Holly Springs gazette., 1845-08-02
For the Gazett=.


There Is perhaps no feature Of CUT gov
ernment more deserving of applause, than
that which secures to every maE the full
and free expression Of his opinions on any
ard every subject. Nor are the rights Of
ind viduaIs thereby infringed. for should
any ones rights be invaded. his legal rem
ed es are compete and ample. IL may in
truth BE- called the great conservative prIn>
ciple of cur constitution. The people be-
ing allowed to meet and express heir opin.
ions publicly, however great the excite
ment may bs, 1t seldom extends farther;
while in many ofthe governments of Eu-
rope, where the press Is too Vigilantly guar
ded, out breaks and riots are the almost
constant results of any popular excitement.
TheEe remarks were suggested by the re-
seBI attempts here and else where TO eRlIst
public sympathy in behalf of scheme 10
abolish the system of labor now pursued in
our penitentIary. aud to create the imPFes.
sien that majority OF the people we're in
taTor OF such chaHge. 1 have TOO high
an opinion of the practical good sense of
fAe people TO suppose inat they will suffer
themselves TO be deiuded by arirficer. such
as these. do not believe that maiority
of our citizens will lend :heir aid and coun
tenance 20 any such schemei still by not ac-
ting. they may suffer the advocates of this
plan TO carry their point. In support of
this measure, l have seen nothing but loose
and extIaRagant assertions. We are .old
that The system Is freighted with injurious
consequences 10 every part oflhe commu
nHy and particularly TO the class of mechan,
ics, and not one reason is gwen TO prove
that shls ~ so. have walled TO see some
defect in ;he present SYSTEM pointed cut
which would justify the change [ have
waited 20 zee some sensible aud manly ex.
hibItiIn OF the principle upon which this
cbaTgei is advocated, and have waited in
vain No such document has appeared
nor wiIl appear. Many are indeed unable
20 assign any reason for sust1in:ng this
measure heard a man, when asked
what would be done with the peniten,i,rv
buildings IT his views were carried Into ei.
feet, say, that be neither knew nor cared =
Phis OF course. as not the way xRh all. b,t
u IS fair exponent OF the action enter.
tanned by many. They have in truth no
definite idea, save that which woHId level
TO The earth our institution which has been
reated AT so much expense. and which mas
oeeh prog ucfive OF so much good. The on.
Iy sembiance Of an argument in favor Of
the abolition OF the present system of con.
vict labor. Is, that It brings the labor of tho
honest man into competition with that of
conviets. And grant that il does, is the
community thereby injuredi When an
articie Is exposed for sale in our make,
does II matter, or does he purchaser ever
stop Tor a moment TO enquire If il was made
oy an honest MANI The only enquiry is as
20 tie quality Of The work IL Is evident
then that no community can ever be in.
5uTed by The labor Of cun-icts any moro
than by the labor Of honest men. / grant
that q we were compelled or exposed To- as.
s0eidfe with felons. the question would bear
quite different aspect. But this is not the
case-ihey are rigidlv excluded from all
s@se<eourss with the world arouad them
And l6ere rs no manner Of question, ut that
all are IN some degree benefited, and manv
returned 10 the world reclaisaed. Teaching
them TO weTk. certainly does not increase
tneH moral dePraviiy. they had better
therefore DC turned on the world with the
means Of gaining an honest support than
without It. Blu. we are told thai ,i,e con~
victs might De made to carry on The public
works. This is mere quibbling. Il IS
perfectly clear 10 every man who can nm.
oerstand reasoning. that if they are made
10 s'o'k al al, they must peIforn labor