The recorder. [volume], January 12, 1803, Image 4

About The recorder. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1802-1803

Image provided by: Library of Virginia; Richmond, VA

                
FRi'M THB KAf.KTOTf r,e CJI *" T L J\.
DEBATE I
ON TU&
PEy.llEN; X - A*r /,' Xi . j
Mr. C. Jones. The very tmpnrtarr \
.-ic r. which th:. bio ; o poles u |
inti 'due. into our critui:'*..} * ode, muy
'■veil "xciie all ‘he iau r. i that lias U c:
inanirefi:ed unce it - fult introduces*n in
to thiv houfe. But I a*n unable Co dif
over ‘roin all th iufornmieii [ : ■ a
obtain, or from any argu uen a- ’•hat have
been urged upon this floor, c: ir the
pronofed amendment v/ould be an i n
provenicnij that u would re d to leifen
the frequency oh crimes, or pro ; .ce
any advantages that wot Id o i,* any de
gree commenftirate with ti e expeice.
I believe the contrarr, 1 believe ;r
would tend to do round bx feh-rv
and to involve us in expen es bom
which ;h> benefit*; v'Ould redd* .
Tsmugh 1 tecl prepared co decide,
without perceiving the fhudovv oi a
doubt upon my mind, I heli-.e there <
re many members or this h .uie who 1
do not .’eel an equal readmeto do * >. ,
f have lived in a ft rue win •>- ii,, 111r i
law exifted, and my experience of >r is ;
unfavourable to the opinion timer ol :
its juftice or ks policy. Btit lu re the
fubjcel i> now. In cor Mei:.dib >*.if- 1
mg (hates, fuch inkitui*. on ha ce been fo !
recently cild iiflK i, M\r- \. • him :• *rd
ty iiad the cp} niuniiv oi' wi*:«r.!
their effects. They aie indeed •• v.. i ,• j
where oi modern d . a of uMirle rnoit i
of u. knovv.vtiy little of the propoled j
eftabiifhment,'he expetn' ir would m ■
involve us in, or the cheks it wijj pro- j
dijcej and thus, in the dark, we are cal ]
led m to decide upon a nv afure of the I
higheft import mce to the e-; ,u mi fry !
fiom rhe imperfect and per reps phraal |
information to be obtained in d baa. i
l Jhonki have believt*. t die novelty I
of the fubk-r ;, and this wine ol imoruia- i
ti >n, woddpreclii.!ctheucceiTitvyuf c an- I
bating its principles in form, If 1 hat! j
not known the influence which fplen- ;
did and deluuve theories often have j
<r,\:r the mind, when they are flattering I
to the human charable• -
1 is humiliating to t. r pride of man to t
admit, that hi own fpebies n ay be dc- }
graded \> low, be fo fell to every prin- !
cipve ot moral recti aide. t<... become j
inch an enemy to iociecy, as to j
be unfit to have an exiiter.ee in it. j
I’he ideal perfectibility' of human nature )
»s more toothing to his feelings, and in a \
• incic*.' belief wlucu h. j .incnimcs \
iri d ul gc s hi mfc 1 f : n 1 pite of c -v r y d ay *$ j
iati experience, it raise chimace o* j
the powers and qiui'ui • of :;.c af id j
1 have no doubt, Ins too much influ- j
eoce i:i promoting ;he me dure b-.me I
plan of lefilu.ag the frequency j
of crimes, by reforming inftead of po- i
nifhii.g criminals, has oriii mated in : >rin- ]
(iples that 1 revert.*, but lure I am the I
.i'" v.'>ctcs of this meafijrc .» iniftuhen •
in the ellc< !.v it is calculated to produce. •
The idea firft originated with phiicfb- j
p err., who, in their clofers, i>.v human !
narun only through the fpeftacles of
“ books/1 I hey h id no:, like men at |
the world, experimentally traced it I
through all it:-, labyrinths of depravity.
