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V ^ ' V plume -Ilk) CAMD] f, (S.C.) SATURDAY. JANUARY 17, i3i?. \ . . , (Number 02. J > PRINTED BY* GJZOF&& irn. Hjnnr. - Foi TflE PlWDPAlETORS* 7>- jtrite to Smbcriber* is g3 fxer annum exclusive of /ioitcge ; and in alt caeee Kohere ytafitr* eMail be ?elh?*ed at the erfienee of ht publisher t the firjee t yill_ be R* jk) a ymr, IdtwfiatfiHx month* affrr rubvtrbing* . n i ? m THE COMMrrrEE Jfaotnted at the tio*e.qf the iu?t ... Tq enquire if is ht exflatirnt to. alter th9 Pehat Code of thin state ; and {f fref.edUhU* %ek*t a Iterations wcrcrrq uir idf&friecve to RE POUT-- ^ ? THAJ' thep wttjct "jHrrvnted, by'cif [UJOt?W?> foMp iMtmblitig dur4?t tfc Sg^SS&asasc ad romM?rktiOir wtiieg f|? imporwux wo*jkl aecja to require. Tbs rrnull bow like prttpnt th*y B fi> Mm legislature to determine whether further in fon^io^^e ntqcqmry to tit ultimata de \ CBMfr > . :? " ' \ of tlie penal code of the fU&ft appears, from rt;)t*rate<! executive re to bave been rnurh de*ir >' porh^tfqy tfyfibt caution, k is believe^ Kj ip hee? *itfectv notof imysujvpoiied perfection io our crhuina|law, lull yi'dpiibts 15 to the pqlfcv of adopting t'oc particular ^tcralir)n#4ec6^niftn^tU That some aK (rftttihi baft neVer bee|? tUM* ?op? aAcratkm* are now ae* >*f conviction prow, are frequently committed^ tfoifewarf Intended fipfag - ?rc*s> tnd which, K Is bclk ved, can be ;?itypr*pj^fJ,.or very mtfch |ea*eno<V ?vi|% tfo rpm?d\e.u Iwve been .^UggllKcd. ' The adoption of the penilsnti ary system, or only A to ahcr our present 4awa, as to increase cor fin nlnish the quqn tum of puniBt\m<MU now apportioned. * :?*ehT>f tho^? remedies h*fcih?aflvoCatc*.i k both in the Opinion of y,our committee are' entitled to consideration. The ^cnttcntia* iy Jfateto will be dret examined. - Jtofaxe }um*nrf we procecd te this ex# a kw oUicrvations will be bug to c-itablish eenw?n propo . without preter.dinvj to axio OTMrttc truth, ai*e supposed aulKciently cor rect to induce general acqu*e?cef>ct'. lu the noealaituafWiH in which the people of the United States have bee* tatt rendered the ioMone of ex (WTW^Wfeu unotvrraal importance here a an elsewhere* k tolaeve?thrlcH% believed -ktexn<jrionce here ? elsewhere, will ever ^e the !>oaV source of wisdom, andaur &mnd*tion of policy. This truth,* tho9 | knot* tmfrcqucntlyfliirgofc disregarded. iumnportw% on tfib ac ta frond that memorable 'ttaUtfettf t1??'f?Mncy <jf tmrAan wWom, Dpon^i'l and gatevn i the early annals of eur & w? ?fc? pr.?^u"<1 IpllN (Vm itemed ? . ana iystem of lawi ?BPjl "Mr. Lockc'a govnra* meat and lawa are knoim to have failed m till o( lge? We ka dxigtncica of r lessor* of cxpa ? "Speculation, urgus hare pasa* i tod civil law* ; *1U probably con >COtil^^v' ^ g.h*;anly proper objecjif punish Meyeptienof ia a pn> m* ttfiflNtrtnlty admitted, rt in the ? stiiv.fetiohof yottr t#i: dUtiainuri ? Tl* iOfjfcel^Ke latv v^^mr0 nioit notip^vitM^ m trafci 0m Vkw' I r X' fc" i ia regarded a?(amt society camiojt bo rotri-N fbr { I crirnr f fv (SR*nW t?< Wo? kcd^nt? ?? IRjfclmiy could he warkeh ?Hit, \t must al wars c**Ht more labour* ui '-?what if e^uivaknvto lobour, to tfeeufa tha labour*# a criminal, than lyslaltuur can be > r Anf other proportion ment and crime, thou Ua. . tha <*upprta?lon of the crime? fcA v Vionary. Vould the smaltei t ?u|>*t>ra?s<' 4 by the greatest pan* * ?jiy a atgfct to ho attached, lfwl w e*t f4iifo"scan\<4 b j pUvctitci ; by i f9ii flliiHithmurts it ought to I >v apportion f. ad; could (he same penalty. prevent ever)* tVimc, there thontd l>? but one pi-unity. , To ^portion the ponVslrnents wiih any ?agree ? #Typrec^\on to the crime, wookt ?. *;)^fnr to Vitvolvathc following oiftteuKtait) l:\ tlv |i?r*t place* the sensibtfu# uf ttie / j{. criminal oti^htfo J>e ascertained ; fo^ the same punishment would effect very differ cnUygfr>?roof diffeirerrt. (kjmn of seuei bitiXtfTto one, that punishment might t>e torture, which to another, would be little more than unpleasant 2dly. The effect or each crhwc on soci ety ought to be ascertained; and tfira, itis t caw fliyty m% very remote degree. To kill A* T*t?o a virtuous intelligent, add active jqrm bef of society, H much more injyuous ' than lo kill B, who W u worthless vagrant ; on the lile of the firtt, the |tappinc?i of Micicty may materially depend ; the death of the last may so far beocMUK at to (list nenmber society of a drone. No law K?ver however, has ever ventured indis criminate between these cases. v fcxUcme ly dangerous would it be to c^iti iuanafc:, and yet without sod* dt&rhinnatroh, what preteniron can there be to proportion ? jl 5dl^. Diftkuli as it ?e to ascertain with any precision, tfie ?