Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1852-03-13
The pcnitentiary.

IL columns. II Is d question of vast me
NETT to q large portion Of otf population
wiese interests nre Identical with orr ow,
and II canno but he expected that W
|. should assist them, by evnry means IN OF,
power, when they seek to protect them
selves against injustice and oppression.
Will, the iesees OF the I'enitcntiaf,
we have nothing to do. They have la
ken clafgo 81 che concern for the parpos'
Of making money, and II they make iBrgl
amounts OF II, so much the better 70
them, any ulie would do the same tllint
If plnced IN their position, We have
heard, Indeed, that it was not al all profit
able 70 them, and ifiat they were willing
TO give II up. This we look Upon az b
gfandiloquent sort Of iluster which II on.
titled to nc consideration Whatever. They
make money, snd make It fast, and Il II
absurd for them to talk about sacrifice, See.
IL is altogether improbable that men OF
their means would superintend si,eli nh
establishment for mere grandeur, they nre
making money or they would leave II
very fast. TO this we have no objection,
They took it for that purpose, If they nre
accomplishing II, 50 muoh the better for
them.
But We DO most seriously object TO the
laboring classes Of our population being
brought down TO eonpete with tho labor
Of such all establishment, and we protest
against the Legislature giving them the
privilege. They were allowed it once,
bnd The consequences TO this place were
rtinotss mechanics Of every description
were driven from the place.-a shoe maker
even could not make bis bread, for Ii Ia in.
herent ia every man to buy whers he eau
buy cheapest, aud the advantages Of the
Penitcntiary were so great that coripoti.
ton was out Of the question, II was ia.
Ken away from them, why revive 1t how?
lt was never intended that a penitcntiary
should be made a profit to the State, Il
was created BY law to punish those who
had violated the law, to remove danger.
ons men from the midst OF 0 community
and place them where they could do no
harm, How could they possibly do more
harm than by being placed in competition
with honest men, having families to sup.
port, children to cducute, themselves to
maintain 10 a deoent position, where they
are at no expense save the coarse clothes
which are made to protect their naked. |
ness. and the coarse food which Is given
them TO support life. The citizens Of the
has rights as well as the lessees OF
Peuitentiary. The class whom this
institution affects is Of vastly more I'm.
portanee to the welfare Of the State, than
are these gentlemen, above oil there is d
be; wecn nan and man which
be observed in such matters as
these, as well as others, and il would be
4 most ralpablc violation Of every pfinri.
pie of justice, II Messrs. McI1attan, Ward
L Co, should be allowed, with their con.
eict labor, TO deprive oil or any Of the
of this place from working
honestly at their trades.
We see It stated In the reports, and
take 1t for granted they are correct,
hat aoggiag Is used as q punishment TO
he convicts. This Is almost Incredible
We had thought that We lived In a civil
lied and christian community. We Ger.
never had an idea that such an enor.
nity would now be permitted in any conn.
~. We should like to know where the
authorities there, derive their power of APP.
lying the lash. Has it bcef given to 4
by q special act Of the Legislature
have never heard Of any such, and it
TO as still that there must e some !
about it. Why, if a Judge upon
le Bench were to sentence a man to be .
who had been convicted of d
crime, he would be lynched. Is I.
osging q part of their sentence !! lie not, ]
here doshe ~Peniteniiary olIicers Get even /
lo constructive power Of logging pris- )
hers. /
Another thing which we are well aware q
l.. thar negro coavtcts are seen abou, h
% streets, driving carts, and we have Of Il
q seen them ID tile direction Of some
nded property belonging to one of the
ssees, with axes on their shoulders, ac- f
'nfpaniee by two Or three guards. The
thus at large are more numerous if
an the guard. What then is 10 prevent j
EN- from oserpewering the guard, and q
he theiriibertys Besides all this. what Z
lnishmentis Il, to one Of these fellows,
be sent toa Pe~nitentiary when he works !
the time AZ hs has been doing before he Il
ent there /. Fl.
From the bsst information we have ],
able % get, we are afraid that this Il
IS sadly in want Of d radicald i
laige IL tlle administration Of lis aifairs, |,
y we hope 20 see this whole system Of 4,
as'ns done away with entirely. Prison ],
; were sent there as 4 punishment fof i
me crime. not ia n t. a,.a., X. II