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in which the have been prpVe the best sot c?t foundation off wldom domed, U "cauoA lo. r?c*U to miixl fhtf memorable instance of the fallacy of kumnn wiad.yn, whcu-apecOlatinij upon Uwa and cEtw?|r?k &t.t pMtoophetvuf ty^^fufiOaM.a of gororHfcnt andTiyttom of laws ?zszBtsixmm. every respect. ? Th? only laws wtuch have been able to stiiKj, the test of . ages have grown out of the pr<>8r^ive e<igencWjf writhe lewppiW wp^'j ^JLjcuWiS qonrnw* and'elvtl la*s I t> '": 'wmT Ml ;; fpkf / :J*ve hutcd f ?iMii PmI pottiUd eweptl ,J5tf??SSWS ? h thw to k.H u, who" a'wor.hW? vam.ot/ I on .h. life or 0* Br?< .?'? j , 1 iijgpjflW if #>iW^N *?> a-^'^rrtw jrlK^rc.T^rrTx.Tln?. I wuwM ill* v? di*cr??tUnit<?; I ?wt ft:! whh?ni mrh cV?*crimmati6fu Wtitl I areteiwmn *?n thtv* hn to (Sr6|x*rwm ? I 34ly . Utftciili as it is to a&fcctl^ h --taPr iJP1 iM? Iny precision, tl>a of minal and tl e effect of the d.e.cult ?U?1 it l? ?o of Oie yimina!. . M*n *?? by^ simple rcotrve and yet wheo soHiPn ttut need, u t* difficult of detection. v Tlie ' tm>re complex h?a motives* the more dif ficult is the |a*fc of criiptnahty. and ypi itp^ponipn between ponishment and crime, mean any thing more than the quantum ot punishment necessary to iUc Uuppt-eaVH?iJuf the clicue; k WodU iftm to refer to.th* ^wmK. is d.iTicuit to pe retire 1 would re?dh?' HVe uchrti heJrriiW H arcn?ecru>e,f t - w ? , * ? :r*j'7 Were intended. ' That, a cnminn) however, hat i been punished ff^ucily in proportion to his I teoslbilKy I thtf^Hcct of his crime and the i motives with which he perpetrated the [ crime* would aflbrd no plcasurs* K ?>ap prehendarf, unconnected with the hope \ that tl?c C? imc w ouhl not 'he repeated. - the other hand it would appear fasti <|jpu? in the extreme, to object to a punishment whkh suppfessetl the crtfhe, only because [: It was norto exact proportion to tbe settsi* wr.tr of Om criuuu^ Ae .Ifcct of it* ' offencej ihei&ouves with which $t had been perpetrate*. ? ? r~ ? ^ With these observations, your commit tee wiftp^md to jhe cohii&naioif of the penitentiary system. ,,y - '-O0 r"- .The reluctance with which this subject has alw?jrs been considered ftjf the legi*- ' Cliture, wheo pressed upon their attention by executive rceornmendatittili^ was the effect, it is believed (as before stated) of srgreat doutiri asioAie practical effect* ctfia theory, which UtouRb* brilliant had not been ful?y tried, and upon which the grow jfp* pr^roctedlertgi b oftS stseel k li^ht f iich would distipato, fill doubtv And pro re ? deci?<H> in- e?W rc?|Kct Mtiifoc jr. It ts to t&e experieote of* hose ' svatet where the penitentiary system baa f heeiV longest tmaVjbct your committee 1 now propose to look for that light which shall confirm or dis?lpat*. tun** double which have hitherto existed oo \hl? tub In PtAntylttrtiw# inhere the first Amen penitentiary house was etected, it >ta?'H from a recent publication emitted; ^sfrtgtkrt Vkw of ihr operations of i hid ?? been extVeitieljr heiwrftct " ar? after It. e?t?bli*h bumlml jMtMjfc ?h? FwpOotf^^PennsylvsiH*i|,,r that its <or bid been pardoned, mdfc four bed return- i td^V^At Uiat period it appears further, that " the number of convict* was wsinutl In proportion (o the builcttnfl, that the a parmtriitw in the .prison ,?nd H)? pi i son --?