The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-14

exercised upon proper representations from
these officials. But It strikes us as somewhat |
preposterous to entertain, for moment, the
idea of hardening hardened and unrepent-
ant criminals for the sole purpose Of max
ing room for others who may be less hard
ened, or for any other purpose. II seems
to us, moreover, that such policy would
be imbcclc In the extreme, and defeat its
own object These gentlemen must have
read The history Of crimes and criminals to
little account, If they have failed 10 dis
cover that the unrepcntant criminal, so
pardoncd, returns to society, not for its
benefit or TO live better life, but to com
mcncc anew his dcprcdations Soon again,
they would occupy their old places, and,
instead of making more, would make less
room. Either more or less of the inmates
Of Our state prison are or arc not 1T sub
ccts for tho interference of the governor in
their behalf. IT they are rcpcntant, il
their conduct has been good, II their char
actcrs arc reformed if they would make
good citizens, thcn the object Of their i'm
rrisonment both that of punishment and
rcform--has been accomplished, and the
officers, without reference TO The question
Of room, ought to seek their PARDON and
| the executive should aud, probably, would
| grant il. If, OH the other hand, they re-
| main, as they entered, criminals by nature
| and by education, il they arc still hardened
and unrcpcntant, If there is danger OF their
again becoming pests of society, then the
great object Of their imprisonment re
torn is not accomplished, their punish
! mcnt is not complete, and no argument OF
| want of more room should be considered in
their behalf, but they should bc compelled
| to serve out tue full term of their sentence.
! If more room is urgently and immediate
| ~ necessary lei it be done by enlarge
ments aud appropriations. not by indis-
criminaic pardons Il such necessity cX-
lists, if il is urgent, we should be The last
man 10 oppose an appropriation tor such
purpose. We fail, however, to see any
such necessity either now or in the immc-
date future We, of course, can only
found our opinion upon the information
furnished by the superintendent and direct
ors, and VIC are bound 10 accept their re-
ports as true and that they have the wei
fare of the state and prisoners at heart
| when they make their recommendations
We turn, then, to the report of 1872, and
fad the directors saying that 1.-THE institu-
l AZ. e., N
source of expense to The state" aud they
therefore, suggest THAT the eyes of the
people and of their representatives, should
be turned with fresh and earnest attention to
the subject of improvements IN our methods
and means of dealing with public Offend
ers.' No necessity, then, in their eyes for
engagements and appropriations, any fur
Their than is contained in the recommends
ton, in another place, for improved
apartments for females, aud chapel
room There were then, as now, three
female inmates. Not a very extensive en-
largement, certainly, required for them
The same RECOMMENDATION is renewed in
1874, and 'cxteusiEe repairs" are asked
for, for the convenience Of these three
females but ''ncat and convenient
chapel had been fitted up. These three
females having been "bcforc the people
and their representatives" for more than
two years, their "welfare and con
venience" having occupied the attention Of
two general assemblies, and they having
been visited by legislative committees, it il
reasonable to conclude that their apart
ments are in no very alarming condition &c
far as it respects their "welfare and con
vcnience." In any event, two legislature.
haying passed upon the subject, it can wei
await the assembling of another legislature
l But how, pray tell ne, does il happen tina
I the prison is so crowded Let the figure
/ | answer whether more room Is more needed
S now than it was when the directors told II
8 "the institution would not be "a source
a | of expense to the state" or two years prio
= thereto. In September, 1870, there wer
d SO inmates confined there in 1872, whcl
:. there was to be no more ''cxpense to tn
f state" there were % and at the sam
+ date in 1874, the last report, there were So
}, showing decrease, rather than an increas
:. in five years. The number Of commit
~ tents shows the same decrease, there BEN
n in 1863, AZ 1870, "A; 1871, 30 1872
It 80 1873, % 1874, So fluctuatIo
8 from year to year but n decrease from 1856
j. and 1870, while the average torn Q
a years" of imprisonment has remained abou
o the same. Taking then the official reports
}. the number of inmates, the number of an
;, nual commitments and the average term Il
d sentences, We fail to sec any immcdiat
" necessity for an enlargement, mrch les
&c for indiscriminatc parlons. Perhaps W
g shall he told that there has been Il large If
!. crease Of crime since August bnt, If 81
o we hayc failed to discover il or its recort
l. aud, moreover, the expiration Of terms c
d sentence and the regular and proper di'
5, charge of prisoners for other good cause
n will make room for the new corners. IL
t. us DC content with the present accommodi
ST tions so long as they are adequate, ant
&c any way, don't let us have any more take
NJ former eau whit, the latter must be bui
i. at once.
. MILITIA
The necessity for well regulated an
~ disciplined militia hal just been demon