Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-07-02

rom their homes and families and business, con.
hned In the company of the vicious and the vile
ana after months of suffering are discharged will
the faint, the disgrace, and perhaps the corrup
tlon OF the prison upon them, yet wholly without
redress or compensation. They may be moi
even accused of crime, may be merely witnesses
heid for their evidence, yet are made to endure
az inc disgrace of prison fe They go into con-
nnement perhaps young and pure, and come out
hopelcssly ruined by the vicious teachings and
influences to which they have been exposed.
:, short time since the writer of this found on
tnc records Of the Jail at New Castle the cases OF
niteen persons who at one term Of The Court were
| discharged after having been In prison from two
to six months, without trial. Several of these
individuals were mere children, one a widow
with unattended children at home, and all CON
| nned on accusations never substantated and
never called even for trial The accusers had graf
llcd temporary passion or malice, or had OBJ
talned revenge, while the poor victim because
poor and friendless, had suffered the sorrow and
the loss. Such cases of helpless and frendlcss
suffering, under such Hagrant injustice, appeal
liiost strongly TO every friend OF humanity aud
righteousness. To create friends and help to
bring such cases to the notice of appropriate aI-
thorlty, and obtain Justice for them, is a matter
which commcnds itself in our organization to
every benevolent mind.
Our constitution speaks of the families of
criminals. Here is a subject seldom thought Of
" inc public; attention. ii given at ALL is fixed
on The cuprlt. He is justly convicted, sentenced,
goes 70 bis long confinement, and the case Is
ee,nded, when the prison passes out Of view. But
tlefe are worse than orphans and widows left be-
hlpd to struggle without the help of husband
and father. These are forgotten. Sometimes 1t
u a mother. She may be wcked she may have
been Justly committed, but outside are little
children and home. Who shall care for them
Gases OF heartrending interest ara constantly oc-
CURING of this nature.
!, we hope through the agency of this associa-
ton to care for such families to provide them
w,5h !, homes IN appropriate places or institutions,
ana 10 prevent the almost inevitable vagrancy,
and suffering and crime which await them if no
friend appears for their relief
Inc discharged prisoner is an object of deep
ana important interest. His case demands at
once care and sympathy. After months, it may
DC years OF confinement, the doors are opened
and he goes out a free man. But how or where
Inc air OF the prison Is about him the fact that
nc Is discharged prisoner, is sufficient at once
TO exclude him from employment he is poor
ana without money, without decent clothing and
without friends that are friends. Whittier shall
he 20.
BY the dire necessities of his case, he is driven
back TO his old associations. Lost to all good
friendships the vicious compnnionships which led
nin into crime wait with open arms to receive
him back and tempt him again. Perhaps the |
most OF those speedy recommlt.ments of GRIM |
lnals which shock the observer arc brought about
by The absolute inability of the discharged prisoner
70 escape from such Influences Many convict
Joy but with shrinking dread to the day when bis |
term OF imprisonment ends since he knows so |
well that he cannot resist the temptations which
eagerly will welcome him the moment the Heavy |
doors open before him.
This association seeks to take such by the hand,
speak words of hope and encouragement in bis !
gar, provide him with clothing and transporter
ion send him beyond the reach of old associa- |
lions and into new ones, obtain suitable employ
ncnt and 30 under better auspices help him to |
better lfc
Toprevent crime By efforts directed to It's causes
lnder these general terms the association signifies
Us desire to direct Its attention to the state of our
Aims Houses and institutions of similar chnrac-
er. We hope not only to search out abuses, to
uggest and promote improvements, in them, but
o explore the wide field of vagrancy and pauper-
si tnose fruitful cuases and effects of crime. In
ms department of phanthropic effort wide
led opens and urgently demands careful study
md earnest effort The common interests Of
ociety and OF humanity alike require them at
,ur hands.
We have thus as briefly as possible. and we
ear only in outline, laid before the public the
designs oil this association. That its object is of
asst importance no one can doubt who Is willing
give the matter moments attention. Weap-
zeal to the thoughtful, the benevolent and the
Tristan. We ask their sympathy and their
elp. In this matter we are In this State quar-
or OF q century and more behind our sister
tates. Let us make up for the delay by carnest-
css and activity in work.
Having undertaken this thing in which we have
% more personal interest than that in common
With all our fellow citizens, we confidently look
them for the pecuniary aid necessary 10 ac- !
omplish the design of this Association
we give below the Constitution and the officers
1 the Association.
:, H. F. AsKEw, President.
WILLIAM ALTMAN, Corresponding Secretary.
WILMINGTON, DEL, June 20, 1868.