*mib?hty.rW{ the *ri-< nw>al and the effect ot the camie. wore 1 4i^tut must it be topenetfate tbo motives *of the criminal. Manis seldom infetteoced bye simple motive and y el when so io- ; ; flu?nced, tt is diQicuIt ot' detection* The j more conpUx his motives* the mtye dif- j ficult is the ta?k of fixing his tr?minsluy. | and yet if piopottinn between punishment and crime, mean any (hing^riibrt than the quantum ot punithtpent necessary to ilie 'suppression ojtMie cHnse ; it, would seem to reler to Hie sensibility of the^ criminal, the eflVct of l ho crime, and the motive^ witiv- which it pe?i>ci rated. But if the exact proportion coutd be ascertained, it is difficult to perceive the ben^nl that jpould result. We admit e proportion in architecture ; the mrtid is grantied When all the pai h ol a building appear n? culuted to e&ct the purposes lov which they were intended. ? ftotl crim nal huwe>ay liai been punished exactly in proportion to his sensibility ; the effect of nis cr ime ami the motiVea w th winch he ^>erpctrate?i the ctiinc* would afford no pleasure* it is apr prthended, unconnected wuh the hope Hbatthtrcrlme would not i?e repeated, t )n the Other hand it would appear fastidious r In rite extreme, tn object to m punishment which snppretted the crime, ontv because it w^s n^t in exact proportion to it* aenst bHityNof the criminal* the eftcct of \he 1 ofTctice, and ihe motive* with which it had been perpetrated* \ v * . 'With tlit*? obset v*tion% vowr commit tee will proceed Mi the consideration of tit* penitentiary *ystejnv > . sj-l 'I he relurtance'wivh whV.h tHH Subject Tuts always been considered by the Jaltire. when greeted upofl their attefuion by executive recommendations, w-ik ik effect, It is believed (us before styled) of greet doubt* a* to the practical effect's ol i theory, which vlimi h brilliant hud not been lully tried, and upon which the grow ing experi^ce of other sUUrs, WQu'.rl lilt ; no protracted length ol lime, shed a liglU which \VouUl duMpatc ull doubt, and pio uure a tiec?e*on< In every respeof satisfac to y. It is U?? the experience of those mates where the penitentiary by stem has been longest tried, that your committee now propose to look h>r thai li^W; which , shall confirm or dissipate those doubts which have hitherto cxilted on this sub* j? < t? . * ? ' v ? In Pennsylvania I where the firs^Ame riean penitential y house was erected, It appears from a recent publication entitled, v 4* A suitisltlal view of the operations ol lUc penal code of Pennsylvania*" that its operations hud "been extremely beneftcW al for the first two years after its establish ment t that of two hundred persons who [ had been pardoned, osily Ibui halt return ed/' At that period a appears further, that " the number of convicts wit* so small ^ in proportion to the building, that the a * Wrmenrs inv the prison and the prison yard afibrded convenient and urtipt* room for the separation and entployment of; the convict*,* k v ' >> . ^ The prand jdry of Phi 't?delphi*i In a reetnt presentment eay, 'Mhat wh(i*-they %otiCe with pleasure, the high degree of order aild cleanliness, they ate compelled by a settte of ddty to prejpnt ae an evil ol considerable magnitude, the pre*en\ ve#y crowded stale nf the penitentiary t the mimbet of prtstofers, of si) chiseee, con. tinue* totocroatie, so thit from to to <u> fcaf* lodged in room?|lS feet aqnerw* so *?efly ire thus crowded together* that the institution alrea >- ?