Camden gazette. (Camden, S.C.) 1816-1818, January 03, 1818, Image 4
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