American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-05-03


spectors of the Penitentiary, (Messrs. Thos. Dom
oho Jno. T. Towers, and VIM. II. Edes, for the
District of Columbia, submitted to the President
on the 9th Of January last. The management
under the present Warden is commended. The
excess of the expenditure over the income for
several years is as follows: In l847, 1T was
$I0,727 81; in 1848, it was $l4, 128 80; in
l849, it was SO, 400 81; in 1850, it was $9,68l
"a but in 1848 loss of So, 345 rs was incur
red by having this amount held back by the
Secretary of the Navy for failure to comply
with contract entered into for furnishing the
navy with shoes.
"a remarkable feature presented in statement
No. 3, OF the clerk, is the rapid increase in the
number of the convicts. Eighteen months since
the number was SO; at the end of the year l849
1t was As; at the end Of the year 1850 it was
81 and at this time (less than one month of
the year having expired) it is siay-eight, an in
crease of nearly hundred per cent. in year
and half. Many of the recent convictions
have been for long periods Of time, some of them
reaching to six, eight, and ten years"
The nature of the crimes for which they were
convicted is as follows: +.
Larceny, 43; assault and battery with intent
to kill, 81 stealing money from U. s. mail, 3
burglary, q; burglary and larceny, 2; counter
feiting U. s. coin, 2; arson, 2; forgery, 2;
perjury, l; passing counterfeit money, re-
ceiving stolen money, receiving stolen goods,
l ; manslaughter, l assault and battery with
intent to commit rape, l.
''About one-half of the number are free blacks,
while a large proportion of the whites are from
distant parts of the Union, and no inconsidera-
Hos, e. =
The expenses, of course, do not increase in
proportion to the increase of convicts.
The report of the physician, N. Young, M. D.,
is approvingly alluded to by the inspectors.
The sanatory condition of the establishment is
excellent. But one death occurred throughout
the year, and this subject had acquired his dis
ease in the Mexican war. Three colored wo-
men We're enciente on being received, and none
of their offspring lived.
The report of the chaplain, Rev. Austin Gray,
is highly commended by the inspectors, and pre-
sents most gratifying picture of the condition
of the institution
Quite general religious interest prevails
among the prisoners, and several after having
given signs of sincere repentance, profess to
have obtained pardon, and others are appar-
emily endeayoring to accomplish genuine re-
formation of character
The general conduct of the prisoners has
been remarkable for its propriety. They have
paid the most respectful attention to the in
structions given, and manifested much personal
interest in the doctrines taught. The Sabbath,
with its privileges, is appreciated by them, and
they enter upon its duties with delight.
The Sunday School, also, is in a prosperous
and has been very efficient agent
n promoting the moral advancement of the |
prisoners Most of them can read Some have
earned to read in the Sunday School. "a few
youths, says the Chaplain, sin whose instruc-
ion have felt deep interest, have learned to
've their books, and begin to appreciate the
dvantage of doing right From my own OBJ
ervation, | fully concur with my predecessor
4 the opinion that most Of the crime that is COM
'tted IS done By those whose moral and religious
1ucation has been entirely neglected."
He further says: at gives me much pleasure
} state that the present warden and his subor-
mate officers have heartily co-operated with
e in the discharge of my duties; and /
eem 1t but just to remark, that, lin executing
lie duties of his Office he never loses light of
lie reformation of his prisoners Indeed, so
ell regulated is this prison, and so good in its
eneral discipline, that consider it an efficient
,hool of moral reform"
We rejoice that SO devoted and efficient q
haplain has been procured for the prison, and
eel well convinced, from the evidences pre-
ented to us in visit to the establishment, i
hat he has not estimated the salutary in
uence of his Office; and we can bear testimony
0 the good order, the cleanliness, and whole
ONE appearance of every thing connected with
he whole penitentiary. Mr.. J. B. Ellis, the
Warden, and Mr.. VIM. Towers, the Clerk, as
well as all the officers under them, are atten-
tive and polite in the highest degree and evil
IDENTIFY possess the confidence and respect of
every convict. In truth, we have never seen
a military station in which the physical and
moral welfare of the men were so faithfully
guarded as in this place of penitence and re-
form.
SECOND ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL
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