Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1875-02-16
FIRST EDITION.
Criminal Reform.

PUBLIC MEETING AT THE CITY HAIL--ADpRGssGs
| BY ANTHONY n1GG1Ns, EsQ, AND REvs. GEO. A
LAIiSER AND r. ISRAEL.
| public meeting Which was designed to ex-
| press the sentiment Of the people Of this city
touching the bill now pending before the Logis-
latare for the erection of State Work House
was held at the City Hail. last evening, under
tho auspices of the Delaware Association for
Criminal Reform. DIR. II. r. Askew presided,
and Rev. II. Israel stated the objects of the
| meeting. Several legal gentleman we're invited
| to address the people, but for some reason only
one, Anthony Higgins, ESD, was present.
Dir. Higgins, beng introduced, expressed his
| deep interest in and sympathy with the cause,
| saying that ever since his admission to the bar
he had plainly seen the necessity for just such
an institution. His position as Deputy Attorney
| General of the State shortly after he had en-
tered upon the practice of his profession afford
ed HIM ample opportunity to fully understand
| the lack OF iltness i'll our system OF punishment,
and he was thoroughly persuaded that something
should be done to prevent crime by tho proper
| training of the young. Our laws, lie said, make
no distinction between children seven years Of
| age and adults in the matter of punishment, and
the only mitigation OF that punishment i'll the
case OF children ia obtained through the deter
mnation of jlnies az to their state Of acconnta-
bty between the ages Of seven and fourteen
years. The criminal code OF the Stale he pro-
| nouncci the same as 1t was Il huudred years
|
| two kinds, and murder had been separated into
two degrees. While England, ard more espe
cially Ireland as well as our sister States in our
| own coVutry, had advanced IN the methods OF
their punishment Of criminals, Delaware las
| remained i'll tho same place where she was
| placed by the fathcra He thought il n terrible
shame TO thrust the young into our prisons with
felons and all classes of crrnin0s, and to eend
them ont into the world with the felon's brand
| upon them.
| ilav Gao A eti,nor woa invited from thn all
dience TO address the meeting, which lie did re-
| atng his first experience at witnessing our Pc
culiar mode Of punishment, when first he came
to Delaware, aud the impressions which it made
upon his mind. III also spoke of reformatory
institutions of the character as that proposed i'll
| Delaware showing how they were made self
sustaining i'll other States and might be so made
here.
| Rev. Fielder Israel spoke OF the practical ben
| eflts of such refornatoiy institutions, and eX-
| planned how the one proposed might be made a
| matter of relief to this community. For ill.,
stance, lie said ii would relieve our jals OF those
| who do nothing and have fine time, making
| them producers and prIlit tn the RtGte inste ad
of an expense the able bodied population who
spend tie winters at Our aimehouses could here
be ploftubly employed, and our community
might also bo freed from the numerous trainps
with which ii is infested 1t was tho design at
this session OF the Legislature, he said, to obtain
the State Work House, and at the next to compile
| with it House OF Refuge.
The following resolution was then offered BY
the Mayor, which was unanimously adopted, and
tue President of the meeting requested to sign
| it and send il to the Legislature
| Resolrcd, That the clti2ens Of Wilmington, il
public meriting assembled, to consider the need
of State Reform School and Work House
would most respectfully but urgently reques
tho General Assembly, at its present session, IL
pass the legislation necessary to establish these
| institutions SO much required in our States.
| During the meeting DIR. Arkew stated that th'
| City Council has generously offered TO donate {
| lot upon which to erect the necessary buildings