I iiey have deceived themfelv^.s in
making too favourable eilimr, s of
the qualities of man} and have piopor
his punifhrnents to thir pe r-ccf
charier!er why .1 exiffsonly i:» their own
v/ai-in imaginations. I wdi, indeed
admit that ;puniih men vs inu l* be in
f >itj" degree proportion * 1 to the ad
• • made to r> artls civil] •
•‘°n .mi refirrment. In itiitfca, it. is
/ ud,.’ry ti ‘/c'ii* "s of difeerr'merit, thai. I
the crutl mini hru, nr. of the Jcncir is |
* cceoary >.o reilr. 1 ;i cn ne renont^ their j
Bfirban; n horcb. frequent dec :y.]~
c tc " may poilibly 1 e m ffui v in j
i uikey. liur in thi.vconn ry, i >. ndiy i
hope, the human .insi has made f- r
f}reared advances to perfection, and >r
e-jrdimdy our ouni(Lm« nts a.j very •
comifiently *.;•• rnildeO:.
„ If thibiaineliorating iyflem U adopted}
'hiS bid becomes a aw, !■ l ,t3 i t
M -at the experiment will us. Hv :
r . .{ f|,c* bill, v.< ->\ • ri-j/c * I;. *.
•’we the exp --i:o5 v. \\\ be moderate,
from fi:c Itaajlne^ ol the tax pet;* oted
i •* lard. Bur 20 or 3^Joo '! wtil
nor be lu~ii . tent tor the purpofc. I’h;
It.i'.e i»ri:*.»a :»r .New-York coftr nearly
•$vo,oco dollar*. This State is very
'■ <‘irj a* p.opul; t; % as that of Nt w York;
i' Idle morals are perhaps no better,
aru: > rt.iii: :y v id no*, be, if this project
lucceeds. V.’hv then will not as <x
pc.hive a building be required here as
to.e-'cr Are cut materials tor building
cheaper, and the v/ages of workmen
; lower? No, fir, v,c have a budding t*»
erect that v,ill ultimately coil 2 r
: >e,coj dollars, cr We 1 avc none at all.
v v e are now lhew'11 bur the beginning
o* expend:. Bui: once lay the ibundn
j t:or;; i- xpend 2 •, or ^oool. and vou Will
j 1 • n be compelled to expend more. ?•:
j will be too late to give over the pro
| .e A. Ic v ill demand fi pply after flip
: piv with inlauanle voracity. You rniil
| inbmit to all. You mud wade through
> ( Yay expence that is ohe.red to lave
your iir!t xpi_nditurc, and to preferve
tiie appearance ot conliiVency in y:»ui
1 induct.
i'or what pur pole* then, we may cn
i s mis enormous ex pence in
cut: red ? It is for die chimerical.
A i i yect of reforming c-*;mi rials in
.1 die lail place I ihoutd have
i nought of !or tnet purpole. Crimi
n .!s me nor rhere to ]dc laii^ht the du
hey < i - 1 ■'} • T1'' • .u
taml/ wiji not ie much beneiitted by
e.. :■ othe/s company. Murderers, rob
n* jy and IvorIc - thieves, are not fuita
bh pe> toils to teach g.*ccl morals. B/
h»cu company bad men are in-me vvorf
i aey there lay thei-* pians for furore
vnhir.ies; and liter a few years, t . y
nm tin ned out upon d cn ty as abandoft*
uoncJ a.iu as vne, us die uuiuence of
ecy .cart -make t
d..r mis t scravagent urojedt has in
other dates been made more to acco
modate /agibond wretches whom die
.? n!s (.»; heurope have vo united upon our
mures, than native citizens, and this
ftro’ie :y inc .vies my objection to the
rtieainre. In foi h I am allured irotn
uuihoiiiy on whir • T'can rely, the: two
rhirris ot the criminal-. indie (late onion
urc fre d negroes and foreigners. The
prudent policy of this State in refuting
to lid-.- .arc any of its Haves will relieve
us from one Ipecies ol thcle pefts of ib
ciety, but we have no fecurity kagainft
0 c other but in the rigour of our
1 - .In Peimfy 1 vaiiia too, more than i
c’.c naif ot the criminals arc fo~ !
■ > -■ eis. i never win content ro un
pole on rry non'littxnts fuch an into
icre-bie burthen, to accommodate a fet
oi vvrcrche;., who have; Hod their own
country to avoid the penalty of its laws.
