Daily national Democrat., 1860-04-13

from the path of swift destruction train hin,
to be useful member of society Now as
understand this bill, it is to establish nm in
Stitutlon which is intend ID to be. in every
essential respect is, an educational and not
a penal or merely correctional establishment
l must confess, and at the same time exceed
lngly regret, that institutions of this kind are
generally looked upon as being of the latter
nature and no one circumstance has so i'm
pared thelr usefulness and embarrassed thei,,
management Whatever may have been the
orlSlhal design In the earliest of these estab-
Ishments, more enlightened and humane
view OF the subject now treats them AS not.
III any Ieaulng sense, places for the punish
meht OF juvenile delinquents, but merely as
supplying, under the authority of law, a pub
ilc guardianship necessary to secure their
Soou morals and future welfare in cases
"here, from any cause, the ordinary and more
natural guardianship does not exist. or has
lost Its control. The leading and princinal
oOJect mas been proclaimed by the commits
slohefs IN their report to be instruction and
not punishment, restraint from evil associa-
tlons and not cOntnement-an asvlum for
irendless and unfortunate children. NOT -
prison for young culprits. The Sunr.na
Court of Pennsy sylvania, December term 1s5s
says: The House Of Refuge is not n nrison
out school, where reformation and not nm
lshment is the end. 1t may, indeed, be used
as prison for Juvenile convicts who would
else be committed to a common iail and in
respect to these, the constitutionalitv of tho
Act which incorporated it stands clear of con.
troversy 1t is only in reFpect of the annli-
cation OF its discipline to subjects admitted
on the order of a court, magistrate, or the
managers of an Almshouse, that Doubt is
entertained. The object of his charity is
reformation, by training its inmates to indus
try, by lmbuing their minds with princ,ples
OF morality and religion, by furnishing them
with means to earn living, and above all
hny separating them from the corruptinr in
Huehees OF improper associates" Mr., Speak
err our experience shows us that nearly all
who are proper subjects for a Reform School
are from the poorer class of parents. that
many are poor orphans, and that the main
cause of their delinquency is the want Of
proper parental and amily influence that
the vices of which they are charged are oui:e
as much the result Of accident, misfortune
and neglect, as Of any depra,ity of their ma
tnre, and that, under proper restraint. and
within the protecting influence OF the School.
they would be restored to their proper posi-
tions end fitted to become useful and valuable
members of society. 1t appears an act of in
justice to humanity, to treat these neglected
and helpless children as the subjects Of pun
!shment and confinement rather than of
healthy restraint and proper instruction.
The Reform School, then, is not designed
"as prison for young cuprits, but an asylum
tor unfortunate and friendless boys and girls. ="
If properly conducted, it will in short time
prove self sustaining institution, model
farm, an ornament to the State, and an meal
culable benefit to society.
Now, Mr. Speaker, have done. have
tried to show the necessity of establishing
Reform School, and believe there are none
here who will question it. The reason that
we ask it to be located in Yuba County is
because the Commissioners created by the
last legislature have selected it there, and
their choice has been approved by the Gov
ernor, the land has been purchased and do
mated to the State for that purpose. The pic
turesque aud truly magnificent scenery upon
and around the farm selected by them, and
the many and extensive and beautiful views
which it affords over the most lovely and en-
chanting landscape OF our State, fit it pecu-
Harly for an institution such as the State in
tends to erect and furnish, further-and, TO
us, conclusive-reasons why that, above all
others, should be selected by our Commits
sioners. Nothing, then, remains for us but
10y our vote to day, as representatives OF the
people, to say Let justice be done to the
poor, through this appropriation. viii we
do it
Amendment adopted by the committee,
adopted by the House.
The bill was then passed by the following
vote ayes Al, noes IL.
MIR. Hundley moved suspension of the
rules, that the bill might be sent Immediately
to the Senate
Agreed to.