Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1839-03-16
From the Bgfaio Commercial .ldr0iiser.l
4 PRISON SCENE

As one of or citizens was recently Nurucyiuc
hOmeward lrln the commercial metropolis hc stop
pes, nr hour or tive, al Auhun.-lmpcHed by
motives OF curiosity he repaired 10 thc Stale Pris-
on. and went the usual nauudS. with the view 81
contemplating, in has $ low estate, oae whom be
dad known aud moved with n palmy days 81 proud
AMI golden prosperity, but who WAS sow within
those gloomy walls coEciet feioa, condemned To
wears of silent toll side by SIDE with Villains oi eve
~ hae of crime. In a secluded part Of ibc M
mense building be olnj tie ohcc, OF his search,
a'tred m the coarse par-ca,nied cunsict dress,
soel and dirty, bis kair cropped closely TO his head,
and lbs small, set Ggniiird orw, bent painfully over
his task. His cuuntCuance was deadly pale, save
where, upon each cheek, a small deep hectic spot
told the troubled working of bIs uuQujel mind, While
bis un>hayen chin with beard of a weeks growth,
e1utra>ted strangely with his hsh marb,e-lbe Fore
head, and altered features. ippartnga witness 10
his appearance, which btilicl the tlo'my seeucc
around Il was Btajemia Raihiara, lht ogger
tie was occupied In shaping the btechea hocss of
Which lolucrs planes arc made, and steadily wrought
al his new employment has delicate hanes unused
70 manual labor plying Ously and deNivrnusy the
tools of bis work bench. As the visitor rsygd upon
the sad spectacle, thro DE narrow openings of the
dark passage from which tbe cnuec,s alc watched
5y The guards oI che prison, unseen by the prison.
ers aHolier visitor stood By, similarly occupied, who
had been employed by the uon they were couicm-
| plating, as one Of the superintendent, OF his taco
| thousand laborcr when engaged 10 carrying on
his ggaatc operations fhe latter stood silently
| intent on dc scene, until he burst into tears aud
| turned sway The lupprtS>h,t SyMp1tG,rS Which
arise ~ the human bosom, often IN defiance OF The
| stern decisions OF luSucc and often layishtd upon
unworthy Objects, whom some rglctmlug Traits
have cNle2rtd TO us, ovtrp1Wgrtd his feelings, aud
hcieit hc prison to ne "peopgd solitude OF that
| populoas dungcon.
Morris it to be wondered at, that the humiliation Of
this sometime Ganl Of the Nest should pro-
duce n The pubic mind feeling of regret, mingled
with he conviction lhat The wholesome though harsh
corrUuvcS of justice must be visited as well upon
the dtcSt heads, that are alike sheltered under tie
| oerclnopylnn atgs oi Our laws, The CONVECTION
with had settled upon almost every mind that Ihre
| the influence Of friends, the ingenuity of able COON
sc,and HE clubbing techncaltes OF law. he would
at the close Of hH Iroactcd trials ultimately os-
cape conviction, tad prepared the community 70
| eNrct such a result; and hen the verdict when
h9sInkcd his name with iuamy was finally recorded,
The public, as well prisoner aud friends, were Ia
ken by surprise, aud scarcely believed 1t real Il
was staggering bowai the high hopes hc had eN-
| dnity cherished ium The close Of the lurmer triai
m Inns cuy, Which had resulted 10 hls acqultnl upon
the indictments on Which It was founded. Placed
again liberty after his ung incarceration Tor wan
OF bail, he was once mere actively raugng The
scenes of his former enterprises, aud planhhg us
y Tor the future The ambitions schemes Which
once more sweled his restless bosom, and glide,
he hitherto datkcned prospect Of cXstcnce--non
but himself and confidential friends eau know. Bu
these budding hopes and bright anliclpauons wer
suddenly blasted, and >ttrp,r Nia'ooo ufuHgch son
GIscdy before bm.--tis gn1m'",. ,ad Ioneler {
qbiefl slqif iqpflyy ,l4s oq0f@tss srahng shame
lay with sickeniug deadly weight upon hls hear
Next came the prison scene, where anna W
cank of fettcys, and The rattle Of eIaius, ahi "a
harsh grating Of dungeon doors, he commenced "
routine Of his moHo0nUus task, And what mad
dened reflections have been his N the tw Weeb
which have since succeeded What bitter una
yailng regrets have dwet with constant an
mourulu presence In bis agatcd breast W M
lonely warnings for ihe forfeited esteem and com
deuce Of the wtongcd community ~ which be Ia
strives 10 bald hlg fame And conscience IKE
,eprovng angel, pointing With her mo'eIess 'Iug'
10 the pasI, has through his walking hours been
silent VET haunting monitor, whose mental scoofi
lnes have been more terrible than Tie physical
which have borne upon bis frame.
lis sad Icssou--tbc fate Of BcnjHnn Kaihbr