The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-07
HUMANE LEGISLATION.

tits historical fact, noticeable In our OwI
country as we'll az In the more despotic gov.
ernments Of Europe. that In great measure
Legislation has always been directed FOR the
benefit of the wealthy and higher classes OF
society, leaving to the lower classes what
crumbs of comfort could be found In waiting
upon the caprices Of the "lorda of creation.
| But now. thanks to a more enlightened cur
rent of thought and civilization character.
lied NY progress and enlarged humanitarian
vlewa. the lawmakers are beginning to gee
that others have rights as well as the high
born mobiles Of the land
! Gov. Louis Alfred Wilt. If not the very
first. was among the first to call the attention
of the General Assembly Of the State, In his
first annual message to the great wrong u
"eruelties In punishment" Here ts what he
sRys In his message 1t is good and will bean
repetition:
/ When a criminal forfets hie life under the
4 law az o penalty for attoclons crime. the law
ought to be satisfied fully with the taking or the
| llfe. All needless pains aud horrors Ia taking
/ the He Of the laws victim should be avoided
! The torture ot execution is no part Of the peu-
atty. and to that extent y s unnecessary. illegal
aud inhumaue. From the moment capital sen
innnn ia passed unon q criminal to the moment
his lie ls taken. all inlction of suffering upon
| MN ia nnWHfIantpt cruelty.
4 Some enactment seems requisite forbid ling
| cruelty to cVnVies undergoing penal servitude.
| such ronvtets ought not to be deprived of suf-
| tleient wholesome food. pure water pure air.
suitable oh tier. natural repose, and. at proper
times. religious or moral Instruction The con
vict who has forfaIted his lbnrty for specified
period "a al eNplation for violating the laws Of
his country. does not forfeit the rig hit to resume
that liberty when the time Of penal saryituda
| expires without damage I'D his physical nons'i-
tuition or any nynidahle mental or moral injury
Prison discipline futlIls but half lts function
when Y fails ~ favor the reform and improve
And now. marching In unison and sympa-
thy with these generous and humane senti-
ments. comes the distinguished member OF
the House, Hon James II. Cosgrovc. Repre-
sentative from the parish of Natchitoehes
and offers his bill looking to the amelioration
Or class of poor unfortunate beings who
have been hitherto sadly neglected and sub
jected % q worse treatment, II possible, than
the convicts- the insane persons OF the State |,
those who have been hereft of their reason,
but aissud not thereby lose our sympathy
aud protecting care. He Is fully able TO ap-
prrciate the want long felt In his section for
SOME place of refuge FOR this class Of uufortu-
Mates. He has seen them confined to the
common jail, where they had to share the lot
of the common felon. and he has been aroused
Iii their behalf, aud he ls fully determined to
do what eau be done TO afford them an asy-
lnm where their diseases can be comprehend
cd and treated, and their bodies find shelter
and protection.
In connection with this subject we are per-
mitted to make tho following extract from
letter, written BY lady, from North Lou
isiana:
l have heard that there will be an effort made
to establish m inpare asylum for the north