Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-11-29


least restrain the mschvous hand of the evil door from his
woned ravages upon society The people OF The State have
right to the highest protection against crime ana Inc great
eat Immunity from its injury whether directly as individuals
or indirectly members oil The community, athinuuon
of crime is the great object OF the proposed ehange anu
Ia founded upon full conviction lhat if adopted, II will
produce the elect designed As incident to The more et'
eent punishment good workmen could be made vi those
qualified for Improvement They would be maured in
habits Of labor and might well procure honest livelihood
after their discharge, which unfortunately IS ont
partially Tho case at present Long ulsapp r u n
sraint from the enjoymens and pleasures oil III gotten
gains full tmo for the rccoi Of malice TO punish It's own
cannot fail weaken the force OF error III de-
luded wicked men, and will be moro likely to establish IN
their minds proper appreciation FOR The rights CT tcr e
low bcngs aod IN The virtue Oy ",s s1 e
penenary of every State adopting SUCH coae would DC
come supporngu concentration 10 De de-
sired; and the il it be but the incidental result OF
great moral reform. The want OF reform in The municipal
law confined to yirsina but might well be carried
between the States citizens Of each Interested
In the good morals of the people of every other almost rs
much ~ Their own The uuIe.omed thief or burglar dis
charged from the prison in State the next month may
repeat his crimes any other in the Onion Inc migration
of leon from State State know has become an every
DAY occurrence If contemplate the fact that counter
eers, foses thieves ROBBERS burglars ana atsohe's as
tbued throughout the United States and in The constant
pursuit of crime vii! Ia. on. nnmor me standing army ano
Ing in ralio much rapidly than the population we
oueh, TO be amazed that 80 little reflection bestowed
upon the subject Mr. D. remarks, That his experience is
and has been for several years. in number of Stale prisons
and penenares TIN, they supper, themselves" and
omits entirely the important branch OF The subject
While ucpiten,ares instituted primarily
OF raising revenue (but enforce standard OF
moras) vet it, with due regard TO humanity. they be
made sell supporting public economy will be well suberv
cd do NOT however perez Two that the sanctions OF mo-
rsy in any State should be limited 10 The skill OF prisoners
or their E,nugers other ouitous circumstances avot
BILE TO the financial operations OF her prisons Reference
should be had alike The condition OF The public morals and
tho reformation of offenders and not exclusively Rrinc
pay 10 the mere question of sesuppot by the pIisoneIs
Bur while IL is perfectly that Ia number OF the State
prisons and peni,entiares do support themselves il s
equally true that much larger number do not and cannot
the existing of the States where they are un
fortunately couycls refomed The people oil The
badly protected and crime continues 10 incense
Nothing therefore, has been gained In morals or protection
the people, by prison reforms all has resulted
the increase of the magncence OF prisons and the comfort
of prisoners The latter tends 50 much TO soften the
fipor of punishment that Increased lengths of SEN
tence probably for than half The felonies on
the statute book has become necessary. Humanity
d.manded and has secured the reforms already made
ia The caro- and treatment Of prisoners. Public safety
morality religion the rights OF the citizen demand
demand that penteniaes should be made eff
feet she great objects of their institution Can be contend
cd that they do when crime increases with such exraord
nary rapidly 10 the United States 2-when il Is known that
In single city of United States, containing popula
ton of half mIlIou than double many persons
ann ally arrested for crime against The in ali Eng
and aud Wales where the population ia near eighteen mil