The New York Packet

From the Pennsylvania Mercury.

On Tuesday, the 8th day of May, 1787, a number of gentlemen assembled, and agreed to associate themselves in a Society, to be entitled "The Philadelphia Society, for alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons." When the following paper was read, and resolved upon to be the future Constitution of this Society, to wit:

Constitution of the Philadelphia Society for alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons.

"I was in prison, and ye came unto me."

"And the King shall answer, and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

MATTH. XXV. 36.-40.

WHEN we consider that the obligations of benevolence, which are founded on the precepts and examples of the Author of Christianity, are not cancelled by the follies or crimes of our fellow-creatures; and, when we reflect upon the miseries which penury, hunger, cold, unnecessary severity, unwholesome apartments, and guilt, (the usual attendants of prisons) involve with them, it becomes us to extend our compassion to that part of mankind, who are the subjects of these miseries. By the aids of humanity, their undue and illegal sufferings may be prevented: the links, which should bind the whole family of mankind together under all circumstances, be preserved unbroken: and, such degrees and modes of punishment may be discovered and suggested, as may, instead of continuing habits of vice, become the means of restoring our fellow creatures to virtue and happiness.

From a conviction of the truth and obligation of these principles, the subscribers have associated themselves under the title of "The Philadelphia Society, for alleviating the miseries of Public Prisons." For effecting these purposes, they have adopted the following constitution:

I. The officers of the Society shall consist of a President, two Vice-Presidents, two Secretaries, a Treasurer, four Physicians, an Electing Committee of twelve, and an acting Committee of six members; all of whom, except the last mentioned Committee, shall be chosen annually by ballot, on the second second-day, called Monday, in the month called January.

II. The President, and in his absence, one of the Vice-Presidents shall preside in all meetings, and subscribe all the acts of the Society. The President, or, in his absence, either of the Vice-Presidents shall moreover have the power of calling a special meeting of the Society whenever he shall judge proper. A special meeting shall likewise be called at any time when six members of the Society shall concur in requesting it.

III. The Secretaries shall keep fair records of the proceedings of the Society, and shall correspond with such persons and societies as may be judged necessary to promote the views and objects of the institution.

IV. The Treasurer shall keep all the monies and securities belonging to the Society, and shall pay all orders signed by the President or one of the Vice-Presidents, which orders shall be his vouchers for his expenditures,--he shall, before he enter upon this office, give a bond of not less than two hundred pounds, for the faithful discharge of the duties of it.

V. The business of the Physicians shall be to visit the prisons when called upon by, or to give advice to the acting Committee respecting such matters as are connected with the preservation of the health of persons confined therein, or subject to the government of the officers of the prisons.

VI. The electing Committee shall have the sole power of admitting new members. Two thirds of them shall be a quorum for this purpose; and the concurrence of a majority of them, by ballot, when met, shall be necessary for the admission of a member. No member shall be admitted, who has not been proposed at a general meeting of the Society; nor shall an election for a member take place in less than one month after the time of his being proposed.

VII. The acting Committee shall visit the public prisons, or such other places of confinement or punishment as are ordained by law, at least, once every week. They shall enquire into the circumstances of the persons confined; they shall report such abuses as they shall discover to the officers of government who are authorized to redress them; and shall examine the influence of confinement or punishment upon the morals of the persons who are the subjects of them. They shall have a right, with the concurrence of the President, or one of the Vice-Presidents, to draw upon the Treasurer for such sums of money as shall be necessary to carry on the business of their appointment. Four of them shall be a quorum. After the first election, two of their number shall be relieved from duty at each quarterly meeting, and two members shall be appointed to succeed them.

VIII. Every member, upon his admission, shall subscribe the Constitution of the Society, and contribute Ten Shillings annually, in quarterly payments, towards defraying its contingent expences. If he neglect to pay the same for more than two years, he shall, upon due notice being given him of the delinquency, cease to be a member.

IX. The Society shall meet on the second second-day, called Monday, in the months called January, April, July, and October, at such place as shall be agreed to by a majority of the Society.

X. No law or regulation shall contradict any part of the Constitution of the Society; nor shall any law or alteration in the Constitution be made without being proposed at a previous meeting. All questions shall be decided, where there is a division, by a majority of votes. In those cases, where the Society is equally divided, the presiding officer shall have a casting vote.