ENPages
2
TO THE HONORABLE SENATE & HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE.
Your memorialist in the exercise of the right secured by the Constitution to the citizens of the State to petition the Legislature, begs leave respectfully to call the attention of your honorable body, to the importance of providing more effectually, for the moral reformation of the convicts in the State Penitentiary. The benevolent feelings cherished by Christianity, first led to the establishment of such institutions for correction & reform among the civilised nations of the earth. It is, however, to be regretted, that reformation of character, has not always been the chief object aimed at, in the regulations made for the government of these establishments.
The unfortunate men whose crimes have reduced them to the unhappy condition of convicts, are in a great measure cut off, necessarily, from the common sympathies and charities of humanity. They may, perhaps, beyond all others, take up the lamentation - "no man cared for our souls"- They have no opportunity of hearing the word of God read, to remind them of the solemn accountability which awaits them after a life of crime has terminated in death. Many of them, desides being young, and therefore, affording just grounds of expectation, to hope for reformation in their care, cannot even read, and the privilege of uniting in Christian worship, and in the case of the penitent, of participating in the ordinances of the Christian religion, is beyond their reach, unless it be furnished, through the instrumentality of individual zeal and private charity. Ministers of the gospel have, occassionally, from time to time, at the suggestion & some times at the request of the Governors of the State, visited the Penitentiary, and there performed religious services. Such is the only religious instruction and comfort which they have received in the dark day of their calamity.
3
Evidence is not wanting to prove that these services, performed, as they have been, under every disadvantage, to make good impressions, are highly valued by the convicts themselves. And this was particularly true, during the prevalence of the Asiatic Cholera when some ministers of the gospel adventured their lives, voluntarily, to administer to the wants and consolation of the sick & dying.
It must be obvious, however, to reflection, that such services to be beneficial, as an instrument of moral reform, should be performed regularly and statedly. Your memorialist has too much respect for the wisdom of the Legislature, to enter upon the task of constructing a formal argument, to show how efficient an agent religious instruction may be made, in the work of reclaiming offenders against good morals and the laws of the lands.
It is a subject which requires only thought, to commend itself, at once, to the grave and serious consideration of every patriot & statesman wherever the employment of such an agency has been resorted to, in the State prisons of other commonwealths - and in some instances provision has been made by legislative enactment to that end - it has been attended by the most marked and decided evidences of benefit to the unfortunate victims of the law, and to the order, efficiency and safety of the institutions themselves. And surely we may reasonably hope that if men may be deterred from the perpetration of crime, by the sanction of human laws, much more may they be reclaimed, from a course of iniquity, and be brought to form good resolutions of amendment when under the endurance of legal penalties, they are reminded of the solemn reckonings that await all offenders, at a tribunal which is unerring in its decisions, and from which there is no appeal.
Your memorialist, in earnestly praying the Legislature to give attention to this interesting subject, ventures, most respectfully to suggest that provision be made by law, for the employment of some minister of the gospel, as Chaplain for the penitentiary, whose duty it shall be to perform religious services & offices for the convicts therein, at such times, and under such regulations as the wisdom of
4
your honorable body shall prescribe. And your memorialist as in duty bound will ever pray "that all things may be so ordered and settled by your endeavors upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness truth and justice, religion & piety may be established among us for all generations.
December 17th 1841.
Jas. H. Otey.