24

Benedict I. Semmes, Esquires; a committee to
investigate the state and condition of the Pen-
itentiary; to examine into the accounts and gen-
eral police of that institution; and to recom-
mend such amendments in the Penitentiary
law, as they may consider necessary and pro-
per," &c. And we, herewith, submit to you
their report, which, in our opinion, does them
great credit, and is entitled to your very deli-
beratetconsideration. We also submit, herewith,
the annual report from the directors, exhibiting
the state and condition of the institution and
all its concerns on the 1st instant, which shews
that they are managed with great prudence and
propriety, and that thy institution is in as pros-
perous a state, as under its present organiza-
tion, could be expected.

That the Penitentiary system, as ours is
at present organized, has failed in a great de-
gree, as a means of reformation, both here and
elsewhere, is undeniable. Notwithstanding
which, every effort should be made to perfect
it, and to ascertain whether our disappointed
hopes have proceeded from any detect in the
arrangements of those establishments, or from
the settled depravity of human nature—defy-
ing the institutions of man and to be operated
on by the force of Religion only. The system
itself, is a benevolent one. Let us then make
the experiment of solitary confinement, as re-
commended in the report of the committee, and
which has been resorted tp by .some of our sis-