Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1837-11-25

wearing apparel And n the present punishment
ls adequate % Their suppression why have stab
tings and shootngs become 50 ffequeni, that the
minds Of peaceable men are kept continually
shocked end agIiated with either Witnessing or
hearing Of this violent, bloody and outrag, Gus
ohcncei The evil calls loudly FOR a remedy.
And will PeulleauaTy aferd this, j. may be
asked--Such Is nv firm PERSUASION. I should
be very happy 10 see Alabama Try the experiment
at least great many Of the States have At.
ready iTied It, and asi learn from authentic sour.
ces. have found It elIeelu1.. Some of the first
experiments many years ago, did not succeed
wen am aware, but The system of confinement
q hard labor, has now been matured and per.
iecied BY time and experience. Al tins day il
prevails over more than two thirds of the Union.
among me rest, IN two Of our adioininn STATES.
georgia and Tennessee. Georgia a few wears
ago deiormInrd 10 abolish the system. bur soo,,
discovered her error, and returned to il ngain
ahu its influence and effect in Tennoe soc nave
ueeh rs learn OF the most decided and salu,ary
character. Homicides there, ar. raye. and me
presence OF deadly weapon IN con,.s,s bc,weeo.
ca'. ''iu nun extremely SO; and yet Tennessee
= low years ago' and DefJre tho establishment of
"ot peh'eh'ary, vas as celebrated for shooting,
so'g, noln'eide :, as Alabama now is. How
= :" 70 desired, that this thing should
~ pJ' ~" among us. Nothing will ever do
49,. ,neve, buta ponItentiary; for the great
~" spIe upon which that system depends, guar
'.Ities its success. Confinement and hard labor
can be Sc limited Of extended, both in their dura-
icn and degree, as 10 furnish 10 juries the means
OF assigning with accuracy 10 every species of
crime, and to every separate instance Of even the
same species OF crime The just and proper guam
tum Of punishment il deserves; ,nis will aud
must secure certainty Of adeoaais punishment;
and that will deter offenders and SUPPRESS crime.
But II is sometimes Soiectod that tho peniten-
iiary system IS E.o.o expensive than our present
system. lhe objection do not consider well
founded. Take out the original cost of erecting
ire buildings. and Ium satisfied, from statistics
which have come under my observation, that a
well regulated peniieniory after few years,
would deifny its own expenses. Many, nay,
most Of tho we'll regulated peniieniaries in The
Union, not only deffay their own expenses, but
are source Of some little revenue TO the statei
Under our present system, VIC have to pay amt
ally several thousand dollars Of Jail fees, for yictu-
allng Offenders, ard this much would in all like-
hood be saved. cannot accurately ascertain
what sum the state has to pay on an average year
", Tor the purpose uboye mentioned nasnuch
as no separate account of the item of "vicual-
ling oiienders,p has been kept. But the item of
experimenting, prosecuting, victuallng and re-
moving public offenders" amounted during the
last year, 70 $S.SsS,4v, and | am inclined 10
think, that the item otrictuoIing alone mus, have
constituted at least half Of that sum.
And whit would he the cost of erecting pen-
Tertiary buildings for this s'aiel Not more than
my or sixty thousand dollars al the highest cal
culaiion. Several ofthe Eastern penitentiares
ofiargc size, have been erected for sums far be-
low thiss Tho CONNECTICUT pcniientiary at
Wcthericld fitted up for 1872 convicts, cost but
$4,000; the Baltimore penitentary for $40
convicis, cost but $i6,Sa3 aud tho Nashville
penitcnliary in Tennessee, for 200 conycts, cost
but $4,000. But what would fifty or even one
hundred thousand dollars, be to the people Of Al
abalna, who for three years past, have rot paid
one cent olsate tax, and have an overlooking
treasury, provided they could thereby secure an
cficen. uld wholesome administration of penal
justco'
Another objection usually made to the ndop-
tionof the penitentiary system, is, that when a
pcnitentiary is once established, every trihe is
made peniteniiary offence This objection
does not 20 10 the principles, but relates allogeh-
or to The details of the system. The people can
surely contide this matter of detail and expedien-
cy with every other, to their representatives, who
ate as likely to consult their wishes, and obey
their instructions. in this. Us in other cases.
consider this complete answer to the objection
Another strange objection sometimes made TO
the penitcnliary system,is this that the dega-
daiion ol confinement in peniseniiary, is too ox-
trene 10 connect with offences which honorable
and high minded men are liable in the trailty Of
human nature to commit. This objection comes
IA general, from such as think !, more high mind
ed to decide their own qnarrels with the Bowie
knife and pistol, than to incaculate and practise
respect to civilauthoriiy & obedience to the laws.
If these high minded individuals stand in such
dread olthe degradation OF confinement in a PEN
itentary, it sto my mind, the most convincing
argument for the adoption OF the system High
minded mon ought, Ct all others, 10 be law abid
ing men--iflhey DO truly high minded they vii
be 50 from such men examples OF obedience
and Submission are expected. Mere pretender
will DO alarmed into submission. ard that is wha
is most needed, Their pride viii do, what ,hei
principle viii not When these are held in check
il is easY 10 govern and control the ignorant an,
unpretendng,
1t is sometimes even urged that criminals at
! too well treated in a pcuitentary. lam for m
own part, inclined TO think. that hard labor-
absolute silence during the day, and solitary con
iinement duiag the night, IRE as much as huma
nature can we'll endures especially when COZ
, tnued for months, or years together. These %
, ded,o the ignominy Of the punishment, max
i penitentiaries, as conceive, tho most etcctut
terror TO evil doersthat the wit Of man has eve
! yet devised.
have said nothing Of the salutary influence
which this mode Of punishment is calculated I
exert upon the offender himself, as compare
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