A visit to the Philadelphia prison; being an accurate and particular account of the wise and humane administration adopted in every part of that building; containing also an account of the gradual reformation, and present improved state of the penal laws of Pennsylvania: with observations on the impolicy and injustice of capital punishments ... In a letter to a friend / By Robert J. Turnbull.

  • Turnbull, Robert J. (Robert James), 1775-1833.
Date:
1797
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A visit to the Philadelphia prison; being an accurate and particular account of the wise and humane administration adopted in every part of that building; containing also an account of the gradual reformation, and present improved state of the penal laws of Pennsylvania: with observations on the impolicy and injustice of capital punishments ... In a letter to a friend / By Robert J. Turnbull. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    t C 60 ) doubt this who was ever prefent at an execution. The trifling (hare of pain a convict is fenfible of, and the eafe which attends his departure from mortality, is an exhibition not calculated to create more than a temporary degree of awe in a furrounding multitude, and productive of effeCts too fudden and violent to leave any durable impreflions on their minds. When thefe impreflions again are apt to create in the breaff of a fpeCtator, any other emotions than thofe of terror and deteftation of the fufferer’s offence, the confe- quences are ftill more prejudicial. How often, neverthelefs, do we experience fenfations the very oppofite of thefe ? Is there fcarcely an execution, which does not either prompt us to an admiration of the criminal’s intrepidity, or excite our compaffion for his diftrefs ; and thus, by affording a feene of virtue and fenfibility, render us forgetful of the crime which gave birth to it ? Above all, how many men are there, who look upon the ceremony of a fcaffold proceflion with all the indignation imaginable! For myfelf I can avow that, on this occafion, the following train of reafoning forces itfelf upon my mind. What means this tumult, that diforders in this manner the peace and happinefs of fociety ? What this combination of thoufands—this waging war againft an helplefs indi¬ vidual ? Does the exiftence of one poor delinquent en¬ danger the fecurity of a government or' nation ? If fo, alas, my country, how art thou fallen! Weak in con¬ dition indeed ! Where is thy boaftedflrength and energy, thofe expreflions the infant lips of thy citizens have fo often uttered, and to which we would all attend with the fweetefl rapture ? If deprived of it, is it ftill necef- fary that thou Ihouldeft in this folemn and open manner, proclaim thy inability to protect and defend thyfelf ? He has committed a crime, I might be anfwered ; the people muft feel the fovereignty if the government and Jaws. And can they not accomplifh this except by the perpetration of a crime ? Becaufe they have ag- , . greg-ately 0