The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-09-26

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trantr Besides, itwouii benecessary TO take hands
OIL the train to load, andifthe Company were; dis.
posed 10 accommodate; they would be prevented
| by circumstances. There are other objections to
shipping cotton, by Rail Road. when left at turn
outs or stations, often lies for days, exposed to
the weather. until Car load is collected, il in
convenient for the way train to take it on. II a
planter is subjected to thu trouble of loading and
unloading his wagon, il he was near Plank Road,
he would prefer sending his Cotton in that way to
| markets
6T There are@6s Divisions 'bf tiie Sons of TEN:
peranec in North Carolina, and SO in this State,
Pvsr, Qrrcgs.-A now Port Office has been estab:
lisl,ed ., Gqeen Pond, Union District and John Greg
ory appointed Postmaster.
Tie PosO Office at Catoural, Greenville District, has
been diseonlinucd, :;" ''' ' ''a' ""
Providence, Sumter District, has been changed in
site. and John W. Thomas appointed Postmaster,
Gully. Darlington District. changed in name and
site to Swif Creek, and C. J. Finn appointed Pm
Op Governor French. of Illinois. has called an ex.
session of tho Legislature, to meet abnut tho last
Of October chiefly for the purpose Of cicc'ing Scna
Tor Congress. General Shields is again candidate.
and II IL said, sl again b. returned. ,.. a,,,.,,
...-...r - :a :----,H =, 3. o., .r.i t %,
The writer who contributed to our columns
few weeks since, an article on the Peniicn-
tiary, has favored IL. with a continuation Of hi =
views ''''' -" - ~ .' '.' '
A STATE .PENlTENTIARY. ..
Asa. mal'er-of econoay, we again urge the
claims O, this system. We believe the State
would be greatly henrf,tedih Pecunia, point
of view, by adopting il. in place II our present
mode of punishment; for whilst the violaiors
Of our laws are severely punished. the Stale is
obliged to pay oeu for it-nor really large and
estravas CANT anoun,sto her min is,erial officers,
who execute her laws, but in the aggregate
a large portion Of which is made up 10 fsr ing
criminals in prison. where they exist fDr the
time being, daily browning less disposed IN
pursue honest avocations, and physically and
morally worse than the day they were commit.
ted: 1t is. by no msaas certain that the Object
for which criminals are punished is effected by
the present method. The item, Of expense 10
the State each year f,r the punishment Of Grim.
inals is very considerable matter, and added
to lie. alher.e .penses Of tho Government. in The
pa t,rnt of public officers, &c, increases the
annual ou,lay,tn a very large amount. |, will
he recoec:ed that every dollar Of this is paid
out 'iof the taxes, and comes directly from The
pockets of the pconc, from those who are
obedient to law ana rider, who discharge their
duties as good citizens. Is this right Ought
the better par, of the community TO suffer for
the gull, of those who arc regardless Of all law,
neither fear God nor regard man ,lfthe pres.
ent system of punishment would. by any means,
effec, the design for which it was intended. we
would mol fr moment object, bu, willingly lei
we'll enough alone. But when We see daily de-.
monstra,ions ofts inefficiency to do this, we are
clear for change-an entire and complete
change-a thorough modification Of the law in
this regard.
We have been enabled, TO some extent at
least, to see tor ourselves the practical opera.
tinn of the present system, and speak conf.
DENLY when we reduce our arguments, to
figures. The cost, as we previously stated, for
dieting white prisoners per day is thirty cents.
nine dollars twelve and half cents per month";
one hundred and nine dulars and fifty CENTS per
annum and This is barely sufficient 10 pay the
keeper Of jail for the trouble he has, the o'her
fees apper,aning to the Jail heing SO .riaing,
that the man really receives but little refnune.
ration after all for his labor, risk Of life, aud the
responsibility and unp! :santness OF his si'ua
ton. This amount see' IS small. as an alntract
proposition, yet in r.. course of single year,
even in as small District as kershaw-in con.
nection with other incidental expenses belong.
ing TO this part of the administration Of Justice
the sum is considerable. The average ofState
prisoners in our Jail, one year with another, is
about six persons per annurn. We then have
tho amount Of six hundred and fifiy.seven dol.
lars for the expense of feeding alone, exclusive
of arrests, commitments, chastiscments, medical
aid if necessary, and relcasements. Add these
to the original amount, and the most econoni-
cal and reasonable. calculation will bring the
State in debt, We may say, as an average
amount, in round numbers, one thousand dollars.
We believe o close calculation would exceed
this amount We are certain if all proper
claims ARE allowed by The State to public off.
GERS, and the regular fees aud expenses Of the
Jail charged, this year the amount will be near.
" double the calculation we have made. II
must be rernemherpd in this connection, that
ours is one uf the smallest Districts in the State.
The amotnt Of money paid BY the State TO Of:
ficers Of Charleston District, last year, was over
eigh, thousand dollars. II is true, portion of
this amount would he paid FIVE had Peniten.
,iary, hut the largest part Of it, say two thirds,
would he saved, if We had the Institution. 1t, is
fact, as we have been credihly informed, that
from the District of Chesterfield, few years
ago; return of taxes was made to the amount
OF thirty four hundred dollars, at the same time
the State paid accounts for services rendered by
Sheriff, Clerk, Magistrates, Cons'ables. de-, to
the amount Of abou, thirty five hundred dollars,
a larger amour, than the whole take. of tho
District. Are not the people then heavily tax.
ed directly for the support and punishment Of