The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-25
R,,isOn Eafolm-FOliCe.

Little attention seems 10 be plld by the
press to the proceedings OF the Prison he
form Association III Baltimore OF which
Governor SEYMOUR IS president. Tic DIS
cussions are interesting, but really afford
very little light on the subject. there Is
much difference Of opiuion among members.
and rs to tho best mode Of treating con'icls
no man can make up m opinion from th'
savings of this Association.
AT Wednesdays meeting paper was
read Nv Mr.. BRocKwAY very rigid and puri-
tanica in its tone. 1t set out with the pro-
rosition' that criminals were born such or
educated. After giving the, prisoner Il
pretty good turn in prison, alternating be-
tween rigid discipline and long prayers, Mr.,
BrocKwAY says when released he must not
be permitted to consider liberty license. but
must be restrained by legal enactments and
sharp surveillance.
Dir. SEYMOUR took occasion to object de.
cidcdly to the paper; it had too mucl
restraint about it. No man could be made
virtucus by force. He believed that pardons
had reformed more criminals than any other
means. lie had used the pardoning power
freely. There was more or less good in
every man.
Mr.. BURR, Of Ohio, had charge of 900
criminals, and felt amongst them as he did
amongst other people. lie lad some of the
greatest scoundrcls in the country under bis
control. Nothing, he said, could reform
them "but the influence Of the Holy Ghost
in their hearts," He WAS opposed to follow.
ing up the criminal after he was discharged
and he was opposed to sentencing a criminal
for an indefinite period, leaving his term OIL
confinement to be settled by his conduct.
The remarkable DR.. BELLOWS said that tt
attempt to control society by cons,ables wa.
| like bailing out the sea with a bucket. Most
men are kept up by respect for public opin
ion, he said, adding the following capital
| hit: lie had seen in Massachusetts, men who
| were very respectable citizens there, bul
| when they got to California they found that
they had no special virtue, but had been Dol
stored up by public opinion. The ilustra
tration could not be bcttcred by any posi-
bic change OF locality.
| Mr.. WOODBURY. favored the scheme of in
definite imprisonment and General Minor
said Dir. BEocKwAY's discipline would make
the prisoner the veriest slave. He should
not bc followed by detectives when set a
liberty. There was good in him, ard it ough
10 be left to glow if it would. In Missouri
| This Statel when the prisoner entered prison
| he was offered one-fourth of his time upol
| condition of good behavior.
RICHARD VAux, of Philadelphia. man Q
considerable note, pitched in right and LET
| upon lNllaries. He commenced by sayin
that it appeared that all speakers had to sa
| something good of themselves: q most dis
agreeable thing TO listeners. A capital sar
CASH, applicable to the large minority q
speakers. lie swept out Dir. EEocKwAY'
report. lie said to keep up surveillance upol
the eX-convicts who received their education
at Sing-Sing it would take Gordon of 20
liemen around every block in New York, ans
If Il congress OF discharged convicts was con
vened in Baltimore it would exceed in mum
berS the convention there discussing prison
discipline. The Irish system established by
England would no: do here. No policeman
would be permitted 10 eater houses and
workshops tosee If there was ticket-oC:
leave man anywhere. In Pennsylvania they
gave the discharged convict money to pay
his way home. Grimes went unpublished
from rigid prosecutions, the good nature OF
the lury symHsthiz!ng with the prisoner