The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-17
OUR CONYICTS.


From the N. Y. Times. emma
We reported recently the meeting in this
city of number of we'll known citizens,
under the chairmanship of Governor Haynes,
of New Jersey, to establish National Prison
Association" This meetingw twas the result of
the National Convention in regard to the best
prison and reformatory methods, held last
autumn in Cincinnati. It was there resolved
to form national association which should
devote itself to efforts to improve the man
agement of our prisons, and to introduce the
best system of treatment in our reformatories
and houses of refuge. A worlds conven-
ton" on these important subjects of human
ity is to be held next summer in London, and
Congress has already passed resolution
fayoring it, and it is understood that DR..
Wines the we'll known prison reformer, is
to be the principal delegate from this coun-
try. He will act with many other gentlemen
who have done good service in this or similar
fields. This country had the good fortune
early to possess one of the most advanced"
and humane reformers in matters connected
with the penal code and the treatment of
prisoners which any nation ever enjoyed
Edward Livingston, the author of the famous
Penal Code of Louisiana-a man who was far
in advance OF his times. One of Mr.. Living
stons favorite theories was that the great de-
feet of all our systems of punishment was the
removal from them of all element of hope.
He accordingly urged that after the first ex-
perience of punishment, stern and undiluted,
the convict should labor with others, and
finally receive certain share of the pro-
ceeds of his labor; and that when he was
discharged he should be placed in kind of
intermediate prison, or ''house of refuge, as
he termed it, and thus go gradually forth to
the world from his confinement, after hav-
ing practiced some of the virtues which would
be indispensable to his success in an honest
calling. f"
| Punishment would thus be not merely a
retribution, or dull, heavy penalty inflicted
| by society, but species of moral education.
| The convict would come from prison more
valuable to the world than when he went in.
| Hope, and the practice of the self-restraint of
| ordinary life, would call out his good quail
ties. The prison would become, in part, a
reformatory These ideas and principles, with
the plan of reformation sentences and regular
'marks" for conduct, are the main elements
| of the great modern reform which has been
introduced in the 'Irish prison system" SO
remarkably successful in Ireland under the
general superintendent of Sir Walter Crof-
ton. Livingston struck upon the best ale-
ments OF the system before any English re-
former.
One great object of a national association
which should devote itself to this subject,
would be to recommend and secure the pas
sage of laws introducing the great modern
reforms in the prisons of our different States
There is now no unity in our various prison
systems. There is, in some of the States, 8
lamentable backwardness and want of in
telligent methods of reform. Many ques
tions are still under discussion which such
society ought to debate and help to settle fol
practical administrators. Thus far in our bes
prisons the great object has been to make the
most money, and save the country the ex
penses. of their management The Albany
Penitentiary, under the able management
of Captain Pillsbury, not only supports itsel
with its thousand conyicts, but turns ove
some eighteen thousand dollars per annum t.
the county authorities. This, of course, il
good, bat the question still arises, whethe
financial success is consistent with reforma
tory success-whether the men thus trained
are more or less likely to prey on the com
munity afterwsrdF So with the whole con
tract system-how far it is Just to the out
side laborer, and how far it permits the bes
moral management of the prison; then th,
connection of prison management Will
politics-all these questions need discussion
by national association, which should brinl
the experience of every State into debate.
Still further questions connected with tn
prevention of crime should come up, as t