Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-08-21
From the Ohio State Journal.
LIFE PRISONERS IN THE PENITEN
TTARV.

States prison, and the Counties from
which they were sent We omit pub
fishing the names of the convicts for the
reason that we do not wish to injure the
feelings of their surviving relatives, or
open afresh the wounds of sorrow which
time may have partially healed.
There are now living in the prison,
sixty-four convicts, who are serving out
life time sentences. From Stark County
l; Warren 2; Hamilton Is; Washington
| 1; Williams 1; Seneca 1; Morrow 1; Guy
ahoga Z; Franklin 2; Mahoning 1; Clin-
ton l; Greene 2; Lucas 5; Ashtabula l.
Jefferson 1; Vinton l. Adams 1; Picka-
way 1; Licking 1; Morgan 2; Marion 1;
Sandusky 1; Jackson I; Coshocton L.
Miami l; Portage 1; Scioto 1; Gallia 1;
Lawrence l. There are three out on
writs Of error, having had new trials
granted. Two of these are from Hamil-
ton and one from Putnam county-which
would make the number now under SEN
tence for life sixty y-seven. Of the above
six are negroes and mulattoes, and
twenty foreigners. One of the number
has been confined "a years, one II, one
II, two 13, one II, one II, three 10, one
Z, six &, five 5, eleven 4; five 3, nine 2,
and ten less than one year.
Of the above number ten are hope
lessly insane, and others verging upon
insanity, and we think four insane pris-
oners have died within two years. From
this fact it appears that life imprison-
ment has an inevitable tendency to in
sanity, if the prisoner has mind enough
to be crushed. We have had some re-
Elections on this matter, and propose here
merely to glance at the subject and leave
it to those who are more competent to do
justice to a theme of such magnitude, and
| fraught with so much interest to man
kind.
The design Of punishment is two fold
first, the protection of society; second,
the reformation of the offender. To Sc
cure this two fold result, criminals are
imprisoned for period of time intended
to be in proportion to the magnitude of
the offense. Some are incarcerated for
one, or term of years, and some for
life-and now we wish to ask the ques-
ton, do life sentences protect society,
and reform the subjects of them? We
answer negatively. Punishment pro-
tects society by removing the vicious
from it, and operating upon the fears of
those who have not, as yet, entered upon
a course of crime, and so restraining
them from transgression.
The punishment for murderi is designed
to prevent that crime, but Imprisonment
for life does not, adequately, do this, for
hope that the punishment may be short
ened, either by executive clemency or
the exercise of sharpened ingenuity
We are certain that not one Of the life
time conyicts now confined came to the
prison expecting to die there, and per-
haps there is not one rational one but
that still hopes to be restored to liberty
Consequently, though the sentence be
for life, in the estimation of the conyicts,
as we'll as those who mediate murder, it
means only term of years. The Judge
who sentences man convicted of mur-
der to imprisonment for life, seldom, if
ever, does it under realizing sense that
the doomed one will remain in "durance
vile, until the vital spark goes out, and
in pronouncing sentence upon the guilty,
he alludes to the possibility Of an escape
from the full vigor Of the terrible SEN
tence. Forthis, and other reasons, a life
time sentence means only term of years
in the estimation of those unfortunates
whose strong passions have been aroused,
and in whom the demon clamored for
blood With this idea impressed upon
his mind, the prisoner enters upon his
dreadful servitude. His thoughts are
wholly occupied with it by night and by
day. He spends some time in suspense.
His friends then may make an effort to
have him pardoned, but do not succeed
His mind is then called into activity to
form some plan of escape-he tries, and
tries again-but his plans are all frus-
trated. How faint then is the prospect
that men thus situated will reform!-
Spread before them truths of the great
est importance, and to them they are idle
tales, unless they are connected with
their freedom. Speak to them in words
of burning eloquence concerning a fu-
ture state, and the necessity for a prepa-
ration therefor, and they will reply: re-
lease me from this place-give me free
dom-and then I will prepare for the
| future
No one can conceive of the intensity
of the desire for freedom on the part of
these convicts, save those who are con-
versant with them. That desire is with
the last lingering thought that yields
when sleep begins, and it mingles with
their dreams, and in the first waking to
consciousness it is there with all its Wv
idness-it is interviewer with all their
thoughts and purposes-and there it will
remain, absorbing everything else, until
all hope of a release expires; and then,
instead of repentance, there will be de-
ngement--monomani -
If the above hasty review of the ques-
ton be correct, then it follows that i'm
prisonment for life neither protects So
ciety nor reforms the criminal, and, con-
sequently fails to secure the result of
punishment What then shall be done?
This question opens vast field for dis
cussion. Who will enter, explore and
return laden with truth, and bless the
world?
Cultivation of Temper.
If happily we are born of a good ma
ture; if a liberal education has formed
in us generous temper and disposition,
well regulated appetites and worthy in
clinations, tbs we'll for US, and so indeed
we esteem it. But who is there endeav-
ors to give these to himself, or to ad-
vance his portion of happiness in this
kind? Who thinks of improving, or so
muoh of nroservino his share in a world