Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-09-09

In the courts Of al! cur large cites II ire
q~uently occurs that parties brought to trial
on criminal charges -svmctim u even a Sc
ricus cbaracter-thyugh iheir gullt is fully
established, are allowed 10 90 uni uDIshed, ur
subjected 10 q penalty 80 tai < as 70 excite
their GcrisiOu rather than cJnduce 10 tneir
reform. The cause OF this ieDiency, in the
class Of cases 10 which we a!lude, is, that the
youthiulness Of the defendants is regarded a. a
palliative circumstance. While We rave as
much sympathy for the young as anybody
else, and can as readily excuse their errorf,
we are. nevertheless, CONSTRAINED to believe
that this. clemeDcy has nearly always an uu-
desirable Eject. Tue Impression /. produces,
IN some Instances, may De saiutary, but 1t
can operate thus, only on such ae have done
wrong solely through thoughtlessGess. and
who are imbued with sufficient moral princi-
pie and self.respeet 10 appreciate keeniy toe
ignominy which their folly has brought upon
them.
The large majority Of youthful cfendcrs
belong to another class. They are sucb as
have not enjoyed correct houe-trainlng. No
proper parental authority has been exercised
over them, nor have they had instllied into
their minds those fundamental principles Of
religion aud morality essential 10 correct de-
pertinent, when surrounding eAtraueOus 10
huences are inadequate 70 Restrain VICIOUS
propehsi;ies. They are those who, IRON an
early age, are turned loose IN the streets,
morDing, Do0u, and night, being called home
at stated periods oOiy t. eat aud sleep. LIE
opportunities OF parents to instruct them IL
the great lessons OF lite. when these possess
the competency aud Inclination to do so, are
necessarily brief. aud, even II assiauou-iy
improved, the efIrts are Of no avail, because
Of the antag~onistic influences TO which such
children are subjected during the much great
er proportion Of time passed in the streets.
The viciousness inculcated by outside cou-
paniOns destroys all toe gold the parents i'm
part, and the children grow up reckless, dir
solute, and without a knowledge OF taeir
otligdti3rs to themselves, their parents, aud
society at large.
When boyhood merges into youth, childrco
thus reared delight 10 congregatiug On street
corners, 10 club I.oms, engine houses, ard
other places where they may erJ,y the iarg-
est and most vicious liberty. IbeIT associa-
tions gradually lead them to disregard AL law,
and we soon fad many of them Ecrpetrating
some sort OF crime. For awhile punishment
is withheld because Oh their yCuta, which ex-
cites public sympathy, judic'aileniency, and
executive ciemeucy IN their iavor. In Il lit
tie time, b0Eeser, they cu'gTo" these, s0d
probably lsccme the inmates OF ais. FROM
this point, their descent into the depths oil deg
radiation tecUm,s more rapid, and they are
soon lost to view. Most of such cha a0ters
placed in early life under favorable circan.
stances would, no doubt, become valuable
memters # society, instead Of Its disgrace.
Ii is obvious, that the first ,laae where the
application oil a preventive l. needed, Is IN
the management of the household. Instead
OF allowing the children t. lice az tie Strce&s,
and come nome occasional y, tie orJer Should
be reversed. We know thatISls IL Cessary Tor
children to have plenty of play-iime, 10 order
70 d~eveiopo their physical systems. Bu: 1t
surely il not requisite that ,hey should run
the streets mure than half their time Tor this
purpose, aud O, ~ecisily when We r~ecOliec:
that many opportunities for exercise mcy be
enjoyed in the tOlses and yards Of the paI-
ents. Parents need to be more deeply i'm.
pressed with the importance Of dIing their
duty, IN this connection. toward tier child
ren. so that they will rear them with a more
complete appreciation OF the IespOnSltiil. Is
which they are under u society. Thus will
they be enabled I, erj y lies blessings them
selves, ard Contribute TO the happiness ot
others. a very large share OF this ncGIccto OF
duty Is attributable, no doubt, 10 parental af-
lection. This often leads parents to grant ill.,
duIgences which 1t Is plainly their duly 10
deny; and TO PALATE and excuse faults whicb
merit ebastiSemeas. Loving liberty them
selves, they dislike to limit theii chitd'~,
though aware that a healthiui restraint is es-
sential to Its future well icing.
All these errors arise !ICm mistaken DO.
tons, or fms whut OF forethou.bt. The pa
rent neglects to lO,k to the future Of hi- child
or else Is unwilling to sacrifice it present
pleasure to It's future peace aud happir ess.--
Bot We hardly dare hope that amgh; We can
say will induce the application OF the reform
10 this respect in many cases: ard we there
fore, turn from the parents individually. to
society collectively. bet insii,usions- houses
Of correction, &c be provided for those chill.
dren who are growing ~ without proper
training and let stringent laws lie made aad
executed i>wards juvenile offenders. Then,
we will shortly ird parents becoming more
careful in controlling their chi'dTen, willie tue
most vicious will soon he removed from tue
streets, and those who are LETT will not be
subjected to such deep and dangerous con
Examinations q. now cxist.--U0Sb. Star
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