Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-09-06
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

OF all our large cities 1t frequently occurs that
parties brought to trial on criminal charges
sometimes of even serious character-though
their guilt is fully established, are allowed to
60 UNPUBLISHED, or subjected to q penalty 50
triHing as to exotic their derision rather than
conduce to their reform. The cause Of this
leniency, in the class of cases to which We
allude, is, that the youthfulness of the defend
ants is regarded as a palliative circumstance.
While we have as much sympathy for the
young as anybody else, and can as readily ex-
cuse their errors, We are, nevertheless, con-
strained to believe that this clemency has
nearly always An undesirable effect. The i'm
preston it produces, in some instances, may be
saiutary, but it can operate thus, only on such
rs have done wrong solely through thoughtless-
ness, and who are imbued with sufficient moral
principle and self-respect to appreciate keenly
the ignominy which their folly has brought
upon them. r r.f
The large majority of youthful offenders be-
long to another class. They are such az have
not enjoyed correct home training. No proper
parental authority has been exercised over
them, nor have they had instilled into their
minds those fundamental principles of religion
and morality essential to correct department,
when surrounding extraneous influences are
inadequate to restrain vicious propensities
They are those who, from an early age, are
turned loose in the streets, morning, noon, and
night, being called home, at stated periods only
to eat and sleep. The opportunities of parents
to instruct them in the great lessons of life,
when these possess the competency and incli-
nation to do so, are necessarily brief, and, even
II assiduously improved, the efforts are OF no
avail, because of the antagonistic influences to
which such children are subjected during the
much greater proportion of time passed in the
streets. The viciousness inculcated by outside
companions destroys all the good the parents
impart, and the children grow up reckless, dis
solute, and without a knowledge of their obi
cations to themselves, their parents, and So
ciety ut large.
When bOyhood merges into youth, children
thus reared delight in congregating on street
corners, in club rooms, engine houses, and
other places where they may enjoy the largest
and most vicious liberty. Their associate
gradually lead them to disregard all law, and
we soon find many Of them perpetrating some
sort of crime. For awhile punishment is with
held because Of their youth, which excites
public sympathy, judicial leniency, and execu-
tive clemency in their favor In little time,
however, they outgrow these, and probably
become the inmates Of jails. From this point,
their descent into the depths of degradation
becomes more rapid, and they are soon lost to
view. Most of such characters, placed in
early life under favorable circumstances would,
no doubt, become valuable members of society,
instead of its disgrace.
1t Is obvious, that the first place where the
application of a preventive is needed, is in the
management of the household. Instead of al
lowing the children to lire IN the streets, and
come home occasionally, the order should be
reverse. We know that it is necessary for
children to have plenty of play time, in order
to develop their physical systems. But it surely
is not requisite that they should run the
streets moro than half their time for this Dur.
pose, and especially when we recollect that
many opportunities for exercise may be en-
joyed in the houses and yards of the parents.
Parents need to be more deeply impressed
with the Importance Of doing their duty, in
this connection, toward their children, so that
they will rear them with more complete ap-
probation Of the responsibilities which they
are under to society. Thus will they be ena-
bled to enjoy life's blessings themselves, and
contribute to the happiness of others. very
large share of this neglect of duty is attrib-
utable, no doubt, to parental affection. This
often leads parents to grant indulgences which
it is plainly their duty to deny; and to palliate
and excuse faults which merit chastisement.
Loving liberty themselves, they dislike to limit
their child's, though aware that healthful
restraint is essential to its future we'll being.
All these errors arise from mistaken notions,
or from want OF forethought The parent ne
elects to look to the future of his child, or else
is unwilling to sacrifice its present pleasure to
Its future peace and happiness. But we hardly
dare hope that aught we can say will induce
the application of the reform in this respect in
many cases; and we, therefore, turn from the
parents Individually, to society collectively.
Let observation-disclosures of correction, DC, be
provided for those children who are growing
up without proper training, and let stringent
laws be made and executed towards juvenile
offenders Then, We will shortly find parents
becoming more careful in controlling their chill
dren, while the most vicious will soon be re-
moved from the streets, and those who are left
Will not be subjected to such deep and danger.
Gus contamination as now exists.
TEE CAPTURED NEGRoEs.-The slaves re-.
Gently taken in the SLAYER Echo" bid fair TO
generate much excitement over the country,
though as yet We cannot perceive how any po-
litical question can grow out of their presence
in this country, as the New York Herald seems
to imagine. On this subject that journal ar
CUES much as if disposed to get up excitement
about it, for definite end. 1t says:
The arrival Of these Congo niggers at Charles /
ton has reopened the agitation of the whole social
tnroug bout the Union. A large party there was
already In favor OF the re-opening Of the slave
trade and not only have such Journals as the
Richmond south, the Charleston MeTcurv and
the New Orleans Delta strenuouslv advocated IL.
put tne question Itself was formally brouyh up
In the Legislature of South Carolina abOut vsar
ago, wnen an adverse report was carried by
small majority. Since that time one of the avn
patbisers in Georgia wrote a public letter IN the
Secretary Of the Treasury to ascertain n the GOV