Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-10-11

which confined him there, ho grows no bet
ter very fast. His associations with his fell
lows are verv sympathetic in obstinacy and
disciplinary only in criminal SKILL and ev-
cry evil tendency which led to the confine-
ment is intensified by it unless labor is in
troduced to divert the mind and cheer the
soul.
Labor Is not curse--it IL both a material
and spiritual blessing. IL Is an absolute
necessity TO mental aud moral growth. Let
ny introduce IL into our jails, and we shall
benefit our prisoners both in body and soul.
Who does not remember how II has chased
"thc blue devils" away from his own mind
hundred times in life What man, after
a days toll, has not felt a glow of happi-
ness akin TO that expressed by LongIelow
when he said
"something attempted, something done
Has earned nights reposs7"
When the prisoners mind has been at
tuned to harmony with the industries of
life, it Is then in just the right condition to
be improved by the newspapers and books
which the State-or at least public charity
should supply, and when he leaves the
just,d towards the world.
But If labor is a necessity TO the criminal
in confinement, it is not only the nee essity
but the right of the innocent. To say that
man shall be deprived of his liberty for
no offence, W itbout compensation, is to re-
enact slavery. The bare statement of the
proposition is emo ugh to condemn II. And
uat 10 "a hat oil a.,
picion and afterwards acquitted shall be
remunerated for their time, would be but
adding burden to the State and adyertis-
ing free boarding house for all the loafers
in the land. Put them at work and thew
VIII earn money more or less. Keen with
each an exact account, and If he is acduit-
ted, let him have the balance due. That is
the least that society can do in reparation
for the injury it must often do to innocent
men. In this way our jails will be more
than self-supporting, will practice the JUS
tice which they attempt TO vindicate, and
Will correct and lead to reform instead o
rulcanizing the heart in crime
Just think OF It'll A young man is now il
one of the iails of this State where he ha
been nearly two years awaiting trial. II,
was lodged there just after the Grand Jur,
(Which by the way is another cumbersome
relic of early stupidity and an engine o
malice) had been discharged He waited
year for another Grand Jury term, was in
dicted, tried and re manded because the iu
ry disagreed. His case is a close one an,
there is as much reason to suppose that fu
ture juries will fail to agree as that the frs
did. He has lost flesh and strength and i'm
paired his bodily and mental vigor. Hi
family, driven by necessity, have beer
obliged to provide for themselves wher
best they could and for aught he know
have left him TO his fate. 1t is a hard fate
and possibly he is an innocent man. VIII,
is going TO restore TO him his health ant
strength Who readjust for him the socia
and domestic relations that have been dis
turbed? Who reward him for this profit
less lapse of unreturning years?
Gentlemen of the Legislature. IL IL II
your hands to provide system that shall
make such abuses impossible. You will
have to provide this year for the erection o
one or more jails. Try to advance a stel
or two, If only as an experiment. Tw,
years ago Gov. Stewart recommended re
form and it was not needed. We the PEG
pie recommend II now. And may you no
delay until moral 'jail-fever' shall cor
rupt society, more disastrous in its ef
fects than that which in fected the lords an,
magnates at the celebrated Black Assize IL