- ? J/JB. -? ^ *1 -f- -* - - - '? ' - ? * yard afforded convenient end ample room for the be perailon end employ intriu of the convicts." m The Ittfo* *? * i eeceut presentment e^y, artl*t *hile they notice with pie^n <* the jrifrh decree of, ard^r^M^lbehtlliessy thej ere compelled^ by a sense of dut^to present at an evil oil considefeb!# majfoiUide#** present^ crowdoC Mete bf **he * | number ? prisoners, of atl< daises*, co*. iiritw*tl|S^S ^tS||-Tiom aOMo 40 tmm todged is tet* squem^f ranny are thus^ro^ded totfeth^rytlmt institution Pstready begins to assi character of an feuroperti pHion and # ee mmary for ever/ vier, in Which the nnfor UNiale being who commits oflcntc and know* none of tlut'srts of t*etbo<Hze4< Wmti ** conurt^na- 1 tron whkh WadvtStxtremt ijiravUT. ' .""It appear*, fu?W. (i om (he name pub lication, v thai of 11,1. ??*?<*? ?">* *? ?^e periitmuary of Pem*y1*auM, Id I have ' been coufiaed theny before*" 5 The Ommlesiiticrt appointed to e?* i mine into ib**t<u? of. She New-York s . t-l A-JL- . - - - - - *? i im? We o?> jt c? t WeBjM* *???? "** r,uf. To* iSESfo htnewta, t?o Ofvnwrt lo >>*.!aT"^t u^,l ther cat) t? any I*****?!: ?** Jcaoiv of ?M? Mux Sa ?*<<J to batb*?ro*<l - Lr the.priaonew.'twl* tataw ition of d?scipli??|> It* jthat awyterne wt tofommili t years, haW^H cotri'plain <Ml*t the prison i* a% to defeat the object for ] the i u*t1 tiftkm ur a a e r * v t c <U'l ?^Hevjr ^ wlicr, ??that the on!^ advtntagra i^oomioow^eUk aj peara to^M>l the estab<,al,ment1 are- ^ ; Ysu The ^roiectHMt aKorded the com h^unhy against tfecTdrtfttmaU during thtir ronfloement/ f SSidl^; the value ol^the eaminrrn of Ik ^oAfict* ^hldimay |upt>ote4 to he so totr&Vfiin, since tte xmwt part ot thie tinna of Win when iiffL vr<re ejt the e3t> j 4ense of l be community Without labor^ t th?r? |dk?rs.>f say the*e committioo V t* Suppose th .t the ad- 1 Vatftftfte tint menVioiwd is more tKancoon unbalanced by the k? h.%nhhorr I and settled corruption which a pYoniiscu uasociatiun ar^ont* the <jonv,icu muat l?iCc? poriH-utarty the younf?." It is thought uniiri to mnke fur- 1 liarr ^lotutions ^om (tide publications, asj ihcf ftrffcfit pc*%estKW of tk Icgnla* * arc* 4fed Mo be procured by ilk ' t ' - J 1*6 QMBt ailcnnve txamtnaiun df these documcrtHk orffche part of tlie committee, hi?bAft gpaBi by l UxHOMgli conwicuun that the penitentiary as far its ii h?ii bcpa ; jtct ukd, tuu ? it is not however lo b6. coocc*led? tliat some hope yet exists, tbat. solitary confinement may be so apportioned, rt lo restore to the sys tem, the con6dtncc which n -ui.ee >ed, but of which, for some time past, it JMAeta ; I ^ Should ^ ?ucqoc4% jt will lie gratifying I to humanity to' see Its benefits emended to i every pottkUl of the habitable world ; and it ?* not ooubled thai in such an ovent* the legftdaturoof tti is state sdll avaif itself af J thu earliest. opportunity ol adapti^ the I . system ; but until it hasbetu Well tried sod I hd? fttHy fc&swered, your- twwniuw ??h not but believe, it would be unniye in tbir kgisktute to attempt it* /rhe^gj^timents /qlrcady commence* are to numerous, auiL willpibb'ubly be conducttrf with so much *inhty. V* will h ave mi tfoubt ttS U> suits that may be u, It nwy? <^ dead, be necessary io a full and fair ex? periroeht of tlte i > *ie in, thai some #iaiet should uot adojit it ; lor, to ascertain its value, it may be necessary to contrast It with other systems, and this cannot be dor.e with advantage it ^11 the states w ere >sra?M<! - It may not be unimportant, even on the P?. eseut evasion locomrastihc o?