51 ^ too much to open our arms to i
d.v i ■ iugit’ves from rive gallows and
to prepare hofpicals foi their reception, j
\ v ( nave criminals enough of our own ]
country, without encouraging impor
tations. But dude Botany Bay pim
piinciph jM. li*; it the ioffering vij
lainyotali Europe is to come here for
an aiyium, v.e ihvll he deluged with
cntnes'thnt will unhinge fociety. Thefe
p-ofligate note alls have always lived in
the exercife of the trades or thieving
and rebellion; trades to which they are
as regularly trained, as an apprenticed
c arpenter is to ihe ufe of his lquare .md
compares, and like perfect adepts
they arc lure to follow them with index
ible perfeveranee. It is in vain y ou vill
; rcaivi that your Penitentiary will be
iudicient to punifh ti • cmn< , or ref
to the enormities they wil] commit.
No /ir, fo Cr from it, they will third,
i hemfc ives happy if they can bcaccom
in-dated with a place in it. It wil! be
much preferable co their lituariofl in
their own country. Comps r.itiveiy,
they live to affluent**-. The FezrfuJ ip
p.'thenfiorjs of tlie gallows wilt be rt
movi-d, and I have nb doubt, but if an
oppi-rttinity offered they wouid fend
over for their friend to come and par- ■
take >i their good cheer* and here they ]
would eafily gain admittance. No ex- \
triordinan qualifications are reqiiired,
!" t ?ofe of aecornpliihed knavery.
I heie is no entrance money to pay,
r . be rd robe accountable for* they
inv-eonlc to fb h! a few hv;les, or cut
the throat* oftVir h.wil :v.*i >!’. j
bours, and tiK-v are iccueoim-.v pro- ;
vided for, liaiv-ifoni- tv, at the n fmc ex- i
pence. A in iu»» huanes or the Ro
mi(h church, • b\• \f. oi invunv would
be .1 fore rcco nmqndatioa to protcCr’o.i
and favour
f teg that i m. ■ noth* underftood,
in tirde rent uho, to exit any reflections
on the rnv -eic^ fr »m Europe in ge
neral. i am verv far from intending it.
Tthere .'re many of them who are an
honor to their own country, and who
| arc now an ornament to this, l object
| only to thole vrj *rant wretches who
j have no trade or nrofeiTion, but thieving
| end ieduion; whole fcho -Is ot education
have been J ils and armip-, an.i wh.)
I tranfport them, elves hcie r > avoid a
tranfporcation -o ji: tany B y, or to i
I elude the pkilef noof of :i.-* ha g'nm. I
But if inf .• d of holding out eneo j- |
j ragerr.ent to vice, you w:.j: < applv to j
i lome oiiici purp r‘i** •. mine tic urns
which you arc a • .at; co expend on c.ns
pernicious p *ject, what imuv-ojc ad
vantages c;;ui i yon or >eurr to th- itutcr
; f he magic r.oce o? *i.o oo dollars
j would din .ii a knowhvige oi icit icc
i a* da rcfineirvnt pi rn < •’} ,, through >u |
j tii- »vhoie or it. Bur you propnied to
{ hi vim ir on criminals., wluir rl.iL. frown
Iing v.all ; or your u. d.u.hrd college
buildings, win-h yiu have deferred
i ami ncg!c"ile 1, hand i*> rrpr>ach
j for the wade.til, the nf. lei’s expenditure.
J Ic l,; worfc . ! l it »• •- y i;.i ! be to ■ r
| have buried tke monev in rue bottom
! (J‘ die ocean. ) ; u arc ab-alt t«> « lla
I b.'iili an alyium or ti;e vi!• or’ rnalef'ic
! cors, n uuncry <>! crimes, a fell no! or
• wickednets anci infamy, a cankered
I box of Piiud ara, that will poilba the
[ morals of the 'kite.
