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it ~T 1~l —mi ■ ■ m ■ njwmnu nn iMil i l ui i— i
FROM THE NEW YORK SPECTATOR.
THE PENITENTIARY SYSTEM.
We have perused with no ordinary de
gree of attention the “ Report,” drawn
up by Mr. Haines,tin the Penitentiary Sys
tem in the Uuite.d States, prepared under a
resolution of the Society for the Prevention
of Pauperism in the city of New York. The
subject we are aware, is of more importance
than is generally attached to it, and, on that
account, we consider it the more entitled to
notice on the part of the pnblick journals.
Having also paid some attention to estab-,
lislied systems of criminal jurisprudence in
-this, as well as in foreign countries, we
feel rather disposed, than otherwise, to
take up (he present Report, and to ofl'er a
few remarks on its general tendency.
After a rapid sketch of (he history of
crimes, and punishments in foreign nations,
down to the commericejnent of Ihe 18th
century, and in which the writer displays a
thorough knowledge of historical facts, we
are gradually introduced to a consideration
of the criminal code of the United States,
of which, it is truly said, that no other coun
try on the globe, with the same extent of
population, “presents a criminal system so
mild, so rational, and so well proportioned
to hs ends.” A history of the rise and pro
gress of the Penitentiary System is then de
veloped in a forcible and perspicuous man
ner; and, from the whole it is deduced,
that the present system has disappointed
the expectations of its founders and advo
cates ; a deduction to which we readily sub
scribe.
Mr. Haines proteeds to point out, with
great truth and clearness, the causes of
this failure, which he shows to be evidently
attributable to, 1. Lrrours in the construc
tion of our prisons. of classifica
tion among the convicts. 3. Want of room.
4. The too frequeut intervention of par
dons. 5. Want of a school for Juvenile of
fenders, & of a system of moral & religious
instruction. (5. The too frequent change
of. Superintendents and Governoure. 7.
VViJnt of proper diet. 8. Too much regard
to revenue. Perba]*s these defects in our
penitentiary system ivere never before il
lustrated with more ability, and more satis
factorily, than in the present instance; and
we could have wished to have transferred
’ to our columns muuh of the writer’s lucid
argument on so interesting a subject, had
our limits permitted. Want of space com
pels us to hasten to an enumeration of his
Remedies.” These ere,
First. That the internal construction of
onr Penitentiaries be altered. Secondly.
That solitary confinement be resorted to.
Thirdly. ‘I bat when solitary confinement
Is not adopted, the classification of convicts
he rigidly embraced. Fourthly. That eve
ry convict sleep in a solitary cell. Fifthly.
That Penitentiaries be erqqted forjuvenile
•offende.rs.
In so far as respect?, the internal con
struction of our penitentiaries; the classifi
cation of convicts, and the separation of
THE MISSIONARY.
juvenile offender from those who are
“grown grey in iniquity,” we heartily con
cur in every thing suggested by the author
of the Report. But as to what is recom
mended respecting solitary confinement,
we feel a strong disposition to question the
of his views. “ The Commit
tee, it is said, “ would recommend that soli
tary confinement be adopted, to a far great
er extent than has heretofore been thought
of in this country. They would separate
this punishment into two kinds: first, solita
ry confinement, without labour ; and second
ly, solitary confinement, with labour.”
We are advocates for solitary confinement ,
because we have long been of opinion that
it is the only effectual corrective of crime.
But we are equally satisfied that solitary
Confinement, without employment , “is too
serious a punishment for oor fellow beings,
(except, perhaps, for a few days, to punish
an occasional offender, whose crimes have
been characterized by the most aggravated
atrocity, and whose guilt 13 of the blackest
dye,) and that it will drive them to madness
and mental alienation, or send them rapid
ly to the grave.”
