Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-21

for our State has done as well, and, per- 1
haps, better than many others-teaches, I I
think, very plainly and fOrcibly, that our /
system OF prison discipline demands a
radical revision that the Jail should not
be place of Imprisonment for debt or
minor offences; that that class of Offend
ers should be sent to work-house to be
established in connection with the Re-
form School, in which the school and re-
| form element should have prominent
place; that the jail should be owned and
controlled by the State, and should not be
used for the detention of persons charged
with all classes of crimes; but to one
should be assigned those charged with
one class of crimes, and to another those
charged with another class of crimes,
each having for inmates persons Of the
same degree of criminality, as nearly as
practicable; that each should be furnish
ed with well-selected library and some
current literature, and in each should be
kept q school, not of idleness and vice,
but of learning and virtue. Perhaps
there should be provision by which those
awaiting trial, who should request it,
could labor in the work-house and receive
a portion of their earnings.
The prisoners should be divided into
classes, according to. the character which
they manifest while under a course of dis
cipline. part of each day should be de-
voted by the keepers to instruct the pris-
onerS in learning and i'll virtue, and the
rest to labor, not for contractors, but for
the State. In short, the State should put
forth most active and earnest endeavors,
from the arrest of the accused to the end
of the Imprisonment of the convict, to
: reclaim him from life of criTe to a life
of virtue; and the State Prison should no
longer be an institution "for the reforma-
ton, as wei as the punishment, of all of
fepderS," esith the reformation all left out.
Il may be objected that to effect such a
change will cost money. Shall we stop
! to balance few thousand paltry dollars
in determining whether we will rescue q
: man from crime, and lead him on to 0
virtuouS life, or hold him irrevocably il
: the chains of vice?
, | earnestly recommend a thorough re-
1 vision of our system of prison discipline
in the direction indicated; and com
D mend to your careful consideration the
. reports of the Directors and Superinten
dent of the State Prison.
: STATE REFORM SCHOOL.
: 1t is pleasure to turn from the Prison
S to the consideration of this topic. AL
though not personally acquainted with it,
operation and working, fuom all sources
L hear it commended as reformatory in
r stitution. The credit of its success il
+ due to the wise and conSideratc action O
n former legislatures, together with thu
e faithful and efficient management of thu
: officers of the institution. You need no
+ be urged to aid by all needed Legislation
# in perfectiDg and developing the grea
work so auspiciously entered upon.
= The reports Of the trustees and super
a intendent fully informs us as to the con
!, diton of the Institution, its wants anC
\. requirements. l would recommend thu
O making all appropriations necessary t.
q carry out any judicious plans which the,
# may have suggested. l venture to sng
q gest whether it would not be wise in al
~ alterations and enlargements to have il
view the furnishing facilities for dividin;
IT. the inmates into classes, so as to be abb
v to classify them according to the degre
d of discipline or correctional treatment re
Is quired.
Is LEGISLATION.
o 1t is doubtless true that we legislat
e too much. This naturally results tror
h our system of enaCting laws. Legsl1
Is bOlS SClNC OlClI UllCl anu GHCH OIuCl
,e fill their places. On many subjects @
;e of legislation men entertain widely differ
le ent views, but each is confident that hi
r own are correct. Hence the frequen
q change Of this or that provision Of tn
statute. 1t rarely happens that the re
N vision of an entire subject is attempted
Of but single provision, here and there,
f. changed to meet the varying views of di
le ferent legislators, which results in an il
N harmonious whole.
4 think that legislator should be full
Y, persuaded of the absolute necessity fO
e. the change of the statute law before h
Of should vote for its alteration or amenC
st ment; and then only for such alteratio
1t or amendment as will clearly remedy til
v evil. Hasty legislation is always DANCE
is Gus. The original constitution had
E. special provision against it. 1t not onl
S. gave the Governor and Council the RICH
is to propose amendments to laws whic
III had passed the Assembly, but if I'll
n amendment were not concurred in, the
Is had the right to suspend the passage
the bill until the next session of the leg
S. lature. This was a wise provision, an
ID its spirit ought to guide legislation undt
r our present system.
n, Allow me, in closing this already tc
ee lengthy communication, to express I'll
is hope that our mutual relations may
re most friendly, frank and Cordial and OF
or mutual work honestly, faithfully an
S. speedily accomplished.
th HORACE FAIRBANKS.
s. EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
es MONTPELIER, October 9th, 1876.
of .