erty thus specially exempted from taxation, it appeared to her that, although, as assessors, they felt bound to make this assessment, yet, as MEN, they would rejoice to have these special exemptions abolished. And as, by the practical operation of these exemptions, many thousands of poor and industrious persons have the like injustice done to them every year, your memorialist prays that the provisions of law, making the above-named special exemptions, may be repealed, and that the law be so amended, that every person be permitted to hold property, of whatsoever kind, to an equal amount, exempted from taxation. And, as in duty bound, will pray.

Fall River, 4th month 24th, 1848.

LAMIRA CHASE.

HOUSE.....No. 208.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, May 1, 1848.

THE JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON PRISONS, to whom were referred so much of the governor's message as related to the state prison; also, sundry memorials and petitions in relation to the condition of prisons and prisoners, in this Commonwealth;-HAVING, by a personal inspection of many of these prisons, as well as by means of information derived from other reliable sources, duly considered the whole subject, ask leave to

REPORT:

In the hope of doing something to improve the condition of the class of prisoners, who are scattered over various parts of the Commonwealth, in the houses of correction and jails, the committee have not contented themselves with the usual annual visit to the state-prison, but have visited and examined as many of the abovenamed institutions as the limits of the session and their opportunities would permit. They have received returns from the keepers of the jails upon various points. They have derived much valuable information from intelligent gentlemen who were familiar with the general subject, or who were particularly interested and well-informed upon some de

partments of it. They have thus endeavored, by all the means in their power, to make themselves thoroughly acquainted with the condition of the prisons, with an earnest desire to ascertain in what particulars the existing laws may be advantageously revised, or their observance more strictly enforced. In addition to these reasons, the committee have felt, that, in confining their observation to any one prison, they could not be expected, nor would they be able, to form a correct judgment of its merits or defects.

Before giving any detailed accounts of their visits, let us consider, for a moment, what are the purposes to be accomplished by the erection and maintenance of prisons, and what results they are expected to produce.

The first design of a prison is, obviously, to protect society, by a separation from itself, against those lawless individuals, who, by their attacks upon the rights of its members, would otherwise mar its integrity, or destroy its harmony. This separation, so far as it may be regarded as a punishment, is in exact accordance with the natural laws, which attach an inevitable penalty to their infraction, and in this way point out to men the paths of danger. And it is, in this regard, intended as a salutary warning to those evil-disposed persons, whose crimes are not yet sufficiently distinguished as to forfeit for them their liberty, or whose superior sagacity and adroitness have enabled them, so far, to avoid detection and the punishment which their transgressions merit; and, lastly, to restore the unhappy subjects of this discipline to such a condition, so far as they have fallen from it, morally, intellectually and physically, as might qualify them to become useful members of that society whose necessary and salutary laws they have violated. We would not here be understood to express any sympathy with the views entertained by some, who lose sight of the well-being of the whole body of society, in their mawkish sensibility for the deserved suffering of one of its members, and who, by their conduct, would seem to desire the safety of a part at the expense of the whole. We believe there are crimes of so deep a dye, that a due regard to the majesty of the laws, and a merciful consideration for the safety of the innocent victims

of such offences, demand, with entire justice, the perpetual imprisonment, or even sometimes the life, of their perpetrators. Still, every prisoner has rights which we most cheerfully acknowledge, and which should be the more scrupulously respected, because his very situation, as such, makes it the more difficult for him to maintain them. He is at the mercy of a greater power. Surely imprisonment and death are bitter enough, and have within themselves elements of suffering sufficient to render legal satisfaction for any crime. Where, then, is the right to superadd to either of these a denial of the common mercies of Providence, and to deprive the prisoner of the means of maintaining or establishing his bodily or moral health during the weary days and nights which may be allotted to him?

How much more when the prisoner is not a criminal-when he is detained for examination only-as a witness—or as a debtor? And yet all these are done in this State of Massachusetts. Prisoners are shut up, in the old jails, month after month, year after year, in crowded, filthy rooms, without air, without water, without exercise, employment, or instruction. There are not, excepting in two or three instances, any bath-rooms, or any suitable conveniencies for bathing-no means for ventilation-no lights at night--no habits of industry encouragedno chaplain or teachers provided. They are only schools of vice, where the younger are taught by the older sinners, and their whole effect must be to make their inmates worse, instead of better. They are insecure, not easily supervised, and in all respects are decidely inferior, in structure and management, to the houses of correction, or the state prison; to either of which it would be almost a charity to commit prisoners in preference. They ought by all means to be re-modelled at the earliest possible period.

Construction of Prisons.-It is obvious, from what has been already said, that a prison must be constructed with a direct reference to the purposes for which it is to be used; and with an especial regard to the necessities and circumstances of those who are expected to occupy it; or it must inevitably fail to accomplish them under the most discreet and well-applied management.

Security.

An insecure prison is a contradiction in terms. There should be no opportunity for escape. All hope of this ought to expire in the mind of a prisoner the moment he enters its doors. It is an important step in his discipline. With no delusive idea of shortening his allotted term of imprisonment, he submits himself, if not immediately, at last quietly and resignedly, to the fate which he is satisfied he cannot avoid. And the structure of the state prison, and of the houses of correction, which are modelled upon it with some additional advantages, will, in the view of the committee, be very likely to have such an effect upon the mind of almost any prisoner; while the antiquated and insecure plan of the old jails would especially invite attempts to escape on the part of the prisoner, and efforts to aid him on the part of accomplices from without.

But, in these days of mechanical ingenuity and enterprise, there are convicts who could scale any walls, or pick any locks, if they had but time and the opportunity, so that, after all, the greatest security of a prison must consist in the vigilance of its officers, and the perfection of its system of surveillance. The prison, to this end, should be so constructed that the keeper, at any time of day or night, should be able to command a view of the position of every prisoner at a glance. This is the case at the state prison, and at most of the houses of correction; but it is an impossibility in the old jails. The keeper should also be so situated in regard to the prisoners, as to hear even from his sleeping apartment the least unusual noise; but as the jails. are at present arranged, the prisoners may make the "night hideous" with their cries, without awaking the keeper, or the watchman of the prison, or, if he is aware of some disturbance, it is impossible for him to charge the offence upon any particular prisoner.

Salubrity.

The prison should be so constructed, as to preserve, as far as possible, the health of its inmates. It will be admitted, we presume, that the State, by her agents, has no right to de