>e ration* and i fleets of the penitentiary system, with I he operations and effects of tile sys* .ielb pf criminal law now of iorc^ in this *t?$ce. ^ To eplct tins obj cu Wutw ;of i lie convictions which have taken place since 179<J, ha\c been procured hum ttioyi of the clerks ol the- district court* It ? to be lamented that all *' the clerks have not complied with the requisitions made upon them in August laai.?A su< ficieut nqmtyrr however have been procu. red) it is bekvedi to snswer the intended. The comparison will be c.c*? fined to the last I? year?i? as prior to 1*00, the county court system was of forces ua der .which, justice, was not only impcrftct* ly administered} but the records of which were so badly kept ? t tolurnish at this pe riod no data from which the number oi convictions can be ascertained. - -.-a" The penitentiary system of Pennsyt vania has been selected for comparison, as I it is supposed to be the oldest^ and best 1 managed in the U. States, and With the ; fiwlH ifpiir onjjefcrenoe j Mistical view of the operations of the Jjfr^ al vpde of tint >me, i l^t t he con vic< ion* from 2*800 *o 1809, both inclusive, (fop pen* nentiarv offences) were 1,045, Riving an average fo reach year, ot'tnojto than lot. ,Hhe|*^>ulation of ihui state in 1800, (ift*PPc*?? b> the census ilien taken.) f 602.346; * In 1 810, tht population had W cr*a%e;r to $10,091. which afford* an annu al inciearaa oi about '20,75-1, and an averse populate of 6$.?,29 9, tor the leu year* or t* *1*10. v For 4hU period the rjonf^ conviction* were to population^ a* |04 fit*: to ?:?? 299 v or as 1 10 5.99J. fe; Fron^iaiO to 1815, inclusive, ttycon i visions were 890# f $ giving est average of J [. nioro than Mi for each poor* ' ~ 1 -i viJTN *opulertbi? probably incfea**! in each year froaa 1 8 10 to 18 13# " in greater i mifkim than from 1800 to 181X1# b& is 1 the exact increase cannot ba astertained, it : will be compute# at |be same, the diffei ence canfdue very great. This would j make the^ftrage population from 18 10 , to 18 1 5, about 830,845. > For this period therefore# convictions were to {population as 148 to 830,845, Or i- u> fois- m;. k ? ? \* i ? -ft wotfld iMdr from thW atatement that crlimsi ht<l nti only incre?t?J numcrical I, but til ? greater ratio than population. | tt^UppeOr farther an tefcrencn being {calender** at the different sessions of tbo jcity and q*i?rtor sessions of. the county of IVtlaJelpHie, wa?~ - ?greater fertkaM years* which nMtawm sequent* .bare increased the /number of convictions from IStOlo >H?, ItlMlK'Nicr nutnber of prisoner! were' j ML untried for tlfcse years, than usual, is no, aapWrfejl, I? S.jgp?h Ml to fc< tribute It t*>the syetem. ar Ilia itate^ In t(^.p?W!r?i?? ***"* ?'ii Uided to, that the number ?f convrettone from IW9 to 1M? both tachtah^, wyte ureaier than from 17S9 to 1795 ; IAd that ( the pen.teatl.rf ?n<em ??