Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-03-01
HOUSE OF REFUGE.
Remarks Of Hon. VIII Cumback.


this bill, ask the Indulgence of the Sem
ate to say few words in favor of the gen.
eral objects sought to be attained by it,
l leave to others to speak as to the details
of the measure. Ii seems to me that I'M
less we pass this bill, we shall have done
nothing more than many preceding
General Assembly has done.
Let US show, by our broad and liberal
views, that we have caught the spirit Of
progress, and are prepared to look beyond
the mere temporal wants Of the people
that so far as we can. as Legislators aud
Christians, we will encourage virtue and
suppress vice and wrong--that we will in
terpose the strong arm Of the State to ar
rest the torrent Of crime that is sweeping
so many of the young into the prisons aud
jails Of the country. That something has
not been done long ago, is matter OF both
regret and astonishment
A conscientious regard for a faithful
discharge Of our duty, and the imperative
necessity Ior prompt and effective action.
absolutely forbid that we should longer
postpone the adoption of this most benifi-
cent measure.
The streets Of our cities and towns are
filed with boys uncared for by any one,
who are pests and outcasts in society, and
who are lIing and moving exponents OF
pauperism, idieness and crime.
Withdrawn as they are from all whole
some moral influence, they each dav make
the chances more certain that their man
hood will be Infamous, that their whole life
will be curse and not blessing to the
world.
Can they be reclaimed? Is il in. our
power to remove them from the vicious
influences that now surround them, and
irstill into their young hearts a compre-
hension Of their duty to God and man, and
implant in them desire for a higher, n
purer and better life?
God has stamped bis own glorious image
upon every one of these living souls May
We not burnsh and make bright this seal
Of Divinity that vicious habits aud evil
communications have so deeply corroded
and almost obliteraied?
Left as they are, with no moral inhu.
enccs thrown around them-shut out aud
excluded from the society of the good aud
the virtuous, and hourly exposrd - the
corruptions Of tho grog shops, the gam.
bling hells and other deus Of iniquity
there is positively no hopc for them
They are lost, irreeoyorably lost, unless
by some such measure rs this we save
them.
Our criminal laws do not meet tho evil,
but rather aggrayate than cure il.
These juvenile offenders are arrested
and thrown 10 prison with pardoned erin
inals aud abandoned wretehes, aud when
they come forth they are hardened IN their
purpose 10 lead life OF crimc-thoy IRE
graduates in iniquiiy aud adopts IN sin,
and commence anew their life of lawleas.
ness IL is scarcely possible TO find n
single case OF reformation in young Grim
inais by this sort OF means. This having
failed, let US try this mode Of dealing with
them. Let Us substitute the laws Of kind
ness and love, instead of the harsh penal
ty Of the luw. Let US make them feel that
We have nm interest in them, and for them,
and that they may not say like one OF old !,
mo one cnreih for my soul
The Institution contemplated in this
bill is not an experiment new and un-
tried. OthosStates have long since wax
ed up 10 the importance Of the subject, and
have by their wise aud benificent legisla.
ton adopted the remedy here proposed,
and with the most happy and satisfactory
results. We have their example before
us aud tho light Of their experience TO
guide US.
1t is n fact that cannot be denied that
kindness has reclaimed the most hardened
criminal Of mature years. These cases, |
grant, are few, but they do sometimes oc-
cur. But ii we will surround these boys
before their minds are matured with a
pure, moral atmosphere, brace up their
PROSTATE relf respect, aud make them feel
that they, too, may stand in the front
rank among men. the very best results
will follow; and if We do not succeed in
reclaining all, We viii be tho Instruments
Of saving many From a careful inyesti-
cation of the reports from the institutions
Of this kind from other States, | find they
bear united testimony to the fact that the
great majority who have the benefit of
these institutions arc entirely reformed
Many who 90 to these institutions are Ia.
ken from thence into the hands Of Chris
tian families aud reared up under it,
wholesome influences, aud 90 forth in the
battle Of lifo on the side of virtue aud
truth. Those are most glorious results,
and GIL the Christian heart with the hope
that tho promised day is not far distant,
when tho knowledge of the Lord shall
cover the earth as the waters cover the
great deep.
But, sir, there Is still another view Of
this subject We live in country where
the people are tho source Of all power.
II the people are corrupt aud deprayod
our rulers will be Of tho same character,
Our executive will not be any more ter.
ror TO evil doors aud q praise to them that
do we'll Our judiciary will not be pure
aud upright, but viii render unfighleoua
and unjust deeross, aud our Legislature
will bo don OF iniquity aud corruption,
and our statutes disgrace TO Christian
and enlightened ago,
To accomplish tho purity Of tho people
for all time 10 come, tho good and self
sacrificing Of every generation must take
hold aud promote with earnest hearts ev.
cry enterprise that will turn tho feet OF
tho young In tho path Of virtue. And
while no seotarian dogmaa should be taught
la our common schools, yet every teacher
IN there should have his head aud heart