New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-12-12

question then inevitably rses up, What is 10 be
"done with these fellows7" Hanging is out of the
question. We may go back to the slave-trade, but
the English public will never consent to return to
the old Monday morning horrors in front of New
gate, and so in every assize-town in the nation.
Transportation is equally beyond the field Of prob.
abilities. The Colonies have taken that matter into
their own hands. How, them is this mischief to
be met.
There are two ends 10 the remedy, and we are
glad to know that wise philanthropy is taking
hold of both Of them. The one is the prevention of
the crime, and the other the reformation of the
criminal. The attention which has been given and
called to the first part of the remedy By Lord
Shaftesbury and his associates is known to most of
our readers. The establishment OF Ragged Schools,
of Model Logging houses, of Washing and
Bathing places, and the invention Of new occupa
tons for poor children, have done much and are
destined to do yet much more in this direction.
Not long since, We were happy to notice meeting
st Birmingham of the Discharged Prisoners Aid
Society, at which Lord Cathorpe presided, and Sir
John PakingtOn, Mr. Stuart Wor.ley, Lord Lyttle-
ton, and other distinguished persons took part. The
name Of the Society indicates its object with suf
cent precision-to give helping hand TO the pris-
Oners on their discharge and assist them in keeping
clear of temptations and in finding honest occupa-
| tons. And We do not think that The London Times
showed much more humanity than wisdom in sneer-
ing at the movement as one of an impossible philan-
thropy So far from being impossible, it has already
abundant fruits in England as well as in this coun-
try TO show for itself And, though it is most truly
philanthropy that lies at the bottom of these
movements, ii is political and social necessity as
well. An enlightened sefsbness as well as an en-
larged philanthropy may find field enough for
working here.
The experiment has been tried in this country,
and though it has not Jet been in operation long
enough to have done all the good itmay yet accom-
psh, it has met with a success which may well
encourage the English attempt. The Prisoners
Friend Society of this STATE and the Discharged
Convicts Society of Massachusetts,, have been the
! means of very great good-much beyond what the
very moderate funds at their disposal would lead
one TO expect. An agent is employed to visit the
prisoners previously TO the expiration OF their SEN
fences. and to ascertain their plans and wishes
what they can do and where they wish to go. Work
is arranged for them, if il can be done; or II not,
their wants are provided for until employment
can be furnished for Them 80 that they may be free
from the necessity of resOrtng 10 crime for subslst
ence Ii is estimated that at least thlrty-1ye per
| cent of the prisoners who have had but one term
of IMPRISONMENT are rescued from the courses which
brought them to the Penitentiary, and reasonable
proportion of reormatiOns secured among more in
yeterate offenders. These Societies haze not been
| Icing in operation-not much more than ten years,
we thnk-and the means at their command are
by no means commensurate with their capabilities.
| Such result as the one we have just stated and
which may be depended on as within the mark,
certainly speaks well for the philosophy of these
Societies, as well as for the methods they have
pursued. We are sure that the gifts Of benevolent
pei sons DESTROYS of doing the greatest amount OF
| coed with moderate amount of money, could not
be better invested than in the hands of their tTeasur
ers. Nothing but increased means is necessary for
greatly enlarged usefulness.
From the statements made at the Birminghan
meeting, it would seem that the efforts which have
been made in this direction in England have met
with signal success. Mr.. NJ. ID. HID, who had
been Recorder of Birmingham for seventeen years,
said that il had been his plan fro the beginning,
where young persons were brought before him,
who he had reason to think were young offenders
too, and if there were any persons who would I'M
dertske TO attempt their reformation to afford them
this opportunity strict watch was kept on these
persons and cut of 4e3 cases, only 7S had ap-
peared again at the bar of any Court. Sir John
Pakington said that Society of the same nature
exists in Worcestershire, which had relieved DIS
prisoners, of whom only eleven had been again
committed-giyiDg reason to believe that 2l7 had
been permanently reformed. In Gloucestershire
there 10 another Society Of the same kind, but nc
statistics were given respecting it. With such
facts ss these before them it seems as if the phian-
thropists and poitico economists of England woud
see how great change may yet De brought about
by more extensive operations. Were all magis-
trstes as wise as Mr.. Hill, and did they but find
helping hands ready to assist them, we are conf
dent that great diminution might De wrought in
the crime Of the country. This matter is but in
its infancy as yet, here and abroad. With time aud
experience, We are satisfied that il will grow up
into a most valuable ns.rumentaity for the peace
and safety of society well as for the restoration
of the dangerous classes TO honesty and usefulness
>-
In spite Of Mr.. Perce's efforts, in his late apology