In attempting to combat these objections,
Mr. Haines states in the name of the Com
mittee : *“ We are happy to find that its
contemplation (solitary conftement without
labour) in the mind of a virtuous aad reflect
ing community, is attended with such feel
ings of revolt, for, this is an indication of its
summary and salutary effects, on the most
guilty and knavish of our race. They, too,
will catch the abhorrence, and feel an in
terest to avoid the suffering to which it
points. We are, however, inclined to
think, that the fatal effects of solitude and
confinement, are exaggerated. We do not
believe that they would be so destructive of
life and sanity, as it is imagined. Men have
often been cast into the deepest and dark
est dungeons, to serve the views of despots
and the policy of governments , on the other
continent, and existed there, for years, on
the poorest food, and again, appeared be
fore the face of the sun, with their bleach
ed locks and sallow countenances. If,
however, its tendency is so overwhelming,
its adoption as a punishment will supply a
desideratum in the American community.”
We should have expected other things
from a Committee so well acquainted with
the springs of human action, than the avow
al of an opinion which seems to imply, that
the vicious violalers of the laws are con
trolled by the same motives which influ
ence the virtuous. Is it seriously contend
ed, that the guilty, who are enemies to all
reflection, are as constantly alive to the
evil courses they are pursuing, and their
merited punishment, as those whose virtu
ous and moral habits are the result of solid
and continued reflection? Were this the
case, there would be an end to rII oar ef
forts to furnish the juvenile mind with mo
tives of action by accustoming it to think
\ correctly.
To us it appears, that the committee are
mistaken when Itey say, that Ihe fatal ef
fects of solitary confinement, without cm-.
ployment, have been exaggerated. The
justly celebrated Howard, in his treatise on
Prisons, explicitly states, that solitary con
finement had occasioned insanity and sui
cide ; and the fact was confirmed by the
deceased philanthropist, Mr. Whitbread, in
a debate in the English parliament on the
subject of the criminal law.
The inference attempted to be deduced
from Ihe circumstance of men having “ of
ten been cast into the deepest and darkest
dungeons, to serve the views of despots aad
the policy of governments,” was very un
fortunate ; for who does not perceive that
the bare statement of the fact rendered it
altogether inapplicable to tbe question un
der consideration ? Surely the committee
under whose authority this report has cm
anated, have not to learn the difference
betwixt a man justly condemned to atone
for a crime against society, find who car
ries with him info the recesses of his pris
on ali the compunctions of guilt, and he
that has been innocently doomed to a dun
geon merely to gratify the “ views of des
pots, and the policy of governments.”
The former has no inducement to stop the
uplifted hand raised to terminate a life of
misery, rendered doubly miserable by be
ing utterly excluded from all intercourse
with his species, and deprived of the means
ofderiving the least comfort from active
pursuits. The latter, borne up with the
hope of one day triumphing over his op
pressors, supports all the miseries and pri
vations inflicted on him by conscious recti
tude, to which the vicious are entire stran
gers.
Besides what is to become of the maxim
“ That compensation to the injured ought
to be kept in view in inflicting punishment
on the guilty,” if criminals are to be shut
up in solitary cells without the means of
employment ? We disapprove, as much as
the committee, of the impolitick views of
those who calculate on the Penitentiary
system being a source of revenue to an
swer state purposes—but we consider it
just and equitable, that the man who occa
sions loss to another, ought in all cases to
be compelled to make up that loss—How
he is to do this, if utterly excluded from so
ciety, and debarred the use of the imple
ments of manufacture, we leave it to the
GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE. Je6us Christ.
MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK CO. GA.) MONDAY, MAY 20, 1822.
projectors of this extraordinary system to
decide.
We shall bestow some farther attention
on this subject whenever we have an op
portunity, and notice particularly the inter
esting correspondence printed at the eud of
the report.
SIR ISAAC NEWTON.
Sir Isaac Newton , the celebrated English
philosopher and mathematician, and one of
the greatest geniuses that ever appeared in
the world, was descended from an ancient
family in Lincolnshire, where he was born
in the year 1642. His powers of mind
were wonderfully comprehensive and pen
etrating. Fontelle says of him, ‘ that in
learning mathematicks he did pot study Eu
clid, who seemed to him too plain and sim
ple, and unworthy of taking up his time.
