Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-10-31
VERMONT REFORM SCHOOL.

Report of the Select Committee whom referred much Of
the Governors Message relates to Juvenile Offenders
70 the House Of Representatives aow IN Session:
The Special Committee to whom referred much of the
Governors Message relates juvenile offenders, beg leave
to report
One of the leading objects of the State the Of
inas Society itself human nature is implies crime 1t may
almost be SAID that the aphorsm of the Great Teacher, must
aeedS be Mat 0RenSeS coe 6 v0e ut0 at man By wh0m
"he ogease comeH underies all civil government which
peuppoe5 the certainty nay the necessity of the oense and
provides sort for the incton of the woe-a woe more
or less certain and terrible and better adapted the
nature Of the oense Society preupocs crime and provides for
It's punishment The greatest part Of its legislation relates to
this and the principal function Of the civil magstacy in its
different grades to execute the laws relating to crime But
then there great differences the criminal codes of different
nations and ages and the notifications Of these the various sorts
Of treatment awarded to criminals mark with great accuracy the
various stages Of civilization and true social progress
Perhaps will be found that the advanced and the
Christian the state OF society," the certain and at the
time the mild and considerate the punishment These
punshmens whole less in the of vengeance and
mingled with compassion There is more Of humanity in
the treatment and regard had the good of the offender
The idea OF reformation we'll that of retrbuton enters into
the administration and chaacterzes the laws and institutions
reference to this part of the functions Of state great Eu
ropean authority Capt Machonoche practical phianhopst
to whom but justice positive injustice done in his
day, says My experience leads to say that there
maH utterly mcWrgiJie Treat him a and not as dog
You cannot except by doing justice to the manly
qualities which he may have about him. and gUg him
tefea IN decelopjhg them.
Though may not be prepared to 90 with him to the full
extent there doubt great truth involved in his statement
which should not be overlooked and which civilized and Christian
governments and recognizing and carrying into
practice.
But whatever the truth on this subject may be as regards
adult and hardened criminals the doctrine applies with all its
force to the class of juvenile offenders and strikes what should
be the key note of all legislation with respect them
Our legislation ought proceed the principle that there
no child or youth who is utterly incorrgibe The existence
redeeming qualities in every youthful criminal should be
sumed and the of the state regard to the treatment of
this class Of criminals should be do Justice these qualities
and give the offender interest developing them. Punish
men should only be administered to him in such ways and
such measure to leave for and call forth the latent
capabilities virtue and the better sentiments and instincts of
humanity which have hitherto sumberel in his bosom. His hu
manty not to be denied ignored He be dealt with
in the spirit of mercy and under the inspiration of sustaining
hope and faith in his better nature and the certain efficacy of
reformatory discipline, it be such furnish him the
yes and opportunities Of better life the time that
admonhes him duly concerning his guilt The circumstances
which have made him criminal should be considered and due
allowance made for them and better circumstances discipline and
influence should be provided for him The reality wants and
diseases of his moral nature should be recognized and discipline
and punishment inflicted accordingly In short the genius which
we should invoke in dealing with him that of rerbu
tive justice but that oil mercu discipline and should hold
him not the sword of vengeance but the rod of parental
correction and there should be such ppondeance of the ideas
and methods of charity and mercy systems of treatment
that the gates of the institutions provide for them may
be inscribed the sacred motto Mercy reoceh against ulg
ment"
To this end the system should follow nature and the methods
of the divine Providence The institutions provided for these
Offenders who often snned against than SHINING uno
tunate more than guilty victims of than criminals
should be school Of REFORM of education and Of correction
1t should provide along with all the needfu restraints and PEN
altles, in due proportion the following elements
ls Labor; ID Recreation 3d. instruction, intellectual and
moral 4th Rewards and Encouagemen for this is the sys
tenn Of Providence the method of nature Even vrous youth
for its best growth and development society and the family
needs restraints the authority and law of the household labor
and application to kind of study business but not less
nay more recreation SPORT and play large proportion
The prison gloom must prepondete the natural
shine of youth to chill and repess the buoyancy of his spirits
1t not wholesome that he should always be domneered over
by the idea of his guilt and his punishment Then there must
be teaching The mind must be fed and trained to the acquis
ton of knowledge, and the exercise and culture Of the intellect
ua and moral powers.
Finally, there should be a system of rewards and penalties
Diligence and good behavior should be encouraged by ppropr
ate marks of favor and incidence and bad conduct should be
discouraged and punished in like manner for this according
the method of the family the school, and society and youth
whether virtuous vicious, needs them
To establish such institution there required first farm
to constitute the material bas- site and also as
means ocuure and support This obvious need ustra
on remark Second it needs suitable buildings be erect
ed thereon the expense and under the direction of the State
Third needs system of discipline education and reform with
proper officers and agents duly appointed and qualified The de-
tails of the system the provision and arrangement of the educa
tona and moral forces which all its life and power must re-
side must be left Superintendent Board Commissioners
competent by nature education and experience for the task
1t not the province of committee like this to enter into
that subject,
But such institution involves some expense to the State
and the question will arise and has aren Have we offenders Of
this class of sufficient numbers to Justify the outlay? Our
State inland one, and of small territorial extent and we
have large cities like those the seaboard where
the vicious congregate in large numbers
Formerly there force in this objection which it has not
now and probably find in the reason why Vermont
has not long before this time established such an institution for
itself 1t probable that statistics of crime would show that
number of which invena Lo,.