously compete In our
own market with the manufacturers of a similar
article in many of the New England towns.
The supposuon entertained by some that the
acquire ment Of a mechanical trade will enable
these men 10 ind their way into the workshops Of
the country, thus endangerlng the morals of the
young who are ignorant of their real characters is
as groundless as II is proscrpnve and ungenerous.
IL such principle Is 10 prevail, the dosr OF hope Is
forever closed TO the convict and the efforts for
his reformation and Improvement, are an idle
mockeIy.
PRISON ASSOCIATION oP NEW YORK
Under this head, the fifth report OF the assocIa-
ton, published In April last, and reproduced IN an
ebsra CT form the Herald, lie examined. IL appe
that The charges made against the State prisons
we're without the authority OF many of the officers
of the association
BY section 4th, article 5h OF the constitution, %
the lnspe cors is submitted "the charge and super
intendence of the State prisons" and yet the men,
bers Of the Prison Association clam that in pursu-
ance OF the 9th section OF their charter, which was
granted prior to the adoption of the constitution,
they possess Co ordinate jurisdiction with the In
spe ctors, are independent Of them, and have the
night to usurp the authority OF the wardens and
On the sth of November last, committee Of that
association again appeared al the prison, and served
upon The warden the following papers,
NEw YoHK October 2, 1850
Pursuant to section eth Of the act entitled to
incorporate the Prison Association of New York passed
May eth, ls4o do allow the examination within
toned and direct that John d Russ, william WAla
Drinker, Charles Partridge, and Richard Reed, do
examine the State prison situated at Sing Sing and
that ssid examination be concluded within ninety
(signed) JOHN W EDMoNDs,
Justice Supreme Court.
The undersigned, q committee Of the executive COM
mttee OF the Prison Association 81 New York demand
permission to Writ ana examine Sing Sing prison,
by any officer or other person In com pliance
9th section OF tbs charter Of the said asocs
ton and that portion Of the revised statutes to which
itreiers which ar. In The following words, to wit
Here followed the 9th section OF the charter Of the
association and the section Of the tsutss referred o
eisned) JOHN D. RUSS,
W wALN DRINKER
CHAs PARTRIDGE.
Dated sirs siSG, Nov. 4tb, 1850
Thus, il will be seen, committee who acknow-
ledge NO responsibility 70 the Legislature or 10 the
Inspections, tor the consequences which might re.
suit from their proceedings IN the PRISON, demand
10 enter II unattended by its sworn officers, or any
other person, withdraw the convicts from the i'm.
mediate observation Of the keepers, say what they
please, and do what they please, and that these
extraordinary proceedings, so inconsistent with the
constitution, and the provisions of the law OF De-
cember lih lei1, 80 detrimental to discipline, and
80 injurious 10 the interests OF the State and con-
by other orders II the Judge, may occur several
tunes during the same year.
In answer 10 their demand on this and other oc-
caslons, The warden declined surrendeTtng lato
their hands the authority he was alone bound TO
exercise, but offered to show them every part of
the prison, all books and papers apperaining there
10, and 10 permit them TO examine the conyicts,
but insisted that such interviews should be in his
presence
The course pursued b. The warden il not only
Just and proper, 10 view Of bis official position, and
the dangers he has constantly to encounter from
tne suFerintendence 81 20 many persons Of this /
class, but Il ~ consistent with the recorded rules
and regulations of the Inspectors made and entered
pursuant TO the la and Oh subdivisions Of sec
iion 81, article let Of the prison laws, adoped De.
cembtr l4lb, ls7.
Il cannot be supposed that The Legislature In
teIde 10 require the Inspectors = TO make general
rules and regulations for the government AMI dis
cipline OF the Prisons,' end al the same time au-
thorze an irresponsible committee TO take such 4
coarse to render those rules and r. gulations nu-
Rstory, and 10 defeat he very objects the law was i
designed TO accomplish.
That the examinations OF convIcts by these CON-
mtlees are not productive Of any substantial /
benefit, and may be used for mischleyous pur- /
poses, rendered manifest by the 18TH annual re-.
port 81 The Prson Association made 10 the Beglsla
iure in Apul last la that report VARIOUS state |
ments purporting 10 be made by discharged con- /
vcts, are elabora,ly paraded and seriously CON- I
m,nted upon, IN which the officers a that prison 4
are charged with supplying bad and unwh0esome /
PROVISIONS, using the cat ~ way uf punishment, \
Gaming convlcts and knocking them down with |
clubs, sinking sick men when confined 10 their /
BE- de in the hospital intcung personal chastise |
ment UPON the female cOnycts, and unnecessarily
shooting mtB down
II itis deemed advisable, cay the inspectors, to /
establish a supervisory power over the inspectors
10 look alter the management ot ali the prisons
(the imyorta nce and Necessity of which we will
not question: w would most respectfully suggest
the creation Of permanent committee, % consis
Of a given number Of members ef both branches
- | Hu# II hall ka N WAT
all the prIsons during the recess, ard report the
result OF Their examinations 70 the succeeding Lee
gislature, vhich, in turn, could institute similar
committee.
CONTRACTS FOR LABOR,
Since our last teIUrt three new contracts have
been made for he employ ment OF convict labor a.
the sing Sing prison: The first with Joseph J
Lewis tor the services u from 20 10 ~ convcts %
L. amnaNad fhe maj nlacfnre 81 anddierv hard. |