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Editorial
February 13, 1752
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
Editorial suggests replacing transportation of able-bodied criminals for minor offenses with 7-14 years of hard labor in quarries or mines to reform their vicious habits and deter idleness-driven crime through fear of toil.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
It has occur'd to some Persons, who are sincerely solicitous for the Publick Welfare, that if, instead of being transported for small Crimes, able-bodied Fellows were condemn'd for seven or fourteen Years, to work in Quarries, or in Mines, and Care taken to see that Sentence duly executed: it would have very good Effects, as well in reforming the vicious Dispositions of the Sufferers, as in striking a Terror into their Companions. For, as the Love of Idleness is the great Motive to Pilfering and Thieving, the Apprehension of hard Labour, is the most natural and proper Remedy.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Or Punishment
Social Reform
What keywords are associated?
Penal Reform
Hard Labor
Crime Punishment
Idleness
Transportation Alternative
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Proposal For Hard Labor As Alternative To Transportation For Minor Crimes
Stance / Tone
Advocacy For Penal Reform Through Enforced Labor
Key Arguments
Hard Labor In Quarries Or Mines For 7 14 Years Would Reform Vicious Dispositions Of Offenders
Such Punishment Would Strike Terror Into Potential Criminals
Idleness Motivates Pilfering And Thieving, And Fear Of Hard Labor Is The Natural Remedy