Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1867-03-21
For the Herald.l
PUNISHMENT AS A MEANS
OF REFORMATION.
BY II. J.


Punishments are generally infict
ed on those who violate some es
tablished law; and are intended Of
course as means Of reformation
toward the individual who has vio-
lated such law; but whether or NOT
punishment is a means of Teforma-
ton, is the point upon which we
wish to direct our thoughts. 1t is
thought by many that capital pun
ishment is the "sjne qaa non" in
the reformation Of those who violate
the laws of their country. But per
NIT US tO'say, that we believe it to
be entirely inadequate to the task.
1t is curious fact, and one for
which VIC cannot account, that men
in this, the flower of the nineteenth
century, act toward criminals entire
ly as though they could change the
past; they advance the doctrine that
$50 much crime demands so much
punishment" What absurdity !!
If a man should bnild house or
purchase horse, it is not for past
but for future use. If father ad-
vises a son, it is not for past but
for his future good; 30 everything
inflicted npon criminals, should tend
toward working a reformation in
the future Of such persons lives.
But no! The community and the
country must be revenged if it cost
the life blood of the offender.
If a kind and afectionate parent,
and one who is interested in the
welfare of his children, were going
to correct an erring child, he would
approach him in kind and gentle
manner, show him wherein he is
wrong and the danger in thus pro-
ceeding, and entreat him to leave
off his bad habits; to observe more
closely every thing he did; and to
strive more energetically to walk
in the paths of Truth and wisdom.
The child would at once observe
the truth of his fathers remarks
it would stAke deep into his soul
he would be impressed with the
commandment which says, Honor
thy father and thy mother that thy
days may be long upon the earth"
and would resolve to live more
nearly in accordance with its pre-
cepts.
Now, why is it that the same
mode of reasoning will not apply
in the case of a States correcting al
criminal. 1t certainly will. This,
then, should be the language of ev-
cry State toward each of her crimi-
nal children. My dear child 1 am
extremely sorry for my past conduct
inregard to you. should have Civ
en- you a better education. You
ought to have been cultivated
in the different arts and sciences,
and your taste so improved that you
never would have thought of doing
anything mean, low or base. l
have sadly neglected you, more par
as you might have enjoyed
a much higher degree of happiness
during your past life than you have
enjoyed, and also have been a much
more useful man. Now as the
strongest pr&of l can give you of
ny sincere penitance for this, my
neglect, by whichyou have suffered
! severe loss, l shall henceforth
make every atonement in my pow
II. In the first place as you have
through my shameful negligence,
Ldvanced so far in life without being
taught, that you are now
to learn, and would not
wen try to learn if left entirely to
7our own disposal, and as your
conduct proves beyond doubt that
you cannot be trusted to govern
'ourself in society, 1 will enclose
'ou in this my house of instruction
not a gloomy dungeon) where
-ou will be furnished with the best
masters to instruct you (not with s
rawn swords but in a kind and gen
lie way) in the arts and sciences
ou shall take your choice and if !
ou are too old to acquire any taste i
Or intellectual pursuits, you shall n
e permitted to learn some useful e {,
rade whereby you can make liv-
lg in an honest way, instead Of re- a
orting to those base and degrading e
leans you have heretofore employ .
]. "
Go nv son. into this my house II