Little circumstances often change a man’s course in life, and sometimes cause a great improvement in conduct; and the simple appliance of enabling them thus to shorten their sentence—giving evidence of a disposition to temper justice with mercy, might produce the desired reformatory effect; and your Committee, in view of the experience gained in other institutions, can hardly doubt of its beneficial results in our own. For who shall say what slight incentive, or what word of kindness or encouragement, may not change the whole man and his future destiny. But an objection has been stated to the measure proposed; and that is, that the worst men are generally well-behaved in prison; and that such would derive more benefit than those disposed to reform. So far as that might be the case, _even their good conduct_ would be a good example to the others; _certainly it could do no harm_; and even the worst of men might be benefited by bringing a new influence to bear upon them. But this objection, as we conceive, is not of sufficient force to prevent the adoption of what is proposed; if it were, our public institutions might perhaps be closed, and even private charities abandoned, because impostors sometimes partake of their advantages. The Inspectors of the Massachusetts prison, as before stated, say that this plan has an effect upon some who are insensible to other motives. Such things are not unfrequent in ordinary life, and many a wayward youth has been diverted from the downward course by a gentle admonition, or by a casual observation, perhaps not even intended for his ear. And how many of _us_ have been preserved from allurements and temptations to evil, by the kind and watchful care of a tender and religious mother; a privilege which many of these unfortunates have never enjoyed. Under like circumstances, can any of us say, that our own lot might not have been like theirs; and indeed may not the happy and salutary influences by which we have been surrounded, have been the means of preserving us from a like unhappy condition? Many persons are impressed with the idea, that a man convicted of crime, and sent to a penitentiary, must necessarily be changed in his entire nature; and that there is no hope of a restoration to usefulness. But it is not all who are sent to prison that are deliberately and determinedly depraved; as some of us know. Many of them have been the dupes of designing men, who have escaped; others have been placed in unfavorable circumstances, and through sudden temptation have fallen; others, from indulgence in strong drink and exposure to evil company; and others, perhaps, from the bad example or neglect of parents. Their arrest and conviction, have brought many to a sense of their folly; some of whom, no doubt, through humiliation and prayer, have sought for and obtained forgiveness.