True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1845-09-24
For the True pemocrat.
Ii JONEs-Former Re2reseatatire.


We cannot but express our astonishment 4
the answer Of Mr. Joncs to the Jasper Count
MecbaaicS Associations We expected tina
the answer Of Mr.. Jones would at least be il
accordance with the action Of the last Lee isla
ture ofthe State Of Mississippi, Of which be wa
a member, but we are compelled to say, tina
Mr. Jones has either forgotten his own actor
in conjunction with that body, or is afraid a
this time to avow his coarse, with the indepen
dent action Of the peoples representative. w,
give below the substance of Mr. Jones answer
10 the Mechanics committee, taken from the
| Clarion OF the goth instant, and after that, the
action of the last Legislature on the subject OF
changing the present system of labor in the Pc.
niten!iary, in order that our readers may Judge
for themselves. Mr. Jones says
LIST IL have no objection to the employment
Of convcts in the manufacture of cotton bag
ging, bale rope, negro clothing, &c, whenever
it's satisfactorily demonstrated to my mind that
the change can be made without resort to taxa
ton.
ID. II is the opinion Of many well informed
men, that the present system of convict labor is
susceptible OF being SO changed as not to COM
pete with the mechanical interests OF the State"
Now, Mr. Jones, in answer to these things,
we will directly tax either your memory or
your political iategHity--tho fist we lay the
charge to, until we hear from you
lst Did not the Governor in his message.
Jan l, 1874, blouse Jour. Pr. 20 and 500 re-
commend and urge upon your body, change,
practicable, in the then system of convict labor,
and refer you to the letters of certain Mr., AL
len Jones for Information
ID. Did not your committee on the Peniten-
tlary at that session, with all the information
that could at that time be elected by your body,
VIZ reports from the superuendenls of the Pc
niteniiares Of Maryland, Ohio and Georgia.
laid before them-repon TO you the following
language in the body of their report g Your
Committee are of the opinion that a change in
the mode of employing the convicts, from the
mechanical branches Of llbor, to he manuac-
ture of coarse cotton fabrics, ofvaTous kinds, Of
Bale Rope and Begging, either of hemp or
cotton, would be as advantageous to the State
as it would be grateful to the mechanics, and
those who deal in manufactured articles. as ner-
chandiZe. The reasons which have brought
the minds Of your committee to this conclusion.
are numerous, and confirm their belief that con
sidoration Of public policy and economy, as we'll
us just regard to the rights Of free and unm-
pelchabe citizens, denani the change" Was
it not reported to tic same Legislature that a
Foundry was an Indispensable requisite to
he commencement and continuance Of the
Of the factory, required by the above
report, let the action Of the Legislature answer,
o all which you gave your sanction (f not
ell us) The following are the resolutions
passed by that body:
ReSolgc}, By the Legislature OF The State Of
Mississippi, That the Superintendent Of the State
peniientilry is hereby authorized 10 erect, with
n its walls, a WOOL ca.dng machine and an /
ron foundry, aud that the sum Of fifteen hun
ired dollars be- and the same IS hereby aTpTo' /
1rlatct out ollhe funds now on hand in the tIea- I
'ury OF the institution Tor such purposes
Reso'cci, That all the net profits oilhe insi- /
ulion shall hereafter be set apart and appropri. |
ilud, under the direction of the Legislature, to |
he purchase and erection Of machinery. with /
be view OF establishing, in said Institution,
Of coarse cotton and wooilcn "a I
1rIcS, AMI baggny and rope, ci,Aer Of hemp or
ouon.
Now, Mr. Jones, this is the action Of the
Mississippi Legislature, Of which you consli.
uted an integral past Why cd you not give
IS the Information afforded By the action Of that
lody, instead Of your own views in The shape Of
oystided hypothesis Why did you not tell
s, that you did, or did not, give your sanction
D the above resolution apprOpriatiug $500 Of
uRds then IN hand 10 the erection Of a caTdmg
Machine and al iron foundry within the walls
{ the prison, thereby beginning the work,
'hich seems by your communication to be
,arce a shadow in your vague and distant spec
laiiOn. Why did you no, tell US that the said
ommiitee reported to you in lsli, that in 3D.
iii.n to the $500 you appropriated Oflunds on
aud, that the receipts of the State prison ex-
scded its expenditures since Nov 9Th, ls45,
nd that the Legislature appropriated the n,t
roceeds Of the institution 10 be expended under
Fsl q 49, IL .....- - {