>egirf# fo eeepmk tlie character tf iaf Ebrop&n prison Irtd'i ? J minat y for every ttee? in wfcich the uirfot [ lunate being who commits a f?;*r otlfcnee ami knows M?te of thearjf of methodised villainy, can sctrety avQWj^tolttamihlr lion which MB* to cYirfctyfc depravity/' ? * 'It appears, farther, frdmth* name pub location. u that of 4M cboeiels nnw hi the pehUemisrf of l*ennsyt+an)a, 161 huvr 'Jbeen confined there h*fore?" * The t^mmisfctonofs appointed to exa wioe into the ettoeof the New- York pri son, nvjkhci? rot met oha?*?v?:. It Has f<^ 1 tnMsf ?ffcc*.? infc tl?e object cliicflv in wt?r, btrt hat sub jected the tre^suvy to u scries of disburse ment* too oppre^ive to be continued <if they cm in ihy Mray lw prevented*** The cause of this failure is said to be the crowd in* together-lhe^prisoneis, antl a relaxa titm of discipline* It appears, . futther, l hat a Wry latge ptG^oriio/v ot those who havffTSeO* committed foy the last five or ^ ix yearf , hid been confined there before. The commissioners appointed to exa mine the Stale prisoh of Ma*?t?husetts, in thehr report coinpiam 41 that the prison Is so crowded as tit defeat the object fbr wh;ch the insiiiution w*a erectcd,'' They state, (briber, u that the only tc!^nrauvs which the Commonwealth appeals It) de rive from the estahH*hrf?en\ are ? 1st* The protection attorded the com munity against the crixniDa's during their* confinement. > AM.rSk*. value of the earnings of this . OMiviclfe winds may l?e supposed to oc so | ^mochgaini since live greater pari ot thia class of men when larye, vert )U the exjr pevtse of the community without labor. BmrtiiiaipjkatV sa> these commission ers ^pjfe^t treason to suppose that (he ad* vantage first mentioned is more thlm coun terbalanced by the grtAet hardihood and more settled corruption which- a promiscti . ous association amonu the convicts mus I produce* particularly the young** /-- - j^| It is thought unnecessary to make fat* (her quotations from these publications, as they are in the possession of the. legisla lure, and can be procured by all. ^The most aUenitvc exumtnaiion-of these documents^ on ?he >ait of the committee, has been followed by a thorough conviction that the pehitconaly system* ?*' ** *1 has been, jet tried, has failed. It is not howeVer to be concealed, that some hope yet exists; t!i?t solitary confinement maj be mi apportioned, us to restore lu the sys* ?jf g- ? ? v j?%**s% ss? si rv J J tr? ie?n, the confidence which it once posses sed, bui of which, for some time pastt it has been deprived. ' ' , "? Should U Succeed, It Will be gratifying . . to humanity |o ?ec-H? Vnefita emended i$_ every portion ot nhe hubitablc world and it is nol doubted 1 haijit such an e.vent< the legislature ot this stare witi avn;l i self of f the earliest fppor&fiity of adoptmg (he system ; but uiudlt Ums been wtll tried and 1 has fuliy %an*\tertd, yolir committee car* nol but behuve,. it \vvtitd be unwise in the . ktftM>ftiir?e to aticm)?t it.- "|%ho *j^*:niuvotV a hearty CiWiin.enre^l \Yt*r jH numeious, and ^wtil pt ohuhl v he conducted with so much I afnltly, as. will leave no doubt a* to tlie re suits M?at niay be afforded* h ^;ty, in* ' deed, be necessary to a full a>iyfatr ev pcrtnient of the systefo, that some sta e* should n??t aoopi it; tor. to ascertain its i value* j ft niay be necessary lo (yot>o est it Willi other .*y*t*tt%*? and this caniHjt be cWmt witji .ulv.ii i ta go it ail the steles were ' t*> *2g)* it. It ?f> ay not be unimportant, even on tin present occasion to contrast l he operation* fuul vfl'cel* of the ptrtuentuiy sy?uvov with the operations and e fleets of the um of criminal law nu\* of force (n th'm title* . To effect t his ol> j c?, return t of I We conviction*' which' have taken place 41 nee 179 V, have been procured from moil the cleft* ot the district courts* It it 10 be Uo>enied tlmt all tile tleikt r have not complied with 4 he % requisition* , made upon tUcOiiu August latc.~~A *uf ffaeni numlier 1?o*e**r ha*e bean procu red, ft it believed, to ptvv**r thep'trpenea intended. The com pari ton wtll fe? fon? fined to the Ta*t If year* an prior to * 800, the eowuty court tyrem \ra* of force, un cles which, justice wat not only imperfect ly tdndnitured, but the rt cmcf* if wh?