Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-01-22
columbus Letter.

itentiary for the purpose of attendlT
divine service held in the Chapel
that institution. By the kindness
The Warden, General Wslcutt, we We
admitted to the chapel in time to wi
ness the coming in of the convict
numbering about one thousand. The
are marched in in companies of abou
80, single file, lock-step, and assigne
seats so as to be under the eye of guard
seated on chairs elevated several fee
above the benches. twas an interest
ing spectacle to see SO many persons
from the young man yet in LIS teens Il
the gray haired, wrinkled old man o
three score and more, entering q hous'
of worship under such unfortunate cir
cumstances. They generally wors {
pale, detected look, although q few
looked IN & quite hearty condition
There we're all kinds of facial expires
sion, the great majority, however, show.
ing a deficiency Of the intellectual
characteristics, while now and then
there was one whose chronological and
physiognomical developments indica-
ted they were of that class of ~conVicts
whose crimes belong to the catalogue
of cunning and craftiness, such as coun-
terfeiting, forgery, &c. All having
been seated, snd perfect quiet prevail
ing, the chaplain, Rev. Byers, stated
that q year ago it had been agreed
to hold a prayer meeting on this day.
in which the officers and teachers of
the prison Sabbath School were to take
the leading part. The usual sermon
was therefore omitted. This afforded
greater opportunity to hear the choir,
consisting of about twenty of the con-
victs, all males, who sing with zeal'
power and sweetness. The hymns were
several of those familiar in every Sab
bath Schoolin the land, towit: Hap
by Day" Come to Jesusj" 'FThe
Beautiful, the Beautiful, the river"
&c. 4 very beautiful and affecting
Duet, by two young ~conVicts, COM
mencing "Where are you journeying,
my brotheri" was rendered with a
pathos that brought tears to the eyes
of many. In the choir I observed a
young man, formerly q dry goods store
clerk in Warren. The Warden inform
ed me that he deported himself unex-
ceptionably. Such cases as his show
the great need of intermediate prisons,
where the convicts might be confined
under such restrictions, and among a
better class of companions, as their
general good conduct would warrant.
As I understand the object of prison
discipline to be the reformation of con-
Yicts, and not to be used, as in barbar-
GUS countries, as q place of torture and
revenge, the young man, guilty perhaps
of his first and only high crime, COM
mitted, perchance, in IN hour of deep
depression, OF when robbed OF
his Judgment by maddening drink, is
among the vicious, hardened
adopts in all manner of deviltry and
Infamous crimes. To hope to inspire J
convicts with good resolves and a high !
ar moral heroism under such democrat :
surroundings is expecting, as a {
rule, toe much. During the I
exercises, and especially !.
the singing of the hymns, a 4
number of the poor convicts we're az
fscted to tears. s though the words !
md strains called to memory the long 5
sgo, when as happy children they had :
lesrd the same sweet songs, while all I
was sunshine and the future J
was bright with hopes, that, alas, have .
been extinguished, in some, may be, :
1t is gratifying to every lover
If humanity, to observe that steady {
progress Is being made in ameliatory
measures for the physical and moral
ScAcuk OAAAC AAAOASNAdSC. SoA my
sat believe, in spite of the spirit of re-
.aliation, and moral shortcomings of
that mankind will discover 4.
hat the most effective surety against
crimes of every grade, will be a recog-
1ition of the claw of love-" in its broad
shristain sense, and that under its
influence every prison door will
be opened and the captive set free
The gradual Introduction of this prin-
into the spirit Of our criminal
laws. would lead to 9 modification of
those features that seem to contain
more of the spirit of vengeance than
reformation. / am aware this idea of
clemency is far from being popular, or
regarded Is expedient. 1.-THE right is
expedient."
JAN. 1.-THE principal feature nboth
Houses yesterday was the passage of the
Joint Resolution resembling
Ohio's ratification of the 18th AmenC-
nent to the National Constitution.
This was done by q strict party vote in
both Houses-all the Republicans rot-
ing against, and all the Democrats for
resembling. It is held by some to be a
question whether this legislature can
rescind the ratification givenby
It's predecessor. While l regret that it
has been done, 1 am of the opinion
that the Legislature has the power to
at any time prior to the ratif-
by the Constitutional three
msiority of the States. 1t is,
however, a question in the present con-
dition of the country, how many oon-
stilute three-fourths of the States. If
the late insurrectionsry States, yet IN
reconstructed, are not entitled TO voice
in the ratification, then the case stands
in q different shape. This is a phase
Of the question that will probably be
met and solved by an appeal to and de-
cision of the Supreme Court of the ..
as to the Constitutionality Of the
Reconstruction laws of Congress. The 1
Democracy of Ohio, however, have
shown their Willingne to strip the reb-
els of all disabilities and put them on 8
perfect equality with the people of the
ioyal States North. There Will come a
day of reckoning for all this, and 1
hooe our Republican friends will take
due notice that the campaign of 1868
promises to be a fiery one, and that the
Jamocrs4u Aushad with their successes ,