The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-25

'The Punishment OF Crime" was the
subject OF most interesting lecture de-
livered by Judge John l.. T. Sneed before
the Memphis Law School on Friday after
noon. The learned lecturer held the
ground that the imprisonment OF Grim.
inals in our penitentarics was destined to
increase rather than diminish crime, and
they had an entirely opposite to re-
formatory influence. This Is tho same
theme upon which Judge Sneed leclured
before the Tennessee Bar Association, and
upon which he has been asked TO address
the National Prison Reform Association at
lis coming session in Atlanta. Ex-Prcsi-
dent X. b. Hayes Is president Of this as
ISOLATION.
Judge Sneed conicndcd that capital pun
ishment has not tended TO diminish crime,
and this he demonstrated by facts aud iig-
ures; that the pcnitcnliary system j. Of It.
self a nursery of crime, aud the greatest
curse that can be inflicted upon people
at is, said he, "a great ulccrous car
buncle upon the body polite which con-
rcntrates aud draws To itself the corrupt
iumors OF the social fabric but Ia diGgorgc
surrounding surface. II has proven itself
anything else but rciormaiory system.
IL has failed utterly 10 diminish crime In
any pcrceptible degree, but on the con-
lnIry It's tendency IL b. increase IL, not
only by the communicating influences Of
the thousands aud tens oil thousands Of
bad men who are annually turned loose
upon the community but by the innate
Of N..I
selves 10 resume their dcpredations with
more desperation than ever before. IL
works n positive wrong and injury 10 q
worthy class Of our population mo
chanics, artisans aud labOrers OF our coun-
try, who are the real builders Of n nations
wealth, and whose protection against the
competition OF felon labor ought 30 be q
paramount concern Of the government
"But what Is the remedy" ho mkcd,
"for all crimes involving iniamy and loss
Of honor2 Reformation Is not 30 be ex-
pectcd In an adult iclon, aud rare enough
In minors, and for all that class Of crimes
for taking life or attempting 10 do 10 by
poison, lying in wait or any kind OF will.
iul, deliberate and prcmeditated killing;
ior violating or attempting to violate the
person Of q female, aud other crimes in.
should be punished by Punishment for
life upon some well appointed system Of
penal scryitudc 60 an island or penal
colony outside the limits of the United
States, to be provided by the general
Government for It's own conyicts and
those Of the States, under such conditions
~ Congress may impose anS tho States
will accept
"Pcnitentinrcs, with all their degrading
ndiuncls ought TO be abolished. For the
conviction Of minor oIcnscs, In which
reformation IL possible or hopeful, a
system OF schools Of correction and ro-
| iOrmaiory prisons ought n be substituted,
without the degrading accomplishments,
which of themselves IN the pcnitontiary
system often make despcridocs Of men,
who, under better conditions, were good
subjects for Information.
"Such punishment, he said In concu.
sion, would not only sub:oiye the sup
preston OF crime, but protect society
/ against the maSauds and contamination Ol
| the thousands oi desperate iclons who arp
/ annually turned soose upon II. Tho col.
/ minnling glory u siate-criit IA 10 suppress
crime. The ierrors II punishment for life
would tend moro In that direction than all
others beside, and at once purge and pu
| riiy society from that class al our popula
| ton from which no good IL expected, but
only evil. and that continually"
The nature Of the lecture and tho vast
territory Of comment that Il opens must
be Of moment 30 all. when II N rcmem
bcrcd that Il cmanates from one Of the old.
est and foremost mombos Of the Tonncssc,
bar. one who has served with distinction
| - a.. Affnrunv.f ,auafai "a tho Efuls nd
with honor on her Supreme Bench.