A popular essay on subjects of penal law, and on uninterrupted solitary confinement at labor, as contradistinguished to solitary confinement at night and joint labor by day, in a letter to John Bacon / by Francis Lieber.

  • Lieber, Francis, 1800-1872.
Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A popular essay on subjects of penal law, and on uninterrupted solitary confinement at labor, as contradistinguished to solitary confinement at night and joint labor by day, in a letter to John Bacon / by Francis Lieber. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    philanthropic grounds we ardently hoped, and in expecting which the knowledge of man's character in general seems to warrant us. I consider the cause too important not to have yielded at once, well knowing that suhjects which affect man- kind so deeply and at large, are best promoted if every one cheerfully contributes his mite, however well he may be aware that there are others whose labors would be more efficient. Every individual has his views and his own experience, a faithful statement of which cannot but have a beneficial ten- dency, though the degree in which it promotes the cause may be but moderate. Besides, I have lately visited again some of the most important penitentiaries on the two different plans, have had my conversations with their superintendents, and made my inquiries of their inmates: I believe, therefore, that my few remarks may not prove altogether useless. Long ere this should I have accomplished the desire of my friends had not professional and literary labours rendered it almost impos- sible. Nor is it unlikely that I should have delayed the labor for some weeks longer, had I not lately received the Twelfth Annual Report of the Boston Prison Discipline Society, which does not only show the same spirit of hostility to the Pennsyl- vania system that has characterized, I believe, every number in the series of these annual reports, but contains remarks of so surprising a kind, that I resolved forthwith to take up the pen. It may be objected indeed, why pay any special atten- tion to remarks the very character of which, it would appear, must greatly deprive them of their effect, while the world at large seem agreed, or daily becoming more so, that uninter- rupted solitary confinement at labor is the preferable, because the most humane, yet most effective mode, to which society can resort in punishing its unfortunate members; as we see it at home from the increased number of penitentiaries on the Pennsylvania plan, and abroad, from the reports made on the American penitentiary system, by gentlemen selected for this task, by their respective governments, and who arc unanimous in favor of our system? Why are you not satisfied, it may be asked, with so impartial a statement as that lately made by Mr.