i *vdi ivj" u-y bur the time may
j i-'-p/e, v* oru race) ,u infiitution as
Penitentialy, ,n t. be proper. I fnali
• 1 to ice it:*.; i a time m ive. Ic I
1 vv;;i niarri a dibie - n .led aera in the >
';i.k ry ‘dour ».*,ha:ici »n ind rttiri.-merit [
it: will ihow tint die minds ok every |
I clais of our citizens are elevated and ,
: ptuifnad i>y education, that mil.l pu
j niihmenrs will be ludicienc to correct
die little corruption that may then
exilf. I he delicate mind will then
revolt with as much horror at the im
putation of dishonour as,our ropji-s.
now do at the light of a piilory or a
! whipping-pod. Such a period may
| pofiibly hereafter arrive; but dire lam,
this is not the time. Civilization is
not yet fufTicicnty advanced; nine
tench s, and t belie ve 1 may lav, nint.i v
nine hundredtns ot ch- .vrecches who
now li 11 our j ihave never received
inftru&ion in nctmv.i or. mm-al things,
i he r.nturui corruption Of the hem c i.> ,
on the comr-Ary, - j ^,*e ngchiMtd by ore
cq t and example. Upon thefc! your
mild puniliirnents will Hive no other
erfecl than to.encmirage to perfeve
rance. 3ur. i; ymir humnity prom-ts
yoj to inrrotoce huh an .niii nation,
prepare the public mind to rtem- It!
promote the educat: n of youth, arid
haften the p< riod of r.fuK; l.-ut, which
fuch indiuiou^ irniil always foil Vv, bur.
with propriety c .. nev, r preced •; en
dow you; univerfuy. Hit.biiih }•_»,'> us
in every part and corner of your cimu
nes, and you may then hope for a time
toexercile the virtue-sol immar.ity, in a
manner, no. inci/nfit Lent v im rh; {} rn
ti< ’nan .b (>t juliiee. i ou may :;
ieiTeu die pun it h menu. :>- a •:,> >’jf C(g/
cati .n has nor already tmdi ueu’ihcm.
Har. inflead of doing tin , y..u . ,e rn pc_
ing a retro gad move me u. You have
abandoned to it , f;ue, the u i/erlity
which wa.‘ the bef! ;,ope of the friend’
ol human hnineis. You have rfone
more; you have deprived it of the pro
perty which once belonged to it, and
thofe fund*- which *c<r ueftined ro rear
up oui } Hit.u to teunee and to vj.tuc,
are no* pinpvl <1 to ;>e fquandt r* <i u <
*• •• ' « • I’--- • . the gaiiow, J
let <>f wretch-*:., who. co jar from bring
intided to the buunm.-j. of rhr cornuium°
fy» Oavw by t ie atrocity oi their crimes
ju.dy bn feia h their light«if cxittence.
As a a denur relief, j,- j, !S p,,,, at
tempt. .! to t-u, joy yr;„r avarice to ad
vncocatc the m .'Yc. You have been
t' !d u t ie ..ii jur <>i tiie* criftiinais
v.oii yicio a very coniidetabic profit, and
:m 1 to the revenues of the fiat? . What
t.'K'ii is it c *rne to this ? /> re we reduced
fo low in wealth and reputation, as to
entourage cringes to fupport our tro
v rnment? Shall we fuller it to be laid
char our bonded republican govern
ment is upheld by criminal*;, by p dri
ted mifereants, who, in other conn tries,
would have fallen under die axe of
the. law ? Shall we be feen to calculate
on the value of a murder, or the profits
of a hbufe burning, with the coolnels of
a twenty per cent ufurer? Pride and pa
triotifm forbid it I Let it not be Paid that
we raife a revenue at the expenl'e of the
l>ub:ic morals. Lee us rather afpire . to
tne character of virtue, and not ilibtecc
Oilelves t » the merited icproaciits
v, ‘;ich Inch principles and ii:ch mea.aie-»
v/;,u d inevitably lira tv upon .1
it is, however, vv >nh our .e i!e to ex
am: i*- whedc r the iniliriuion \vi;l i.<*
r'.a;.c 1 ! > tree ofprnfir, and whether we
.y*e about ■' > e noarx in a 'lucrative Ibe
t, 1 1 New d r:., and Phiiadcl
I'Ui ), * IS 1 1 !, and jnrhip-, truly, for
c «ty are large manura hu i g t >,vn..% chat
•*'- i«lt'• »L, • >. tar cri:i Iff !:> Compensate.1’
*■'**' ■ **'ir £ >'»u anti c loathing. But- it
iK vcrcan !v •, llcul .ted or., tn.it rh-ry will
1.1 an^ t...ijunani (fine*, derrav tli*. enor
mous expe cc- of the buildings created
to c. ■, ■•u the n Ir they d j,.ihey muii
h.t^t < ne more curcctual way of en
co‘.racing- crime:., mm. .1 penkenda: y,
if hu.n.m ingenuity can poftibly devife
>nc. In Virginia, eaclti ive tmehuilil
guards, v rininais who were
comined m die penitentiary ibr a year
c;ni: >g on the iirit of November lad!
