The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-02-27
From the Greensboro Patriot.
SHALL WE HAVE A PENITENTiARf
No, >.

When question of importance Is pre-
sented to rs for our decision, We eagerly
look around for those whose opportunities
and position in society have placed them
in the possession Of information relative to
the matter al issue. Ii we are at loss US
to the modus operGndi 10 the cultivation OF
any portion OF our soil, we apply TO the
most intelligent and practical asricullurlsts
within our reach for the benefit OF their
experience, and the reasons for tie con-
illusions they may have come TO, and the
course Of policy they pursue. And whether
we fully concur as TO the proprlety OF their
course or not, an opinion from such
source will have much greater weight win
us than n like opinion from one whose OPP
portunilies have been more limited Tor nc
ouiring correct information.
| have been led to these reflections, from
seeing the conclusions TO which some OF
our most intelligent pnd best informed eit'
izens have arrived on the subject Of Fen
f itentiary. Previous to the delivery ol his
last annual Message, Gov. Dudley had
+ been directed 10 obtain all the Information
on the Peniicnliary System which the ex-
4 perience Of other States aud Nations might
afford. All North Carolinians ] believe,
will give Gov. Dudley credit for large
share of "inilk of human Kindness and
no citizen has shown more pathetic zeal
fer the advancement of what he considered
the best interests Of tie State than Gov.
Dudley. |, is with pleasure therefore that
| quote the conclusions 10 which he ARA.
we'd on the subject OF u PcnitenlIafy, inter-
giving 1t that consideration which us I'M
portance and the station he occupied re-
CURED. The following are the extracts
which wish here inserted:
From Gov. Dudlcy's Message. Nov. l6. lsi0.
{" Under a resolution Il your honorable
body, at IT. last session, | addressed CON
munlcatlon TO the Governors oil The several
States, requesting Information On the sub
lecI OF Penrentiatles, Lunailc and Orphan
Asylums, and Houses OF Refuge from
whom several interesting replies have been
received, but not sufficient 10 enable ne 10
give you much light on those subjects. ]
hand you herewith, marked Il. the lnlOT-
nation obtained, and submit the following
general remarks: That all seem 10 con.
cur in their usstuiaeSs;. that by The estab-
lislIment of PeHitentiary, the punishment
of crime may be more correctly graduated
to is arrociiy. Under our present mode
of criminal law, many puuIshmeuts are fix.
ed, aud others let to the capricious est.
mate Of the Judge and to many cases
ntthnr tho th.a nthHy = =
hied as TO give satisfaction to public feel.
,ng. The result Is, that III almost every
case, pet,iion for pardon Is preferred 10
the Executive, with whom It is IDLE to say
that the petition Of many respectable per-
sons should have 10 weight. Although he
may be satisfied tina, petitions are gener.
ally drawn by partial or preJudced hands,
IN the absence Of al, information which no
law prepares for his guide, lie IS not ena.
bed to act satisfactorily to himself or Just
~ 10 the State or petitioner but where a
doubt Is raised, he feels lmpelIed 10 act on
the side Of mercy.
In the establishment, Of Pcnitentiaries
! and laws for their government punish.
menis could be better graduated TO the
crime and leave less room for complaint
) md petition. As they are generally used
in all christian countries 10 droid shedding
human blood and The exposure Of punish.
ments, in obedience 20 the most advanced
state Of civilization md refinement, profit
and loss should not be a matter Of cunsid.
ciutinn IN providing the means Of saving
lite and Of oOt8iniug a mode Of punishment
adapted to the crime. Regarding them,
however, 10 on economical point of view,
Il would probably be less burihensome to
The country than The present mode Of con-
lincmcnt IN the Jalls Of the counties"
In order to call the readers attention
more particularly to them, have iiaiici.
=ed some Of the sentences IN the foregoing
extracts. In confirmation of Gov. DuJ.
lcy's opinion, that the punishment Of crim.
nals IA Penncntiury would be less bar.
htnsOme to the community, would here
state, that IN one county, by reference TO
the records, | ascertaIucd that the charge
: on the County for maintaining Is conslcts
IN the county Jail averages something like
$500 per annum. For one individual who
.
tenliaty offence, the county had the sum oil
$500 to pay for maintaining him 10 prison
as punishment for his time. Mr. Elliott,
IN his Report on Penlentiary, estimates
the annual charge on the State for the
maintenance Of lis conylcts at SlJ, 00O.-
: Should this DC considered too large an cs.
, innate, yet We know there IS a round sum
paid for the sdtisfdctioa of having n NUN.
Der Of able bodied fellows wrapped up IN
blankets and colIcd down IN the corners Of
dark, Ioathsome dungeons, where they are
, deprived Of all the means by which they
- could benefit themselves, their families. or
the community at large. Take any view
}, you may Of the policy which confines con.
vets IN the common Jail as punishment
, Of their crime, and you will find abundant
, reasons for It's modification Itisuo ycry
light burlhen for the people Of each county
to be taxed $500 annually that lis GRIM.
, nails may be housed up in useless idleness.
, And 1t aperson before being thus confined,
nFQItanaugI to l.