The Placer herald., 1859-02-12

prove useful citizens. Certainly III Is tne uuty vi
the State to use all the means at her command to
accomplish this humane work. 1T will be seen
from the report of the Warden that although the
prison was only established eight years since,
there are already l09 convicts confined for The
second otfense. Many of these men would, if they
had the means, upon their discharge leave the
State, and, probably, amongst strangers, reform
and become useful. To remain here the chances
are that at least eight out of ten OF those con-
victed of larceny and fclones of that character,
will again plumber on society or return to the
prison. 1t is therefore suggested whether 1t
would be sound policy to make small appropr-
alton to pay the expenses CT sending those who
desire out of the State
As a reformatory measure, we would recon-
mend small appropriation to purchase books for
the use of the convcts. Ii proper selection be
made, it is not doubted that but much good
could be effected in this way, and whilst their
sutferings would be allevated, salutary impress
sions might be made upon hearts and conscicnces
which otherwise could not be reached.
In regard 20 the proper character OF punish
ment to be inflicted upon refractory convlc's we
have only few observations to submit. There
is no subject on which greater diversity of opln-
ion exists In many prs corporal punishment
is still rcsortcd to-; and in others, dungeons, and
short allowance. and shower baths are adopted.
We deem it impossible to make the punishment
uniform for the same ohense, because .he varied
cha. ac,crs. natutes, hab IS and education of the
convicts ought to be considered. In order to be
punishment, it must be such as to touch the
pride or feelings of the offender There are con-
victs who would think it no punishment wha'evcr
to be released i ON work and locked up in a dun
geon There are others, again, who could take a
reasonable number of stripes with great compo-
sure but who could not bear the lonesomcncss of
the dungeon. AT San Quentin almost every por-
ton of ,he globe is represented; system OF
punishment which might be expedient for the
Mongoiah and African race would not effect the
object amongst other races. We think, however,
that corporeal punishment should be resorted to
as seldom as possible, and that the haLitua pun
ishmcnt should ne confinement in the dungeon on
bread and water. Entertaining this opinion, we
have prepared dungeons in the building now
nearly completed. where. if necessary. some So
can be confined. The officers of the prison have
been instructed to treat these men as human be-
inrs entitled to commseratOn, and W 10 may yet
become useful citizens. In their intercourse with
chem they are TO receive all the kindness compat-
ible with their security. The convict is sent to
the prison to be deprived of his liber.y y, and com
PEELED to labor, as an cXpiatlon ot his crime;
and any other punishment besides that which is
absolutely necessary to accomplish this. and Ell
force the disc pline of the prison, is not only
unlawful, but inhuman. 1t is quite IN easy mat
ter to secure the services of overseers who will
take care that the convicts work and perform the
duties which may be assigned them, but it is
quite ano .hcr and more difficult matter, to Sc
lcct men who will strdy the character of the
prisoners placed in their charge, and earnestly
attempt to find some avenue to their hearts with
a view to their reformation. 1t is rarely. indeed,
that a convict enters the prison for the frs time
who does not still retain some honest impulses,
which, if properly directed by kind treatment,
may win him back to the path of virtue. When
accommodo tions are provided so that convicts can
be classified and separated from nal gn influences
ln kpI tn n
the selection of officers and overseers
A cOpy of The rules and regulations for the
government of the. officers and cOnvicts is here
W th transmitted.
The vouchers showing the disbursements on
account of the prison have been placed for con
venience in the office OF the Secretary OF the
State where hey arc subject to the inspection
of either of your honorable bodies, or any com
mttecs which you may deem proper to appoint.
SigneD JOIN B. WELLER,
JOSEPH WALKUP,
FERRIS FORMAN.
NorE.-Great credit is due to Lieutenant Gov
ernor Walkup for the rigid economy practiced in
the management Of the institution. He spent
his whole time at the prison in discharging the
duties of Chief Wa den. and as there are some
doubts whether the compensation allowed by the
10th section of the Act creating the Board can
be legally drawn we recommend leglslatlng 10
remove the difficulty. He has received for his
services only $75 per month, compensation OF
course wholly inadequate to the position which
he occupied JNO b. w WEl4.Ef,
(Signed) FERRIS FORMAN.
REPORT OF THE PRISON PHYSICIAN.
Hon Joseph Waihup, Warden Of The state
SIR: In obedience to your request | present
you the following Report from ,he Medical De-
partment of the State Prison Of California from
the lst of May to the 3lst of December, 1858:
The sanitary condition of the prison has been a
great decrease of dysentery, d'arrhG and the
various affections of the stomach and bowels.
These diseases have heretofore prevailed to a
very great extent here, catarrhal and rheumatic
affections have been very plentiful and are be-
coming very troublesome. The cause of this is
found in the crowded state of our prison
AS you know, the men. when locked up are
literally piled one upon another; this mis- the
room with animal heat and impure air. The
mornings are cold and chilly, and the men are
called out early to work. The sudden transition
from heat to cold, with their bodies much relaxed
and debilltated by the heat and impure air of the
rooms render them very susceptible to the above
mentioned diseases.
The nature of the work also combines to pro-
duce the same effects. For the same reasons
fevers would also be very common but for the
extreme saubrity of this point
What ferers there have been have been gener-
ally of the mldest grade, ] have had to heal
more than the usual number OF fever and ague,
but find the seeds of the disease almost invar-
ably sown in some other locality before coming
here The annexed tables will show rather a
large array of chronic constitutional diseases OF
a peculiar nature brought on by the indiscret ons
and folles of the mems past lives. The only
remedy for this must be in the general improve
ment of the morals of this particular class before
coming here. There has been but three deaths
since the first of May, and but live ior the "hoie
year. Four have been from natural causes and
one from the effects of gunshot wound received
while endeavor oring to escape
Anne sed you will find tables giving the num-
Der of those who have received medical treatment,
the nature OF the disease. DEATHS insanity, etc.
have the honor to be, ETC.,
i EERR0