Litchfield enquirer., 1853-05-12

subject worthy of your attention. The pun. ishments inflicted under our laws gre in some cases entirely disproporIionaie to the offences committed. Moreover, the nature of the laws in relation to crimes and pun ishments, requires kind of prison disc- pliDe which plunges the soul deeper in guilt than before. Much as has been said in favor of the present penitenIiary system, il IS matter of some considerable doubt in my mind whether any felon has ever been reformed by it. The reason is obvious-it is a system of punishment solely, wi.ich allows of no respite, change or diminutiOn nor holds any inducement 10 cast off the folds with which crime, encircles the mora nature.
 If the criminal laws can be SO altered as to provide m certain cases for reduction of the term Of service at hard labor upon some basis which shall furnish satisfactory IprOof of reformation in the convicts, we should come nearer, believe, to. the true standard of discipline which is wanted.- Under the existing mode, scarcely ray of hope. is allowed to come between the Ofen- der and the violated laws, or only such filiul gleams of it as the pardoning power
 
 have sometimes broken down under the pressure which rests upon body and mind, and instances have occurred and are likely 10 occur again, where incipient insanity. proceeding from the cause already named, has been mistaken for the workings of perverse nature, and blows, the bath, or the solitary cell have been called into reqUi- sitiOn to correct the ebuitions of madness or despair. These remarks are not intended 10 apply 10 any particular prison in this country ; the evils to which have advert- ed are the growth of the system, which makes a mocke:y of human nature, by sti> fling it's undying aspirations.
 The prisons of the present day are un- occasionally far in advance of those which little over quarter ofa century ago dis graced humanity. But that we have reached perfection in prison discipline, do not believe. have not broached this sub ject.for the purpose Of making any recom- menda ton, but simply by way of enquiry, in the hope that it may lead to some future well devised plan which shall by common consent meet with the general approval. The plan of providing for classified ton of prisoners, has been tried abroad, and with the most beneficial results. This, more properly the "grade syslem.' IS marked by a succession of privileges dependent upon correct moral conduct-such for example as permission to wear a less degrading dress, deduction from the term of impris- Onment, or some abatement of it's severity --thus furnishing motives of improvement. which under no other circumstances can be so we'll secured. By this plan, degradatioR 10 the lowest grade for offences against prison discipline is considered by prisoners the worst that can be inflicted. Something of this sort is needed 10 begin that kind of reformation. which society has a right to demand of the State, before turning loose ,,s felons, made worse by punishment in~ stead Of better, to revenge themselves on the world which unnecessary rigor has taught them to hate.
 The State prison at Weihersfeld, las at different times paid considerable sums of money into the Treasury, being the avails of the surplus earnings of prisoners. do moi consider such result as at al! desira ble in future, sO far as the State is concerned. Many of the manufactured articles at the prison come in almost direct competition with those of honest industry, and ques- ton the expediency of looking 10 any such source for an increase of the revenues.- There is plan however, by which DOT. ton of the earnings of the prisoners might be jndiciously employed in .affording relief 10 those who have been, or who may here. after be reduced to poverty and wretched~ ness by the crimes of others and earnest ly recommend the passage of law wherein provision shall be made for setting apart a portion of the earnings of prisoners for the benefit of their indigent families. Those earnings might be placed in the hands Of town or city authorities for such a purpose. Aside from the direct benefit which would accrue to individuals and the public from such course, the proposed law would fur nsh spur to action, and excite hope in the bosom of every lslon not absolutely dead to human seDsibility.
 The honor ofevery Staie is deeply cons cerned iE bringing 10 light abuses wherever they may be found 10 exist within it's bor- ders, 50 that remedy may be provided for these evils which spring up not untrequent- ly by the side of great social and moral privileges, without immediately attracting public attention. The present poor-house system, is in many of it's features dePlorabIe ! cuVuyU tO juSluy sUuuC ISWCuioi WSoSu'S and cannot but express the hope that the facts elicited by very able report upon this subject, made to the last legislature, may be brought to further notice in ,he course of your deliberations.
 The General Banking Law Of the fast session has led 10 the formation Of several new banks, which have gone, or are about l to go into operation. Those already organ ized, are believe, mostly doing well. There can be no reasonable doubt oi the safety oi the free Banks, as compared with those formed under special charters. In addition to the specie basls required by inc general law, ihe pledges of stock for the redemp. lion of their bills, furnishes strong ground for the confidence of the public in the new system. Asa whole. it is believed to be as we'll guarded in ell respects as any similar banking law in the country, but as it is on trial here. ihe most rigid scrutiny of it's several provisions is desirable. The im- por,ant duties which it devolves on lhe State Treasurer, may require some further le1iaIa iinn uiah a vieu in facilitate his la.