Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-10-13

| the State. Each OF these industries Is es-
sentia TO, and more or less dependent up
on the others for lis best development, and
should be judciously encouraged and fUs-
| tered by the State. think that these in
teresis are sufficiently important to war
rant the continued employ ment of judi
eious and properly qualified secretary;
that in collecting and arranging facts and
statistics, making experiments, holding
public meetings, suggesting the best meth
ods and bringing them 10 the attention ofthe
people, he can find ample work which can
be done probably in the interests Of the
State.
would recommend larger appropria-
tion than is asked for 10y the board, whose
expenditure should be guarded by suitable
legislation and also that the State geolo-
gist, whose official duties lead him TO a
consideration of tho mines and minerals In
the State, he made an ex-ofIicio member Of
the board.
THE INSANE.
This unfortunate class are peculiarly the
wards of the state. Bereft of reason, and
frequently OF friends, the state will he de-
relict in duty if its guardianship be not
generous, active and vigilant
have read the report of the commits
sioner with interest. 1t is apparently
thoughtful and carefully prepared docu-
ment. / commend it TO your careful pc
rusal and study. The facts and deduc-
tions therein stated are startling. have
not sufficiently examined, and am not suf-
ficiontly familiar with, the facts and cir
cumstances either to adopt or deny the
conclusions OF the commissioner. If his
conclusions are well founded, there is ina
perative need OF immediate legislative ac-
tion.
Thai the number of insane under treat
ment and needing relief should have stead
lily, year by year, increased from the foun-
dation OF the asylum, while the population
of the state has remained nearly stationary,
is a matter that challenges attention and
inquiry into the causes OF the increase.
May you Carefully consider this important
subject, ascertaining as nearly as possible
the exact facts as TO the relative increase or
decrease of insanity in our own state, and
other parts of the country, and may your
action in the premises be wise and just 10
these unfortunate wards of the state.
commend to your consideration the sug-
gestion OF the commissioner with reference
to the enactment of safeguards against i'm
proper commitments both to the asylum
and TO the county jais.
STATE PRISON AND COUNTY JAILs.
think 1t might be safely asserted, after
the experience Of nearly a century, that
the operation of our system of prison dis
elpline, both as prscticed in the stale pris-
on and in the common jails, in its effect
upon the prisoner by way ''of encourage
ment of virtue and prevention of vice aud
immortality" has been a failure; that the
prisoner, from the effect of his imprison-
ment, instead of having become a reform-
ed and better man and citizen, with ncli-
nations towards virtue, has become. dis
courag ed, hardened and too often hopeless
ly fixed in a criminal course of life. Too
oilen has it happened that The day Of his
discharge has witnessed a repetition OF his
former criminal act, or some more heinous
crime.
This, to my mind, indicates that our sys-
tenn of prison discipline is radically wrong
in principle. The state has, and can have,
no feelings OF revenge towards an erring
citizen. Her conduct towards him should
not he such as TO lead him to feel that he is
an outcast from her care and protection.
Neither should il be such AZ would indi-
Gale disregard for his criminal act. Her
treatment should be such as evinces the ut
most adherence and detestation Of his
crime, but at the same time the greatest re-
gard and tenderest solicitude for him as a
man and as a citizen.
fear that while the state has been most
active in showing adherence of crime, it
has been lacking in earnest efforts TO save
the criminal from his crime TO manhood
and good citizenship. When any Lerson,
old or young, is fully convinced that he is
an outcast from society, and that there is
no hope OF his ever regaining the good
opinion and esteem OF his fellow citizens,
he is irrevoeably lost TO a virtuous life.
Hope is the great stimulating motive to
action and to striving for better things.
When this is crushed out, the man once
bad is bad beyond recovery. The tenden-
cy OF our system of prison discipline, 10
my mind, is TO Danish from the convicrs
mind all hopes of return 10 virtuous
life. Consider the treatment of the stale
towards this class of persons.
A young man is accused OF the commits
sion of a crime. He is at once arrested and
thrust into the county Jail. No person on
behalf OF the state visits him, save the Jail
or TO pass in his meals three times day,
and TO lock him safely in his cell, or the
state s attorney TO inquire whether he wish
es to plead "guilty" or "not guilty." Not
book, not newspaper does The state fur
nish him with which 10 while away the te-
dlous hours. Ifthe jailor out of kindness
provides reading matter for his prisoners,
I IL is of favor and not of right. His asso-
ciates may be Of any degree of criminality.
1t is the common receptacle for all accused
, of the commission of crime within the
county and awaiting their trial, as well as
the place for punishment for those convict
ed of minor offences.
In a dim-lighted, ill-ventilated room,
with nothing to do, not even, when trans
lerred 10 the state prison for safe keeping
on the order of the governor, allowed to
work, though requesting it, he passes his
, days and nights as best he can, brooding
r over his hard lot, planning ways of escape
or listening TO the recital of obscene stories
or tho criminal life and criminal exploit:
of his associates. And yet he is not a con.
/ vict. He is only an accused. And this il
the attempt of the state 10 prevent the COM
5 mission of crime, most frequently the Off
I spring ofldleness, by compulsory idleness
At length he is tried. If acquitted, he goe,