Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-12-14

whose moral natures have been sui
Tered To run TO waste from want Of
those wholesome restraints TO which
more favored ones have been sub
lected. In cases of this escfiplion.
a pecuniary penalty, however small,
with the costs incident To it, would
ordinarily he burden that neither
the ulprt nor his friends could car
~. The result, therefore, generally
is, that he is not prosecuted, it being
understood 10y the prosecuting Off
GER N advance, that IN case he
launches a prosecution, he must in
the end either commit the respond
eni, or recede from the infection of
the alternative penalty of the law.
Hence large proportion of offences
that would suffer saluiary expia-
ton in properly constituted House
Of Correction are overlooked, much
TO The annoyance Of individual cliz-
ems, and TO the lasting prejudice of
the young criminal.
II, however, the offender is so for
tunale as To fall within the line Of
descent of more wealthy parentage,
the case is very much altered. He
submits to the forms at trlaI-a
proceeding which is frequently
turned into an occasion of exultation
by influences that are brought TO
bear upon the defence, and IN such
case, ii fine, If Inflicted, is ordinarily
so trivial as 10 lose it's sanction as
punishment, aud is regarded by the
party implicated as a cheap enter
ialnment--a luxury which he can
well afford to repeat IA, his pleasure.
But beyond all this. it will he seen
that the burden of penalties is un-
equal as between these two classes
ol offenders. There is palpable
InconsruIiy IN "A system, that will, in
ITS practical operations impose upon
different offenders unequal hardships
for the same offence, that will con-
sign The one 10 criminals cell be-
cause he cannot pay few dollars,
and set the other at large because
he can pay.
Such Inconsistencies might be
avoided 10y The adoption Of The prac-
teal suggestions of Gov Royce.
The second Objection named by
/ the committee is one of an economi-
cal cast. The expense incident to
such an institution, it is true, should
he mode the subject of cautious in
vestIgalIon, with reference 10 the
number Of institutions that should
be founded, whether they should he
the creation of the State, the County
or the Town, and the magnitude
and extent ol each. But IN our
view, II is quite beneath the dignity
OF a responsible aud independent
state sovereignty TO urge the oblec-
ton as bar to the existence of an
institution that all experience in 9TH
er States, and the present necessities
OF our own, demonstrate as correct
i've and humane.
Hut we think the fact is demon
siraole that single State institution,
and perhaps multiplication of them,
would be self-suslaining. This sug-
geslion opens a field OF comment that
we cannot al present canvass. 1t
: would afford fruitful theme for a
much more extended dissertation
than our present space would permit
In any event, whether The project
= would prove remuneraiive or moi, /,
not the practical issue. II such az
institution is needed as a branch oil
, our correctional policy, 1t is only one
of the collateral incidents of Prov.
sIonal legislation TO count the dime,
that will be necessary 10 give It Vi.
tality. II is as much the DUTY Of
governments make iudicious pro-
, vision Tor the necessities of its ia.
yenile dellnqaenls, as for those Of il:
bearded criminals, or It's insane poor
The third objection matured by
the committee is one Of real merit
q aud in the form ii is urged, it would
IN our view, have added pungenc,
: To spark of satire struck from
some lovIal flint of the third house.
II exhibits most touching and sub
lime manifestation Of sympathy fol
honest children, and truly virruoui
indignation against the twelve OF
iourIeeen ragged urchins who ar,
1 supposed to be beyond the pale o
/, reformation. Ii sets AT naught the
beautiful sentiment that neslles down
. so lovingly ia the mystic depths oi
The parable OF the lot Sheep
a sentiment thai can be scarcely com
pretended until the varied eSperlen-
i, ces OF actual lie shall demonstrate il
10y untold power. 1t enthrones a
new sentiment, narrow and Illiberal
, and neither polite nor just. We
+ let II pass, conlesslnS our ina 1illly TO
, appreciate the. force of the objection,
. or the Legitimacy of The argument.
The ioullh objection assigned by
the committee is hardly in keeping
with the vast resources of our State,
or the progressive energies of our
+ people. The impuialion implies
Iaxliy Of duty, increased in the ratio
of the several squares Of the dis
lance of transportation. As an ar
gument against an otherwise merilo-
rious reform, II weighs nothing.
I But the practical climax of argu-
menl addressed by the committee 10
its compaIriois can scarcely be resist
ed. The offender IS one of those