The New York herald., 1851-09-12

Many years ago It was thought impossible to.
govern convicts in o State prison, without adopt.
ing the most stringent measures, adding corporeal
punishment almost every trivial occasion of dis
obedience. 1t was deemed, in those days. almost
absolutely necessary with the view of mpressing q,
terror on the minds Of those individuals who, by
violation Of the laws made by the majority Of tho
people for the welfare and protection of society,
had become vi,tims by deviation from the
rules laid down, and were thus made to feel
the effects of the law, by an incarceration
of many years, at hard labor, in q State pri-
son. In days gone by, much inhuman treatment
has been pract,ced in our State prisons-unruly
convicts have been known to have died by i'll usage
and some almost expired under the LASH Such treat
ment and discipline ofconvicts, we are happy to say,
have passed away, and now under this more enlight
ened age the barbartes heretofore practised and in
iced on the degraded and unfortunate convict have
been abolished, and the only stain yet left is the
application of the "shower bath;" but that mode
of punishment, which is considered very severe to
those whose constitution cannot sustain the shock,
will, long, doubt, be also struck from the code
Of punishment, q means of enforcing obedience
to the mandates Of the prison regulations
The State Prison at Sing Sing, Wesschester
county, is, probably, at present conducted one Of
Year after year improvements have been made, and
the last appointment made by the Inspectors, of
r. A. Robinson, Esq, as Warden, appears to have
accomplished much towards the well being of the
cor victs, and disc pline of the prison. Mr. Robin
sons gentlenany manners, and his perfect know
ledge Of human nature, admirably beG. him for
the situation lie occupies. He appears to feel that
more can be accomplished towards the reformation
oc thA ut hV NV inn
punishment Of torture on trivial occasions for the
purpose Of extorting confessions. The present
Warden, although rigid to the letter in the enforce
ment Of his rules and regulations yet he is at all
times accessible to the convict, and ready to hear
and rectify any complaints made to him. He will
and talk to the convict, and thereby has be-
come respected, and obeyed much more readily
than be would otherwise in many cases be, should
be resort to violent punishment. 1. is not the OBJ
ject meaning Of the law to kill convcts by inhu-
an treatment, is IL the intention Of the law to
subject them, while under sentence, to acts of vio-
lenoe, whereby their constitutions may suffer; but
the meaning OF the law, If we properly comprehend
it, is to endeavoy If possible to show the ccnyic.
that by good condyc. he can reform and become
again respectable in the community; that the
whole work OF reformation rests within his own
power; and many man whose misfortunes threw
him inte the commission Of n cline, has seen the
folly of violating the law, which is intended for tho
benefit Of all, and after a seryitude OF few years
in prison has again become a worthy member OF
society. We axe aware, however that many con-
yicts never be reformed, We have instances
in now 10 the State Prison, who have served
nearly half their lifetime in that establishment
We made our annual visit TO the prison the fore
part cflast week, and never have the estab-
lishment in more complete order; for cleanliness l.
canno; be surpassed, and the discipline exhibited
certainly appeared to be all that was necessary. In
the male department, there are but few the sick
list end the others look remarkably well, and
TO enjoy good health, considering the circumstances
they labor under The majority of the convicts,
we are sorry to admit, arc from this city, under
sentences Averaging from two years up to life
imprisonment. In passing through the different
binson the Warden, and Mr.. Robert Lent, the abls
architect Of the prison, whose residtn;e for over
twenty years in that capacity, has rendered hin,
one Of the most valuable persons connected with
the es.ablishme ert. lie uot only attends TO his ie
gitinate duties, but has become perfect in tbs
knowledge OF conyic. discipline, and can give the
history Of many conycts who, as he terms IT, "have
been regular yisfers;" il fact. Mr. Len, Is looked
upon. as Capt. Cutie would say, as "A man q,
cen give an opinion as IS sn opiaion," as all h.
does FAY opIegrs to be ia =, from the fact tina.
ali be does Is etrrect, and worthy the attention OF
those To whom IL Is directed. As we passed through
toe workshops We )bseTved some OF the most pro-
mirent penonases sent from this city engaged at
tber respective yocat'Ons.
. George w. Niles, the lawyer. en- gagged making
morlds fol harness hardware; William Thompson,
alias the 'Con idence inan," same s1op Isaac
Davis, the negro preacher, In the cooper's ship;
George Eoyt, carpet weaving; Thomas Hadde1,
do. Gilbert Cf,mmels, do ; JAMS smith, alias
Ioneyman, the Poughkeepsie barge robber, in tho
tailOr's shop. This old man, although near sixty
years Of age, was setting on the shop bosrd with
spec,acles, busily engaged tailoring, and when
lie locked up we could yet discover much vigor in
his eye. This Is the man who, many years ago,
go ingeniousy entered the City Bank by false keys.
Altogether, this man has served over twenty years
in fiisen. Ills associates Ia the barge robbery,
Li:k Collard, Parkinson, and James Miller, alias
"Cupid," were all sentenced to the state Prison.
Collard is now at work 10 the 6le shop. Mters
time has expirod he has been set a. liberty; and
Parkinson. about year since, died 10 prison.
Hiram Mcyisry, Chagres robbery, in the hat shop.
sConsdenee ; % man Tiiis man bs 's Good p berth.
he is engaged as clerk in the hospital, and looks
very well John a. Cantcr, convicted of forgery
and passing counterfeit money, is the same table
with Smith, in the hospital. George Farnham,
passing counterfeit money (sccompice Of Oae-
Eyed Thompsop)j Walter Price, grand larceny, in
We could 20 on and cnumer,te the names of
number Of others; but we doubt much the benefit TO
be derived from the mere mention of those already
Iamsd, nor should we have done go, only from the
fact Of their being conspicuous characters ia the
calendar Of crime. Daring the last year, several
powerful steam engines have been added to the
workshops, which have relieved the conyic;s Of the
hesyios, work, ms all they have TO learn now Is tc
attend to the machinery, which Is com paratively
easy TO the labor required previous TO the intro luc
tion ofthe steam power; the work, too Is executed
better, quicker. ADD vita less labor to the convict.
The principal articles Of merchandise manufactured
In the Ir.son, arc rags, carpeting, ornamental
carved bedseads steel hles, harness. hardware, aud
California hats.
At II o'clock the dinner bell rings, aud tho gangs
Of conyics from each shop proceed in single fle,
in locstter. under charge Of their respective keep
ors, 90 the large dining room, nu.aberbg in all be-
tween seven sI eight hundred Here they
arc seated at long tables, each man having placed
before him Ilate Of pork andbeans, knife and
fork, pcTper and salt, bread, and cup of water,
With the privilege Of eating more, IL wanted.
The chaplain says grace, add at t1c tap Of bell
they cOmmeIcs To eat, sud 20 allowed hfteep
minutes to take their fUcd At =, separation Of
the allotted tine, he hell is agaia toa,hed, aai
the gangs and keeper. -''urn back 10 work la the
same order.
Ihe dcrar. nent fo- lho l.nlala c1nni..a a siLu.