Prison Discipline

We find in the Albany Argus an extended notice of the report of the Tnspectors of the Mount Pleasant State Prison. It presents many valuable facts nnd suggestions in relation to the management of persons. We think the fbllowing extracts will interest our readers: A new system has been introduced at the Mount Pleasant and Auburn Prisons, and with the most gratifying effects. - The Board remark: "In April last, they entered upon a new modo of government; and. they are rejoiced to have it in their power to state that the happiest results have attended the experiment. In the female prison, the whip is never uscd; and in the male rison, now only as a last resort; and he consequence of the change has been, that while among the males the number of lashes has diminished from one thousand one hundred and nmety-ftve a nonth to about two hundred, the number of oflences against discipline has decreased from one hundred and thirty a month o fifty; and in the female prison from orty-seven a monlh toeleven. And in he mean time, the Inspectorsare assured )y '.heir oflicers, by the contractors, vhose interest would make them particularly vlgilant on this subject, and by heir own careful observation, that oi-der, ndustry and obedience, have been fully naintained among the prisoners; and they are confident in. the hope that when the outer ward shall be completed, so that solitary confinement for shovt periods can )e resorted to as a means of punishing the refractory, the use of the whip can be lispensed with, save only perhaps a ast resort in extreme cases." The keeper, Mr. Eldridge, thus speaks of the practical results: "We have recourse to the Jasli only vhen it is ascertained that every other and milder way has been resorted to without effect. "We have, in several instances been successful, after placing the convict in absolute solitude during the day and night, and have al most as oft'en heard hem ask to be released from their confinement and return to their labors, promsing at the same time to submit to every hing that our discipline requires. "With another class of men, we adopt a different mode of treatmentT such as showering them, changing their ernployment, and taking from them a part of their food, and someümes by depriving hem of their bed, &c. "Ifr however, the convict has received either or all of the above punishments without producingthe desired effect, then the whip is applied as the most eflèctive means of enforcing submission."The lash is calculated to arouse all' the jaser passions, and leading to hatred and revenge, whilst the former subdues without blunting the mornls of the man already fallen n his-own opinión." A cfosifrcation of the convicts is also suggested, in order to malte a separation etween the more and less dopraved. It is well knowtvttoat among the bad, there may be worse.. The Board remark: "The hopeef Feward fon more powerul, as well as more benefiet! incentive to good conduct, than the fear of pnishment; and as far as was practicable, this principie has us. It would, lowever, be most effectualr if fche-prisons were so constructed as to tiliow of a classïfication of the inmates. They could then elévate themselves by good conduct, step by step, until they could efFectually in the prison, learn the lesson so important to them outside, that virtue is sure of its reward. So, too, by bad behavior, they could sink themselves trom grade to grade, until by theseverity of the sufferings they should bring on themselves, theyshould also learn the equally important lesson, that vice is as sure of its punishment." In the femalo prison, this principie of classification has been carried out, and with such cheering results, both in aal and point of view, that they consider ils efficacy settled by experierice. But the most important recommenda tion s, that of furnishing the convicts with proper books to read, accompaniec by daüy instruction, by means of compe tent teachers. It is now well understood that when convicts are deprived of the means of reading and all conversation their minds, of necessity vegetate thought. which "refer orily to the evil of thei past lives, or to the dark gloom of the Oi ture." It is pertinently remarked by the chaplain of the prison that "The inmates of penitentiaries mus re-enter society, and, if unreformed. how ever obsequious they may have been during their confinement, they will again, mos assuredly, commit depredations upon the persons and property of society and the feelings of their friends. Henee not on ly religión and philanthropy, but also the well-being of society, and even self-inter est itself, combine to recommend reforma tion as the paramount object of peniten tiary punishment." Deeply impressed with this conviction the Board of Inspectora earnestly recom mend:"That they be authorized to employ ome competent teachers,' whosé whöle ime should be devoted to the thsk. If ny inference can jiistly be dmVri TróibT xperienceinthe female prison, iVwould v n the increased order and industry of the )risoners, be in a financial point m.erely'y lie most profitnble investment that could . e made of the money whiletathemoc-l ] condition of the and the proa eet of their future uséfulnöss iñ lífe', fë vould'be of incalculable ádvantage." : This method has been tried amongtheemale convicts, and with the most chegjT" ng success-. "In addition to the chapel and funeral! ervices, and the library, they have thev advantage of a Sunday school, and dárly nstructions by the matrons. : "The benefits of the governrnent ín-roduced into that prisón do not stop ere, By producing in the minds of the con-icts an impression that their welfare is. cared for, that they are not hopelessly ost, and that their effbrts at reformatior villbe met in a kindly and an encöuraging spirit, new aspirations after goodiness and purity are produced in tliemr new thoughts awakened, and new and letter -lives aimed at." ín relation to the resulta of the intro-[uction óf books, the Board emphaticajly remark: - "It is clearly demonstrated,tQ; us, that to the introductiou of these bpoka=" ve owe much of the good order and;heer ui industry which prevail." The keeper remarks frotn his daily observátion, ' hat it has done much lo diminish thénumber of violations of our discipline, vhile on the Sabbnth dny you cah carcely pass one cell . in one huudred without seeing its inmate ardently engaged in reading his library book. Con-, equently this indulgence, in feasting theirv minds, (or a majority of them,) wasso ñr'orably received, that all noises hithertb ndulged in by them, such as whistling, inging, talking, aud thumping of their bunks and furniture, have almost entire:, y ceaséd." .. , ,.; By the present laws of Nev-Y.oric,,: lischarged convicts can only r.eceive $3 nmoney and $10 in clothing - an amount o very small that it leaves them in niany cases entirely destitute before they reach heir former homes, and thus expösing hem to the most trying temptation that nature can endure. Tnis short-sighted law is evidently ntt var with the whole penitentiary sysjtemi of New York, and therefore the Board strongly and eonvincingly remark: t. "InsUinces have come to the knowledge of the Inspectors, of discharged convicts vho have left the prison with sincere desires to lead non est lives, and who.have evinced their siiïcerit.y by enduring, theseverest privation for wat of employment, when it has beenapparent to themi hat by cewmitting crimes tiieir want would' be welt sppKed and. tliey have1 not to itnd fórmer prisoners returning upon. them wilh the trueand ready excuse 'we were compeled .t steal to save us from starvation.'