Holly Springs gazette., 1845-09-13

| te.lectual TO be made the punishment OF The
degraded criminal. Formerly loss of life
was regarded as the proper punishment for
crime, now however the acquisition of some
mechanical trade, is considered as an ade,
qlate penalty for the grossest felony. We
are inclined to think that f the old rule
were adhered %, there would be fewer
Criminals arraigned at the bar of our courts
Our opponents however contend for the es
adjustment of these criminal workshops
for the purpose of affDrding suitable time to
the convIcts for repentance towards their
Maker. G1d has kindly given US his law,
and whilst he has declared that unless We
keep his com nandments we shall surely
die. he has also told US, tha. he can change
our hearts by his grace as well in an hour
rs IN the longest lIfe This argument is
therefore valueless. as the time between
sentence ard execution is always. under
our benign laws. sufficient 10 enable the
most abandoned culprit 10 prepare TO meet
his God. Again, the mechanic is doubIy
taxed by this unwise legislation. We are
frSt taxed IN common with our fellow clti.
zeus for the purpose OF erecting great
State Institution for the reception Of these
criminals. Were the evil 10 stop here, we
should say nothing. but unfortunately for
US heavier and more grievous buHhen IS
LAID upon us, by the competition in labour
which is produced by our present system.
Every article which is manufactured by
the convict actually r06s the inLusLrioUs
mechanic of that amount Of la5our. The
plough which Is now sent to the convict
would under a different state of things be
repaired at the ho nest blacksmith s. Aud
so ofall other mechanical employments.-
Bet even this, bad as it is, might De endured
were it not that we are frequ antly, though
ignOrani.y, thrown in immediate contact
with the discharged convict. AMI probably
for DAYS and months are employed with
him a the same bench or round the same
forge. He is perhaps in the employ
ment of some HONORABLE mechanic,
more than probably. becomes an inmate OF
his family, aud perhaps eventually may
form a nearer relation with his correct but
unsuspecting daughter. What must be the
feelings of that father when he learns, (for
learn it at some time he certsnly wiIl,)
that his daug hter has become the wife OF
one whose only inducement for learning
his trade was, crime, and whose only
companions have been the burglar or the
horse thief Would not the usually inof
fensive question of where did your Son-in-
law learn his trade? pierce like a dagger
to the honest fathers hear2 And yet we
have no doubt bui the supposed case has
heretofore occurred, and will be frequently
shoull the present course of pol
icy upon this subject be pursued! But II
may be asked TO what occupation will you
direct the labour of the convicts should
you succeed in your present etiorts2 We
To the fabrication of ;he coarser artI-
cles Of cotton goods, and to the liking of
bag ging and rope out OF the inferior quali-
ty of our staple. We are satisfied that this
change would be, in a mere pecuniary
point Of view. beneficial to the State.-
Should the supply of these manufactured
articles exceed the demand, let portion OF
the convicfs be employed in lev eeing the
banks of the Mississippi, and thus retain
hundreds of thousands of acres of The best
land in the Universe. After they have
effected this object let them engage in oth'
er labours of internal Improvement. All
this can be d one with the most perfect safe
" and at but little or no expense to the
State Ii is at least worth the trial, If for
no other purpose than that of preserving
the morals and maintaining the character
aud worth OF thousands of the honest me-
chanics OF The State. Asa practical me-
chan;c, | am strongly in favour of the pro-
posed change. L do not believe that the
nan. who has even for short time associa
tedwith felons, and debased criminals,can ev
er regain that purity and freshness of feeling
which would qualify him for the company
of respecta bic and honest men. When he
enters the Penitentiary he is in law regar-
ded as civily dead, aad | am disposed to
look upon hln rs morally dead also, anu
believe that he that is unjust will be unjust
still, and he that is filthy will be filthy
still.