$J? Were fco badly Ttrj# at 10 f?u nith it *hi? riod no date fronr which ^TVc number ot conviction* cun be ascertained. V Tlte penittntiary $y*tenrof Penotyl vapla hat been telecfeel (ofr comparison, as it' it tuppotod to be the 6ldest and ^ liett tinayaged in the U. Urates, nnd VUb lb* operatnme and effect* of wlaloli Wt are bett acquainted* It WUj^ppear on a reference itl? the tta| ti sties I 'View of thcoperatioftf of tbfe pen al code of that Ktat*, that the oonfflRicmt frdtn ! 6O0 in 1 809, hoth inclusive, (for pen itentiary offences) wrre 1,045, Riving ud average for e*cH year, of more Chan 1CM. The population of that tmte in 1800/ fat appear* bj thecetiahtihefi*akt*.) wft 602*545. lit I8I0, the population had in* create y to 8JK0/W U Much ufVordtafl nnnto al increase ot about 3o,tl4, end an average population opfi2 VM, for tlie tan ye^rt bri or to 1810. for thit period therefore Conviction* were to population at 1 0^* are t t?4W8 a09. ?r. aa l-4o5?#9i^Vr *-? Fmro 18 TO to 18) s* inclusive, the eon ?ktiont Were 890, gmn* ?h average 6f more then 148 for m&yimrJ r * prababfty ^ Wrraeed In eachyeef finm IftlGto l(Mf? in greater! numbert than froi^ 1800 to 1810, but at the exact ? ncwe ate cannot be ,aec*vu,tft*d?1it will be COfipUted at the\am^ the dlfliw rnce r.sini he ;ffry fcrest i TVtrt "ifrOUlit ' tnuke the ?tttfijpj poiroKmon iroru 18 to w ib i 3, anoul 890, 845. ''For i his pe t iod ? therefore* convtetfofts wti c^o jxmulutioo as 148 to 850,84 5, tr *9 I to 5,61 S. It would *ppf ar from ;hi* statement that criihes l*tid not only increased numerical ly but ih a graater ratio than ^opuiatiotu ; It frill appear further on'reftrence bein? had to the ttatislicyi view that tl* num ber of untried prisoner*, relumed on the c ?!tiidtrs at the diflereiH sessions of thfr city and quarter ?v?uoivs of the county of Philadelphia, wav? > l or the year I813? ^?16 . 1814 538 * 1S15 829 > 1 1816" -v% 105ft Had these prisoners bfcen tried as usual ? the n^n^ber of convicts would have >b*en greater for ihese years ; *rhich ttoU'd con veniently h*pe increased the avtrafc* piimbci oT conviction* ft om 1819 to 1845, and thereby intieus* the "ratio -of crimen for the Uat pet iod selected fo* comparison. Why a greater number o^ prisoners wttc ,lcft umited for lives* yea o9 than u^mI* is not explained. It la < dlVtault irot to At tribute it to the system. In* stated in ihvfmfcticaftJon above al luded feMhat the ouol^r of c^dion* 1/otM 17 f 9 to J 786 both inclusive* :*tie greater than fiom 1789 to | and - that the penitentiary ay atcm wa* hot cum men4 red before 1788. This statement l? made to *6e# that convictions diminished' uhder the., penitentiary system -?? Thta* eHVct however may have b*en product d by othet adequate causes which existed at the t^rnei Iftom 1779 to 17*3% th* UniffcH States ,wete cn^a^ed in ? blood y civil war, the PQHt prolific parent of crlinesiand altho* we were enjoying mamr of the btestrfng* of peace from 8 if to *86 yet *it- cannot be atib pased that during this period socUxy ^M iiol ouutiuoo to feet mimy frf the'tevils whlfcH the licentious habits of civil war arc oalcu4 lattfd to engender. ? T o ? compare Jthcse* two Periods then, i? to aid tbo ? pepitcntHiiV ay stem with all the advantages of peicO order and pood ^oViiligufenk ami to clop the ?rmt r penai code of Pennsylvania with u it tiio crimen of a civil war. v Out objeef tttfw * -oigr* i&iiot- to: umiy aft the PciuM,ntla? y syjitctn <4 Pennsylvania -with he- torrtkfctf pfBfti code of .that state, l>ut to compare U ,1*$ W Jhc pwuil xo*l*-of tibia irtate^ >* * By tlit.- returns of convictions from |JK>p ?W^NI|U, both inclusive* it aty^ats them F^rfenrth thhrsiau, JottVictiona lb? {nrn tentlc*. y offences, which gives an avcrag* ; jaV j' , . f ? ? . ' ' ? ?. > of I i per ytur. Front \ 300 to I 8 l>? * the Convictions were 89 which ftivc* an avitage tif i'J per yea?% Pht population of this sutie In .llO'Jr 19D.4-.Oi in 1 8 10, the population had In* cftw.eO to ?18,750, Which affords a smal iirtiai iifcHW. .. O