He understood him almost before he read
him: a cast of his eye on the contents of
the theorems of that great mathematician,
seemed to be sufficient to make him master
of them.’ Several of his works mark a
profundity of thought and reflection that
has astonished the most learned men. He
was highly esteemed by the university of
Cambridge; and was twiqe chosen to rep
resent that place in parliament. He was
also greatly favoured by queen Anne, and
by George the first. The princess of
Wales, afterwards queen-consort of Eng
land, who had a turn for philosophical in
quiries, used frequently to propose ques
tions to him. This princess bad a great
regard for him; and often declared, that
she thought herself happy to live at the
same time as he did, and to have the pleas
ure and advantages of his conversation.
This eminent philosopher was remanka
ble fur being of a very meek disposition,
and a great lover of peace. He would ra
ther have chosen to remain in obscurity,
than to have the serenity ofhU days dis
turbed by those storms and disputes, which
genius and learning often draw upon those
who are eminent for them. W# find bim
reflecting on the controversy respecting
his ptick lect%res, (in which he had been
almost unavoidably engaged,) in the follow
ing terms: * I blamed my own imprudence,
for parting with so real a blessing as my
quiet, to run after a shadow.’
The amiable quality of modesty stands
very conspicuous in the character of this
great man’s mind and manners. He never
spoke, either of himself or others, in such
a manner as to give the most malicious cen
surers the least occasion even to suspect
him of vanity. He was candid and affable;
and he did not assume any airs of superior
ity over those with whom he associated.
He never thought either his merit, or his
reputation, sufficient to excuse him from
any of the common offices of social life.
Though he was firmly attached to the
Church of England, he was averse to the
persecution of the Nonconformists. He
judged of men by their conduct: and the
true schismaticks, in his opinion, were the
vicious and the wicked. This liberality of
sentiment did not spring from the want of
religion; for he was thoroughly persuaded
of the truth of Revelation; and amidst a
great variety of books which he had con
stantly before bim, that which be loved the
best, and studied with the greatest applica
tion, was the Bible. He was, indeed, a
truly pious man: and his discoveries con
cerning the frame and system of the Uni
verse, were applied by him to demonstrate
the being of a God, and te illustrate his
power and wisdom. He also wrote an ex
cellent discourse to prove that the remark
able prophecy of Daniel’s weeks, was an
express prediction of the coming of the
Messiah, and that it was fulfilled in Jesus
Christ.
The testimony of the pious and learned
Dr. Doddridge, to the most interesting
pari of this great man’s character, cannot
be omitted on the present occasion. * Ac
cording to the best information,’ says he,
■ whether publick or private, I could ever
obtain, his firm faith in the Divine Revela
tion discovered itself in the most genuine
fruits of substantial virtue and piety; and
consequently gives us the justest reason to
conclude, that he is now rejoicing in the
happy effects of it, infinitely more than in
all the applause which his philosophical
works have procured, though they have
commanded a fame lasting as the world.’
He departed this life in the eighty-fifth,
year of his age ; and, in his principles and
conduct through life, has left a strong and
comfortable evidence, that the highest in
tellectual powers harmonize with religion
and virtue; and that there is nothing in
Christianity but what will abide the scruti
ny of the soundest and most enlarged un
derstanding.
How great and satisfactory a confirma
tion is it to the sincere, humble Christian,
and what an insurmountable barrier does it
present to the infidel, to perceive, in the
iisrt of Christian believers, the exalted and
venerable names of Bacon, Boyle, Locke,
Newton, Addison and Littleton ! men who
must be acknowledged to be orpamente of
human nature, when we consider the wide
compass of ih&ir abilities, the great extent
of their learning and knowledge, and the
piety, integrity, and beneficence of their
lives. These eminent characters firmly
to the belief of Christianity, after
the most diligent and exact researches into
the life of its founder, the authenticity of
its records, the completion of its prophe
cies, the sublimity of its doctrines, the pu
rity of its precepts, and the arguments of its
adversaries.
American Colonization Society.
FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT.
The Fifth Annual Meeting of the Amer
ican Colonization Society, was held on
Thursday the 7th df March, 1822, at Dr.
Laurie’s church, in the City of Washington.
present :
The Hon. Bushrod Washington, Presi
dent, in the Chair.
The minutes of the last Annual Meeting
were read and confirmed.
The Annual Report prepnred by the
Managers was read by the Secretary ; and,
on motion of the Hon. Hugh Nelson,
Resolved , Unanimousbj, That the Report
of the Board of Directors be received and
apopted; and that it be published under
the direction of the Board.
