Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-08-01
Reform schools, Houses of Rcfuee, &c
Proceedings Of n Convention.

of this city, for a copy of the proceedings O
the Second Convention of Managers an,
Superintendents Of Houses of Refuge, School
of Reform, Institutions for the Prevention
and Correction of Juvenile Destitution, De
linquency and Crime in the United States
on the 10Th, llth and 18th days of May, 1859
of which body Mr.. Reemelin was a member
by virtue Of his Directorship in the Ohio
State School of Reform.
The report indicates that the Convention
was in general, composed of thoughtful men
who had done their best to arrive at correct
conclusions upon the important and interest
ing subject which had called them together
and contains several correct views and valu
able suggestions. II is not difficult to dis
cover, however, the effects upon the minds o
many of its members of the old orthodo,
ideas of Adams fall and original sin, and o
the inconsistencies of that philosophy which
insists upon the moral accountability o.
mankind for all their actions and, at th,
same time, believes in the doctrine of an in.
flexible predestination to good or evil from
oil eternity. Gentlemen, in some instances
appeared TO be afraid to face the results OF
their own observations, lest they should be
found TO run counter to some accepted theo-
logical dogma or religious idea, and thus
failed To- reach truths TO which otherwise
they would, perhaps have arrived--truths
which might have been of vast Importance
in fixing rational basis for a true theory Of
reformatory discipline.
Upon one point--apd we mention il as
somewhat remarkable--the members of the
Convention seemed to be pretty equally
agreed that reformatory institutions of the
character under consideration, should, in
order to the realization of the best effects, be
the offspring of private, and not of govern
mental benifcence. Said the Rev. c. f. Bar
nard of Boston:
" II is common thing to say that the
Government should do this or that; but what
can the Government dO2 They can not keep
the streets ofthis city clean. They can hardly
do anything. The Government can not be
brought up to this work in America, and | am
glad that it is so; for these interests, feel,
are too sacred to be entrusted to officers
These things must be left TO individual senti-
ment-to the private Christian charity of the
people"
The Rev. Mr.. Barnard related story-we
suppose, to illustrate his ideas-which might
seem to raise the question, whether there are
not children SO very naughty as to be beyond
the power of any known form of institutional
discipline, and whose only chance of saliva
tion is in being turned loose upon wicked
world to regenerate themselves. He said:
", -,
most admirable character, that spraug not
from the Government, but from the, people
There was girl, few years ago, a member
of an orphan asylum. She was a witch of a
thing, and would not submit to the artificial
restraints Of that old-fashioned institution,
and they were glad to get rid of her and sent
her away. She went to her poor mother, an
Irish woman, and as a means of livelihood,
set up hair-dressing. But on one occasion a
lady happening to be sick, and remembering
how handy Harriet Ryan was in waiting
upon sick people, sent for her. She went
and while she sat that night taking care of
that woman, she said to herself: why can't
do this my life through? suppose l were
sick, who would take care of meP She fol-
lowed out the idea; she did not trust to gov
ernment for aid, but to humanity-to the
general good impulses that are known to vi
Drate through all the hearts of all peoples
She trusted in God. Now her little hospital
is one of the loveliest we have in Boston; but
IT sprung from the people"
Here is girl 50 much Switch that she
could not abide the restraints of a religion
and notwithstanding institution, turned
of for the safety of the establishment, given
over to hardness of heart and blindness of
mind, thrown back upon the city with all
its snares and temptations, and yet educating
herself into the head of an useful concern.
According to all the theories, having disre-
garded her privileges, she should have be-
come utterly vile and reprobate. SO read all
The Sabbath-school libraries-sO teaches the
Rev. Mr. Sleek in his Sabbath-day improve
lnents. And yet few more cases like that
of Harriet Ryan might raise the question
whether Gods world is not quite as safe
place for the education Of Gods creatures,
ray, the reformation, as any institution that
men are likely to establish. Why, what are
The terrible things that are met with in the
world2 Nothing worse than men, women,
and children-creatures of our own mould,
stamp and nature, made TO be entrusted with
each others keeping, and left to each others
care.
Mr. Reemelin also spoke of the Importance
Of encouraging private reformatories.
~ most heartily agree with the gentleman
from Boston, that we ought not to look to
Government too much in matters of this
kind, especially in America where there is a
proper jealousy of the Government Our
Government is not in the hands of the best
portion of our society; and, may well say,
that our public officers do not represent the
best portion Of our people; and by the word
but mean it in its true sense; and even our
are not the people l would for
II moment take as the proper standard oi
society iD America. Therefore, ii is that the
great body of our people naturally desires to
have as little done by Government as possi-
Dle and for nothing perhaps is Government
less fit than for the establishment of reforma-
tories"
1t certainly looks to us little Inconsistent,
after this, to find Mr.. Reemelin protesting
against throwing away the Government and
this for the reason that it is 70 it we are to
look for model insttutions-the splendid and
perfect examples which private benefactors
are to be privileged to initiate:
"On the other hand, we must not throw
away Government entirely. There should be
ia each State Central State institution.
under the control OF Government, that might |
take one-tenth OF the one per cent. Of those
spoken of-such youths as need TO be under