Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-03-29
The Punishment Of Crime.

To understand the proposition msde
by the Inspectors of the State Peni.
tentiary at Philadelphia, 10 the Gov
crnor for the pardon Of certain pris-
oners, it is stated that the application
was based on two propositions. First,
there were q large number of prison
ers there, whose terms were shortly
to expire by limitation II was
thought that no injury 10 the public
or the justice, would result, If their
discharge was anticipated by pardon.
A large number recently sentenced
for long terms, necessarily gave few
opportunities for depicting the popula-
uion. As there were more prisoners
than rooms for them to occupy, the
prison authorities felt justified under
the circumstances of making an effort
10 relieve the institution of this sur
plus population. The other ground
rests on a principle which Is not gen.
orally appreciated or understood ~
the public, that time is no element in
punishment. The prison authorities
after forty years of experience, have
found that in the history Of most con-
victs, after imprisonment, there is a
period when the result Of punishment,
so far as that result is generally IN
derstood, becomes eiiectivc--in other
words, when such result is reached, 70
restore the convict TO liberty, fully
impressed with the determination 10
lead an honest life, is gain to tho
prisoner and 10 society number
Of years inflicted by sentence, or a
punishment. has no greater effect in
reformingor improving the individual
than the number Of stripes given by q
parent to a child, in correcting the
evil for which the punishment was
Inflicted. Il is not the amount OF pun
ishmout. but the effective application
of it-ihis laticr can only be applied
properly by experience 10 those who
inhict ii. So il is with the incarcora
tion of a large number of Teopiu in Q
prison There are many Il is true
over whom punishment has no iuflu
enco. but at lhc same time there is 0
large number, who subjected 10 pun
ishmcnt arc benefited aud improved
and il may be, reformed, within The
period for which the sentence was in
hicted
These views justified the prison
authorities in making an application
for tho release of individuals embraced
within these classes. His ExcelIency
I the Governor, in consiruing the aF
plication. expressed himself unwilling
20 interfere with the action Of The
Courts in these cases, cOntending that
Z his action would be misunderstood
and that be did not feel justified ir
setting an example. even though il
was applied for on the ground submit
ted 10 him. To the superficial obscrv
or the Governor was right, and the
officers OF the pcnitcniiary have nc
complaint 20 make TO his determine
ton, resting, as il did, upon reasons
thus suggested as controlling Unit
/ the law shall be so modified, as q
make punishment more a question o.
moral science, than n formal Judicia
duty, il would moi be possible that q,
experience obtained IN this peniien
tiary can exercise the important ant
necessary reforms Long sentence
under the commutation Jaw fail ~
their purposes. Long sentences foi
young offenders, for their first oilensc
are injurious Il is deemed far NOR
preiudicial to society and 10 individ
uals convicted ofohenscs. thata "criml
class" should he established. than iha
moderate punishment should certainly
follow thecommissiou of crime. Thes
are the views rs FAR as they can b
asccriaincd which were given 90 th
. Governor by the officers of the pcnI
tcntiary, aud a full investigation g
the particulars will lead al rchcclin
men % believe that penal science a
now administered in this country
in lis infancy There j. more in pun
ishmcnt than Incarceration iu prison
aud 10 investigate and develop wha
this Is, becomes a question Of scienc'
and has nothing 10 do with the emo
tions or rrcinditcs OF law maxim
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