had incurred .in exnencc >i nearly eij^iit
tn-'inacd dollars inoiu t; n tiie anion.i*.
or their v lrning.. In Connscii wt, enc
expence of their prifou L trifling. [c
is a a-ad-mine penetrating a grt atdil
uince into thec . h. fn MalTa'ehufeccs,
n.e criminals, until latch , v/ejre Con6oed
on C.iit e o ini.urn a i-orucls winch de
fends, the harbour of Bolton, -and were
g'-fded by ne fbidivrs of Jit garrifon.ln
tncJe hates it is probable no expcnce was
incurred in confining the ci imi and
bodi too, it mult be rceoLcCted arc lar^e
manufacturing *ftates. But in i
Carolina, circumflancfcs are vei/difFer
ent.. We havcv no manuractm s. Our
criminals are idle vagabonds that have
always lived at ms expencc c. t the com
munity, An expe . n/e biaidii r mulh
be erected, and an expe.divc canard be
mat nc a me;
Wr mi.li, ot neefffity,
be plunged into an ocean cfc:: pence,
wknout tiieormit dhtant pr > foe .ft of its
"V1 ocl!'/n et-nny-a. All, therefore,
w(w calculate upon i :s being 1 fource at
P1 ^ \ ^ l‘:~ ibitoj all ’.viio attempt \_ >
^'.rm friends to the mciiiure by offering
aiiuremvnc* :oavarice arc aflurediy pre
Par':,o d» appointment tor themfelves
;>f” '**"?*' .rhT. will awake from
•ilca luun ul> !:*n they ice crimes and
L.:xes multiplying together. R- Hed , T
beleccK you, booru y u t ike Tede
cihve ice,., I- is a meaiUre, once taken
rrom v/i:tcn you cannot recede. After
‘l* ! / lice *»i ;ii have convinc ci
Y' < or it® iinpropn.-ty, you cannot, by
k P'- f ' ‘o '-,l' h*. , iexl re tnc immerjt*
i.iins ;• project wili CQjf you in to
-e po. keu of rhe people. ' You cam ot
!l^J “1] C,K‘ wo;jnds which the impunity
01 wick edncls may have i niictet
1 tr ‘'i>Jt|y w'llls <>f the pc,,- rentiary
■ai!i forever hand as a in nuir.ei.t of
yom inner;sided yoliry. | repeat j.
you cannot retract, The d0D onGe
y'^1 IcpJore over tge C(M.
:<■ Huxnt trs, bcit you rirver can repair
the injury. Now i5 the only time
u; whit . you can rclolve not to nvoivc
‘ta,te ,1.lJ1t!tP':.nces t!“'t will impover
ifli and ciftrefs 1:. But if you arc rc
♦trained ay no admonitions; if you ;r.
deter,reined to carry -iv iv-eaf.in- in
h Ah ex«*Tl' * y, and at the
n.iZc, .) a k1 lofs ot the l:7;i>!*c n • r
rhOdgh my V ,ire may be difrtvarded’
you Wiy be adbrd&d by a v(„e: that
, cemi ' ‘udn rcfpe , and that will
1 ,r.v ' n impm-my be difob )ca. The
thin fubjedt have nor yet hem
ivAK hy chore v hi/gave us
V •; lCf\c’ •• • Hi t. -whenever Its eviin
• rc i.'i; .t-rbood, w,icriev'e.f it, expend
in: f ! »y<*u m.;y iTii aJiUK'd the public
ww. ‘lamp it with the f ai of difapproba
non. rr