Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-29

HoRATIo SEYNoUR ON CRINE.-ln his able
address on Prison Reform, at Baltimore,
Ex-Governor Seymour says:
"As rule wrong doing is the growth of
influences pervading the social system, as
pestilences are bred by malaria. Our study
into this subject soon tee ches us that prisons
are moral hospitals where moral diseases are
not only cared for, but science learns the
moral laws of life when it learns what en-
dangers the general welfare of the communi-
tv4 what insidious pestilential vapors perme-
ate society, carrying moral disease and death
into its homes. Prisoners are men like our
selves, and if we would learn the dangers
which lurk in our pathways We must learn
how they stumbled and fell do not doubt
that some men are more prone to vice than
others. but after listening to thousands Of
prayers for pardon | can hardly recall case
where l do not feel that [ might have fallen
as my fellow-men have done if | had been
subject to the same demoralizing influences
and pressed by the same temptations. There
is a pervading idea in our country that the
spread Of knowledge will check crime. No
one values learning more than | do, but 1t is
no specific for morality and vice. Without
moral and religious training it frequently
becomes an a,d to crime Science, mechan-
ical skill, knowledge of business affairs
even the refnements and accomplishments
of lfe-are used by offenders against law.
/ Knowledge fights on both sides in the battle
/ between right and wrong. At this age 1t
/ lays siege to banks. 1t 6rges and counter
feits The most dan .erous criminal is the
educated, intellectual violator of the law,
/ for he has all the resources of art at his
command-the forces of mechanics, the
subtlety of chemistry, the knowledge oi
mems ways and passions Learning by Itseli
only changes the aspect OF immortality
Virtue is frequently found with the simple
and uueducaGed, and vice with the educated
Surrounded by glittering objects within theil
reach our servant girls resist more tempta
tiOns than any other class in society We
must look beyond the accidents OF knowledge
or ignorance if We wish 10 learn the spring:
of action. To check vice there must bt
high moral standards in the public mind
The American mind must move upon high
er plane. To reform convicts their hope:
must be aroused and their better instinct,
worked upon. | never yet buud man 81
untamable that there was not sonnet hing o
hgood upon which to build a hope. L nevel
yet found a man SO good that he need no
fear fall. Through the warp ani woof oI
the worst mans charact-r there run SOM
threads of gold. In the best there are bas'
materials. 1t is this web of entwined gooC
and evil in mems character which marks th'
problems AMI perplexisies of the Legislature
and Judge, while there is no honest dealing
with this subject unless the American peopl
are charged with their share of guilt, ant
while Christian charity leads US to take th
kindest view we can of every man, it doe
not follow tha@ crime should be dealt with il
feeble way. Let the la,cs be stciff, sser'
and certain in their action What they sa,
let them do, for CERTAINTY more than seUerif
carries dread Of punishment. Let the wa.
of bringing offenders to justice be direct
clear and untramme!ed.'