There is another point on which, we are aware, that many benevolent minds, who have merely viewed the “Pennsylvania System” theoretically, have felt much apprehension—which often amounts to a conviction—which is, that the mental condition of the prisoners, under its discipline, is liable to serious injury. This, we feel authorized to say, is a fatal mistake. We use the term fatal, because the adoption of this view tends to prevent the general introduction of the system, which we think is greatly to be regretted. A practical acquaintance with its working, proves this apprehension to be wholly unfounded. Close observation, specially directed to this point, with carefully prepared tabular statements of the mental condition of each prisoner on entering and on leaving the Eastern Penitentiary, (as also at intermediate
periods) kept for a series of years, have fully established the fact, that the prisoners, instead of being injured, have been decidedly improved in this respect.
Its Result.—From the foregoing positions the result may thus be summed up: That many of those who entered the Penitentiary without any proper sense of their responsibility to their Creator, or their duty to their fellow creatures, have, as we trust, through the Divine blessing accompanying the instrumentalities surrounding them, attained to clear views and conscientious convictions on these points, and have gone forth into the world with firm resolves that—their Maker strengthening them—they would thenceforth do nothing which would grieve His Holy Spirit or wrong their fellow men. And that most of those who entered nearly destitute of learning, even in its simplest form, and without a knowledge of any trade by the pursuit of which they might be able to secure an honest maintenance, have emerged greatly improved in both these respects, and better fitted for the duties and responsibilities of life.
The “Auburn” or Congregate Silent System.—The principle of “separation,” in the abstract, seems to be very extensively, if not generally conceded, both in this country and in Europe; but, on various pleas, it is but partially adopted in practice in the United States beyond the limits of Pennsylvania, and therefore, as we contend, fails in effecting the desired results. This partial adoption under the “Auburn” system consists of confinement in separate cells at night, but congregation in the workshops, or elsewhere, during the day—under the positive injunction, however, that when together, the prisoners shall have no communication with each other by word or sign of any kind, and this injunction is enforced by the presence of armed guards, and any breach of it is visited
by heavy penalties. This system is adopted on the strange plea that man is a social being, and he is therefore entitled to society as a natural right, not seeming to be aware that, by the restraints imposed, they entirely rob him of his social character. It reminds one of the Fable of Tantalus, the “Lydian King, who was condemned to be plunged in water, with choice fruits hanging over him, without the power of reaching them to satisfy his hunger or his thirst.” Notwithstanding, however, the strictness of the watch maintained, the severity of the threatened penalty, and the example of the actual punishment administered upon those who have in any way violated this rule of silence, and non-recognition of each other when together—from the almost irresistible craving for the enjoyment of some of the rights of social intercourse, which is stimulated by being brought into the presence of each other—considerable intercommunication, by various methods ingeniously devised by them, it is admitted, does, in fact, take place between the prisoners. To enable the officers in charge effectually to prevent this, and to maintain the general discipline of the Prison, corporal punishment, it is believed, is deemed to be an essential part of the system, and this is consequently frequently administered with great severity. At the meeting of the American Prison Association, held in the city of New York in the Autumn of 1860, (at which some of our members were present as delegates) a New York gentleman, prominent as a philanthropist, familiar with the character of their Prisons, and who had been one of the regular visitors at Sing Sing, declared that their Prisons were like menageries, in which the prisoners were kept and treated as so many wild beasts, and that, a few years back, the severity of the punishments at Sing Sing was such, that the stone at
the foot of the whipping-post was always wet with the blood of the victims of the lash. We trust, however, the discipline is now maintained there by means less severe. The regulations connected with our system, on the contrary, entirely exclude the lash, and, excepting in solitary and very extreme cases, admit of no more severe punishment than imprisonment in a dark cell, with reduction of food; and we are assured that a very few days only, of such discipline, are sufficient to curb and subdue the most refractory—and even this mild punishment has to be applied very rarely.
Influences of the Systems Compared.—There is nothing, as we believe, in the working of our system, which can make the prisoners worse than when they enter; but on the contrary there is much, the direct tendency of which is to make them better. We are well aware that all are not reformed by it, though we thankfully trust that such is the result with regard to many. Under the discipline of the “Auburn System,” we can hardly see how reform amongst the prisoners can be promoted. And we are convinced that there is a mistake in the confident claim set up, that, as conversation between the prisoners is almost wholly suppressed, they cannot corrupt each other, and consequently, if not made better, they at least cannot be made worse. The very fact that the prisoner, in daily, though silently, meeting in the workshop a large mass of fellow-convicts, is sensible that he is surrounded by, and on the same level with, the off-scouring of the community, degrades him in his own estimation, and silently, perhaps slowly, but almost inevitably, sooner or later, drags him down, till he becomes sorrowfully demoralized. In confirmation of this, it may be mentioned that one of our own members, in the course of a visit a few months since, at the State
Prison at Auburn, was informed by the officer in attendance, that amongst their convicts there were ministers, doctors, and lawyers. Upon this, our member inquired if they there maintained a deportment consistent with their previous position in society. The reply was: “For a short time they do; but they soon sink to the level of the most degraded.”
Another point of much consequence, in comparing the “Congregate” and “Separate” systems, is, that by the former, each of the prisoners becomes familiarly acquainted with the countenances of the others, and consequently, on meeting after leaving the prison, an immediate recognition takes place between them, and on the principle that “Birds of a feather flock together,” they are united by a kind of sympathy, which is anything but salutary; while by the latter, never having seen each other during their incarceration, there is no danger of their being drawn into evil association after their discharge.
Reference to Publications.—Our time and space forbid our extending this branch of our subject. Before leaving it, however, we think proper to refer to two or three, amongst the many publications in which interesting and valuable views may be met with on the subject of prisons, particularly such as relate to what we have been endeavoring to set forth as the “Pennsylvania Separate System” of prison discipline, and its practical working.