Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-08-18
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

all large towns ana cities, there Will De more or
less vicious persons, whom it behooves society
to punish for their crimes, and, as far as posi-
BILE, place them in conditions that shall render
them incapable of exercising pernicious infu-
snce on their fellows. Hence, we find every
such community supplied with prison. house.
Yet, although this is right and proper, and abso-
lutey necessary for the protection of society, it
does not follow that no discrimination should be
made between those who become obnoxious to the
penalties imposed for violations oflaw Society
cannot be justified, when it is possibly avoida-
Bile, in placing in contiguity such as have only
taken their initiatory step in vice, and others
who are evidently beyond any possibility of re-
clamation. Certainly not; for, as one of the
paramount objects Of punishment is to effect the
redemption of the offender, what tends directly
to Illustrate that design should by all means be
prevented. Now, to shut the novice up in the
same Jail with the accomplished villain, is to
thwart the chief purpose for which he is imprs-
oned; as it is subjecting him to baleful infu.
ences which will naturally weigh him down to
greater depths Of infamy.
The duty of society to discriminate between
criminals, in the administration of punishment,
thus becomes evident; but where to draw the
line of demarcation is difficult to determine.
That il cannot be fairly done, We admit, but
that it may approximate so nearly to what is
just, as to be infinitely better than its utter
disregard, is clearly demonstrable. 1t is i'm
practicable, we know, to distinguish between
criminals of similar age; but when disparity
in this particular exists then a distinction be-
Oh;
urged against it. Thus, every one will ac-
knowledge that it is unjust to punish the child
criminal as much as the criminal of full age;
because the inexperence of the former is a
reasonable palliative. And, again, he can be
but a novice, and, if placed in a favorable
situation, may be possibly reclaimed True,
the grown-up offender may, in some cases, be
even more of a novice, but that is difficult to
ascertain, because perpetrators of crime often
escape detection, and it is, therefore, out of
human power to discover what amount of wick
edness they have committed, who can, perhaps,
be convicted of but a single offence.
The appreciation Of these truths by the ad
ministrators of law in every city, generally
leads to the escape of Juvenile offenders alto
gether, unless provision has especially been
made for them. Therefore, such are allowed
to grow up, perpetrating one misdemeanor after
another, until they pass that age when their
youth pleads effectually in their favor By
this time they have usually become adopts in
crime and confirmed idlers. Moreover, if
detected in law-breaking now, they are pun
ished by confinement in company with tn cir
seniors in years and vice, from whom they only
tau nil Io,, a. L.
generation. In this manner vice and lawless-
ness gain allies, and society loses those who
might have become its useful members, if it had
provided properly for them.
This necessary provision is none other than
the establishment, in every city, of House of
Correction, where youths may be placed to
punish them for criminal practices, without
subjecting them to the pernicious influences
under which they are necessarily placed when
in common jaiIs; and where, by surrounding
them with prOmotives to virtue, they are ele-
waited above the contamination of ubiquitous
associates. 1t is, therefore, demonstrated
that society should establish these institutions.
for two cogent reasons; namely, to protect itself
against crime, and to protect its younger men,
bers against irredeemable corruption. But,
while this is the duty of all communities, it is
fourfold more the duty of the citizens of Wash
lngton. Here exist all the reasons In it's favor
which can be urged in the case of any large
city. The temptations to crime are nowhere
superior to what they are here This too, is
the metropolis Of the nation and visitors come
hither from all parts of this country, and from
almost every other country in christie ndom
The latter, especially, regard this city as the
index to the nation, and from the impressions it
conveys to their minds, they deiuce their opin
ions OF our national character. They cannot
easily realize that the capital of the country is
behind its other cities in any important respect,
and we ought not to be thus behind Yet we
are behind In this feature, which is a very i'm
portant one; and We would, therefore, urge our
citizens to take measures at once for the estab
lishment Of House of Correction for the vicious
youth Of Washington city. Heaven knows we
have enough here to make this necessity most
glaringy apparent.
An OUTRAGEOUS AFFAIR.-Our readers have
already been informed that the office of the Err
change newspaper, in Baltimore, was attacked
few days ago by a party of rufians, who beat
the clerk and another person present, and par
TALLY demolished the furniture The cause of
the outrage was the publication in the En-
change Of an account of certain acts of lawless.
ness perpetrated by gang of rowdies, who ac-
companied an excursion from Baltimore to st.
Michaels. Their conduct was denounced. and
proper rebuke was administered to one John
English, police officer of VIGOROUSLY bad
character, who was implicated in the proceed
ings This policeman subsequently visited the
Exchange office, where he behaved in dis
graceful manner, demanding the name of the
author Of the article in question: and threaten.
ing vengeance, unless denial of the statement
(Which he had prepared and brought with Lim)
was promptly inserted.
One Of the proprietors of the EXCHANGE told
the officer that himself and partner were alone
responsible for what was published in it's COL
umns, and he would not, therefore, divulge