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pnsITgNrIAR1Gs.-The has been much difference of opinion with regard to the bene- fits resulting from the adoption Of the Peni- tentiary systern--but t seems now to be gen erallg allowed that t is far preferable to the whipping, branding, cropping, and the whole catalogue of puniahments which grow up uns der the common law.

 That Peniteataries are far more beneficial to the community than those punishments which serve no other purpose than to let loose the criminal, more hardened and doubly disgraced, to prey upon society, admits of no doubt Those who have anticipated refor- nation among the conyicts themselves, to any great tent, have of course been disap pointed It Is not to be expected that, e3- cept very rarely, men who have committed crime, will reform and become honest and good citizens This, it occurs to US, is not the object of Penitentiaries, nor the expeeta- ton of law giYefs. IL is a common fault of theoretical writers to be too Utopian ii their schemes-and 1t is t more common one to

 imagine that mankind are much better than they really are: in the present age, particu- larly. the creed of optimism and human per feetabllity-a modification of the New Har- lnony doctrines of Owen, is very prevalent, Theorists have persuaded themselves that mankind are better than in former ages--and have expected great effects from solitary COIL fnement and the discipline of Penitentiaries. But we inaginei as we said before, that no rational legislator looks to reformation as the ultimate object of Penitentiafies. It would be chimerical and visionary idea. The true object is, to confine and keep apart those H4o prey upon and injafe soeiety-and to dc that with the least possible expense to the community.

 As the laws of Arkansas now stand, the criminal is whipped, and immediately turned out upon the world. Robbery and murder are the immediate fssalts.. .Tfh he is IinpFison- SQ7 It ID Gt bS ek S446G u elIG t0LlHtuHlG dItd no benefit of any kind results from it. \ Pe- nitentiary, strongly built, and yet conforta- ble, where the conVicts could be made to work and support themselves, with farm at tached to it, conducted like those in the Uni- ted States, which haYe elicited the admira- tion of the Commissioners sent over by the

 

 French and English Governments, would do more towards enforcing the laws and ilaProV- ing the state of society in Arkansas, than all the whippings, braadings and hangiags that could be inflicted ia twenty successive years.

 Neither would 1t be much expense to the Territory. As we are in a frontier country, a great portion of our convicts must ever con- sist of those who have committed crimes against the United States. 4 memorial to Congress, therefore, would be certain to oB- tain us an appropriation to aid in building q Penitentiary-and if a small tax should be levied upon us for that purpose, we were bet ter pay 1t than to have every convict for twen- ty years turned loose upontus with the brand on his forehead and the stripe on his back.

 