On the motion of Elias B. Caldwell, Esq.
Resolved , That the thanks of this meet
ing be given to Lieut. Stockton, Command
er, and the officers aid crew of the United
States’ schooner Alligator, for their zeal
and activity n the suppression of the slave
trade, and for the very essential aid render
ed to the Society, on the coast of Africa.
On motion of the Hon. William D. Wil
liamson,
Resolved, That the Society contemplate
! with the highest gratification, the benevo
lent exertions of our naval officers and men
employed on the coast of Africa, in carrying
into execution the laws for the suppression
of the slave trade, and for their uniform
kindness to the Agents of the Society, and
aid in its measures.
On the motion of Francis S. Key, Esq.
Resolved , That the Society entertain a
high respect for the memory of the Rev.
Joseph R. Andrus, Agent of this Society,
and of Jonathan B. Winn, Uofted States’
Agent, who departed this life during the
past year, and sincerely sympathize with
their friends on this publick loss. And,
On the motion of Major Johnson, it was
Resolved, unanimously , That the Officers
of the Society, appointed at the last Annual
Meeting, be continued during the ensuing
year.
OFFICERS.
Tbe Hon. Bushrod Washington, PreYt.
Vice Presidents.
Hon. William H. Crawford, of Georgia.
Hon. Henry Clay, of Kentucky.
Hon. Wm. Phillips, of Massachusetts.
Hon. Henry Rutgers, of New York.
Hoo. JohnE. Howard, of Maryland.
Hon. John C. Herbert, ofMaryland.
Isaac M’Kim, Esq. ofMaryland.
John Taylor, Esq. of Caroline, Virginia.
Gen. John Hartwell Cocke, of Virginia.
Gen. Andrew Jackson, ofTennessee.
Robert Ralston, Esq. of Pennsylvania.
Right Rev. Bishop White, of Pa.
Gen. John Mason, of the District of Col’a.
Samuel Bayard, Esq. of New Jersey.
William IL Fitzbugb, Esq. of Virginia.
Managers.
Francis S. Key, Esq. Rev. William Hawley,
Walter Jones, Esq. Rov. Henry Foxall,
Rev. Dr. S. B. Balch, Wm. Thornton, Esq.
Rev. Obadiah B. Brown, Thos. Dougherty,
Esq. Rev. Dr. W. H. Wilmer, Col. Henry
Ashton.
Elias B. Caldwell, Esq. Secretary.
John Underwood, Esq. Recording Sec’ry.
Richasd Smith, Esq. Treasurer.
REPORT.
The Board of Managers of the Ameri
can Colonization Society are thankful to
that Providence which orders all human
events, and on which they have endeav
oured to rely, that they are again permit
ted, at the close of the fifth year of their
labours, to address theirfriends and patrons
in the language of hope and encourage
ment.
This language they have ever consider
ed themselves solemnly bound to renounce
whenever fair experiment should have
manifested the vanity of their pursuit.
When this great plan of patriotism and be
neficence was first presented to the publick,
all that was demanded for it was a (rial,
and that trial they determined to conduct
faithfully and fairly, and, whatever might
b the result, to avow and obey it.
Had it been the pleasure of the Almigh
ty to frown ttpon their efforts, and to throw
. irremovable obstacles in the path of their
pursuit, they were prepared to check their
ardour into submission, and to leave their
country, and a cause that so awfully con
cerns it, to the judgment or the mercies of
God, still trusting that some other way of
deliverance would be opened before us,
and waiting, in the patience and hope of
faith, for its manifestation.
Nor will they now be tempted, by flatter
ing appearances, to announce a final issue of
decisive success. In detailing the proceed
ings of the past year, and exhibiting the
present prospects of their scheme, they
m,ake no higher pretensions than that of
having conducted thejr qpterprise over
difficulties, thought by some to be insuper
able, # o an eminence which hql never
Price $ * 3 ’ so P r - or ’ I
ruce, f s3 Q 0 jn advance ;
before attained—entitling it to higher con
sideration, and demanding for it betteg
hopes and greater efforts.