-ot *M*1 MM. TWa'^jpliet ISmsM t ha ''United State* rvdy, civil wgty' tl>M crimes ; and*? hit h'/ J y bfthcblcaain^iof rt it cannot be ?ap period tc^lcty W nycifthe^imwWch c>u vsmfcc*** Mecpiat# cftus?r*M| Frortt im<t?l7i?, W?ii% engage* I in ft bf** ?nont prolific fNtftffcMrf IttMe ending feani potce from '8 3 to HO y< fa sod that dmW thin not continue ft feei ng! Uh- !iccmi Mi l|Wk r fated t ? engender. TV" compete U*sc* r two Period* Uicii, i* to aid the pciuu^uui > [ d^stcm with oil the advauugv* ol pea. ?: . order and good government, aud to clog ti^ rkhkt ^nal codu <rf yemiajuy ama ?ivbr tir the crime* ofa c*vii war. Our objecfhov> | ever, ?s not to CvAput Utc Jj^tuuiLUUajLjr \ system of Pennsyivaaia with the former j penal code of Chat state, but to compare ' it wiili the peual code of this stage. ; K By the rctuifu of convictions from WOO 1 to 16IU, both iiiciuiivct it appeals th*t^ | were in th^sUle, US convicuona torpui~ t leiuiary offences,- which ??ve* ail evcra^ \ of 14 per ysariv^* From I800toj815v tbecon?fctipna?eio 6J% w Inch gives an aveiafceot I? per year* I ' The population of thi? state -Hi It00?'.efci r t9S?4?0j ih V-8 1 o, the population had in* Flatted lo >318 ?ri6flihtui affords a iiitai r nhtSStetfiwneiit it ? - U)4itU-" 1 via ions have Ml otiijr not increased ill tf raiTo wiity itie p^ianon, tJUlb^cnuBlcT ? ically diminished* ?* As wv are unacquainted with eSrrh an/ crcumstai.ccs peculiar to this state, Which wef e c?itatate!d<o lesson crrmtts or witb snf i circumstancts peculiar to Ifei lisylvania* which wtie calculated 10 increase them, ** are induced to cociude that the penal code of this state, imneiiect as it is, baa been' productive ot more benefit tUan that of Pensy Ivania. r^ifour committee ate /therefore induced to recommend) that the penitentiary sys tem he not tkdopttd^and ^X&tt lite penai cone of. hi* state he amended as the bill here* with i e ported, p.ovides Ibr. DANIU- fc- HUGEHa Chairman of Committee on jfena&Ctdc. ?V '" ? ? ?frill' ** ' ?v " -V ^yvy ' shall buffer death without benefit of clergy, an in other cases, offenders fbul*Lgttiit|r of Nnurdcr, are accustomed to do, Jpttd ilanj* person or persona be convicted oF man slave or uee perbotfof colour, no sne or they being to convicted, shall be lined in five hundred dollars; and upon default, ?hall be imprisoned six moi..?is, unless the said fine be tootier paid t Provided that nuthinsr herein contained, shall bo taken to extend to the tri^dNaves^ccordlng torn paLcd on the tenth day of May, in the of our Lord ono tbousaiid aeven hundred Cfeat when any person she H bo feloni ously struck, wouuded poisoned or otbor* wise injured e,*MKU*tW*cf ui aiimticr tt?t? or territory, tlio ptryen or ce?Mkrjr tbento cttlier iM>&re Mr ?(W ?b? fact) ?M?U be tried by nod before the court of the district when; audit. JtrokM^jrouud, (fc? slaf% oiilavea, Vr shall Mm aid lifer person or p*rsonpo^ii?vei?rl Scarry awaf^afoSMaid, art|r auCl slaves, aliail be deprived oft he up |#fit of sucbflavo or staves, orshi iauch slave in running a wayy ..qr Mil pay Such fine, and suffer soeh t&r bn^onmcnt,*nd receive as many lashoa, its the court fthailf in discretion think fit; and WjCT 'i offender shall at any time ?fter foarda commit or repeat the like offence, fee or ahc shalt receive the Tike ponish Sent* and in addition thereto, shall be ban ished from the Stste. % (cbxTiavfn i* rAi>* 2d.> , 1 |^4 v # a . _io_L? ? imBBI