Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-11-03

We take the following extracts from the
report Of the select committee to whom was
referred SO much of the Governors message
as relates to Juvenile offenders.
REPORT
Our legislation ought to proceed on tho
principle, that there is no child or youth
who Is utterly incorrigible. The existence
OF redeeming qualities in every youthful crI-
minal should be assumed. and the aim OF the
state in regard to the treatment OF this class
of criminals should be to do justice to these
qualities, and give the offender an interest
in developing them. Punishment should
only be administered TO him in such ways
and in such measure as to leave room for,
and even call forth the latent capabilities Of
virtue, and the better sentiments and ms
tincts of humanity which have hitherto
slumbered In his bosom. His humanity is
not to be denied or ignored. He is to be dealt
with IN the spirit of mercy, and under the
inspiration OF a sustaining hope and faith in
his better nature and in the certain efficacy
of a reformatory discipline, if it be such as
to furnish him the motives and opportunities
Of a better life, at the same time that it ad-
mOnishes him duly concerning his guilt.
To this end the system should follow ma
ture and the methods of the divine Provi
dence. The institute ms provided for these
offenders, who often are more sinned against
than shining, unfortunate more than guilty,
victims of crime more than criminals, should
be a school of reform, Of education and Of
correction.
1t should provide along with all the need
full restraints and penalties, in due proper
ton the following elements
LIST, Labor ID. Recreation; Sd, Instruc-
ton, intellectual and moral: 4th, Rewards
and Enc Engagements; for this is the system
of Providence, the method of nature. Even
virtuous youth for its best growth and deve-
lopment in society and the family needs res
traints, the authority and law Of the house
hold, labor and application TO some kind of
study or business, but not less, nav, even
more, recreation, sport, and play, IN large
proportion. This prison gloom must not 50
preponderate over the natural sunshine Of
youth as to chill and repress the bu0yancy
OF his spirits. 1t is not wholesome that he
should always be domineercd over by the
idea of his guilt and his punishment. Then
there must be teaching The mind must be
fed and trained to the acquisition OF know
ledge, and the exercise and culture o. the in
ttlltCludl anu lnOTdI pONeIe.
Finally, there should be a system Of re-
wards and penalties. Diligence and good be
baylor should be encouraged by appropriate
marks of favor, and Incidence and bad con-
dust should be discouraged and punished in
like manner; for this Is acco. ding to the
method OF the family, the school. and socle,
ty; and youth, whether vIrtuous or vicious
needs them.
81 d oh.
quired, first, a farm 10 constitute the material /
bGsis.-tO serve as a site. and also a. a I
means Oi culture and support. This Is too 1
obvious TO need illustration OF remark, S. |
cond, 1t needs suitable buildings to be erect /
cd thereon, at the expense and under the /
direction of the State Third, it needs n /
system OF discipline, education ana reform. |
with proper officers and agents duly APP I
pointed and qualified. the details OF the !
system, the provision and arrangement OF /
the educational and moral forces in which /
all Its life and power must reside. must be l
left to a Superintendent or Board Of Com /
missloners, competent by nature, education /
and experience Tor the task.
1t Is not the province OF committee ike |
this to enter into that subject.
But such an institution involves some ex- /
pense 10 the State, and the question will 4
arise, and has arisen, Have We offenders of /
this class of sufficient numbers to justify the /
outlay? Our State is an inland one. and Of |
small territorial extent, and We have no
large towns or cities like those on the sea-
board, where the vicious congregate in large
numbers.
Formerly there was a force in this ohiec-
ton which it has not now, and We are pro-
baby TO find IN it the reason why Vermont
has not long before tins time establ:shtd
such an institution for itself Ii il probable
that our statistics of crime would show that
the number of Instances in which Juvenile
offenders have been brought - trial in our
courts, hes doubled within the last ten
years. The number Of criminal prosecutions
returned by our courts to the Office OF the
Secretary OF State 10 the year S63, was
sixty. But in the year 1864, the number
rose to ninety. an increase of just fifty per
cent. There have been already returned for
the year sos forty cases, and without doubt
when the reports of the year are completed,
an increase on the last year will be shown.
From these statistics we may safely put
down the number OF trials and sentences.
which may he calculated upon from year to
year, as not less the round number of one
hundred.
The State has then one hundred year of
these children OF msfOrtun0 and crime to
provide for,-not merely or chiefly to punish,
but to reform and save.
But besides this the records of our courts
come far short of showing the whole number
OF those who demand the paternal care of
the State although, to use the language of
Hon Mr.. Weston Of Burlington, in 1858.
''thcy show that the greater number Of those
sentenced to the jails aud penitentiary are
mere youths, or very young persons How
often have appeals been made to our courts
in behalf of young offenders, on the ground
of their youth, The fact has been urged
that they are orphans, or the children of
parents whose influence upon them has pre- {
disposed and prepared them for crime. and
farther appeal to save them IRON the jail ur &
State Prison, where they would be confined '
with old offenders, whose influence upon
them would only be to complete their s
in vice, and place them beyond all c
hone of reformation. And have not these
appeals resulted frequently IN the discharge s
Of the offender upon his ewn, or his friends |
TO keep the peace, or appear @
and answer at future term of the court or s
in the infection oi II small fine. thus sending t
him back 10 the same temptations and evil a
influences that surrounded him before OF i
ten too, these reasons for not sending child c
% jill or State Prison, have operated to pre- =
1ent any prosecution whatever, for minor 1
,fenses But as the descent into crime is 0
apid, and the minor ofense unpublished, t
eads to a still greater one, soon the young
,ffe nder, who might have been saved had we E
ieformatoFy senoolto place him in, be- ?
,omes hardened IN crime, and finds bic home p
It last In the State Prison" z
There is no doubt, therefore, that if we q
lad House of Refuge for these early prof. a
dents in crime. the number Of prosecutions e
nd sentences would at once be greatly {
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