A few days after the last annual meeting,
the brig Nautilus, having on board two
agents appointed by the government of the
United States, to reside on the coast of
Africa, and two agents of the Society, the
Rev. Joseph R. Andrus arid Mr. C. Wiltber
ger, sailed from Norfolk for the coast of
Africa. The same vessel likewise carried
out a select company of black people, con
sisting of twenty-eight effective labourers,
and a number of children, to recriut the
party sent out, under the direction of the
late Rev. Samuel Bacon, the preceding
year. The agents were instructed to pro
ceed to Sierra Leone, and there debark
the people, under the temporary protection
of the authorities of that colony, which,
from the amicable disposition they had
uniformly evinced in relation to the estab
lishment contemplated by the Society on
that coast, it was presumed, would be gen
erously afforded. The temporary estab
lishment ot our people at Sierra Leone had,
at that time, become a measure of necessi
ty, the managers having received, shortly
before the sailing of the Nautilus, an as
surance that tbe negotiations for the Ba
groo territory had entirely failed, and
thence concluded that the calamity of the
preceding year could hardly be averted, if
the people were to be again'exposed, in a
state of anxious suspense, without proper
accommodations and superintendence, thro’
the approaching rainy season. On the ar
rival of the Nautilus at Sierra Leone, on
the 9th of March, the acting governour of
that colony readily proffered to the settlers
the protection which they solicited. An
arrangement was concluded with the pro
prietors of an extensive and cultivated
plantation, situated on Foura Bay, within
the jurisdiction, and in the immediate vicin
ity of Freetown, by which they became
possessed of every accommodation which
their health and comfort required.
Having secured a lease of this estate for
an indefinite term, the agents had leisure
deliberately to prosecute their inquiries
and observations to different parts of the
coast, with a view to the selection and pur
chase of a territory the most advantageous
ly situated for the purposes of the settle
ment. To this object, therefore, their at
tention was immediately directed. The
negotiations which had been entered upon
the preceding year with the chiefs of the
Sberbro country, and in the pursuit of
which a considerable amount of merchan
dize had been distributed among them in
the form of presents, naturally induced the
agents, conformably.with their instructions,
cerefully to investigate the advantages of
fered by the acquisition of the territory sit
uated on the Bagroo, in a comparison with
other situations on the coast. Their inqui
ries resulted in a full conviction of the ex
pediency of relinquishing the pursuit of a
settlement in this quarter ; and for reasons
which, to the manager*, appear entirely to
justify tbe decision.
The mortality with which our people
were visited at Campelar, in the spring of
1820, was not, indeed, regarded as a proof
of the general insalubrity of the Bagroo
country ; but better information than could
have been obtained before, justified the
impression, that even if tbe ditSculties of
reconciling all the chief? to a cession of ter
ritory, could be removed, other situations
upon Ihe coast presented more favourable
prospects.
But there was another consideration to
influence the agents in this abandonment of
the negotiations at Sherbro. The proxim
ity of the rapidly extendisg settlements of
the Colony of Sierra Leone, although pos
sibly productive of some advantages to
our establishment on the Bagron, during its
infancy, could hardly fail in their future
progress to be productive to both commu
nities of the complicated evils liable to re
sult from the interference of their territori
al limits and commercial pursuits. These
consequences could hardly be averted by
the existence of the most amicable and be
nevolent dispositions in the governours and
intendants of the settlements ; while the
participation of the respective govern
ments in the popular animosities, an evept
but too probable, would ever be liable to
blast the fairest hopes to which the estab
lishment might aspire.
And if the anticipations of the managers
are to be realized in the future expansion
of settlements once permanently founded
on that coi6t, the time js not distant when
the proximity of colonies established on the
Sierra Leone and the Sherbro, must prove
a serious restraint on the territorial en
largement of both. In yielding to the force
of these cpnsiderations, the managers de
rive a satisfaction in perceiving, that the
American agent 9 conformed their conduct
to the unanimous and earnest wishes ex
pressed by the members of the colonial
government of Sierra Leone ; with whom
it is important to cultivate the (host amica
ble and conciliatory correspondence, and
whose liberal conduct towards us merited
such a consideration.
In prosecuting their observations down
(he coast, our agents were not only aided
with the advice of (he English resident of
ficers ami agents at Sierra Leone, but were