Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-11-26


is confined with the hardened feon, and of course,
subjected to his pcrnicious influence The debt
or, who is perhaps more unfortunate than crimi-
nal, is herded with the feon andmurderer. Good
sense, as well as justice and good taste revolt al
this state of things.
A change ouy lit to be made in the manner Of
Executions all public executions are demorali-
zing TO the community, and iail to produce the
effect upon it they were intended to produce.
morbid curiosity collects thousands together to
witness them, and when the criminal isabrought
forth for execution, the natural sympathies OF
the crowd convert him into a hero or martyr
Thus, much more Of pity than terror is inspired
by the exhibition. Or where, by frequent recur-
renee, they become familiar from some strange
pcrversity of human nature, a vulgar taste is IN
spired for them, which is revolving to witness. 1t
is a familiar fact, that during the Reign of Ter
ror in France, when the streets of Paris were
flowing with the blood Of innocent victims, the
populace actually clamored for more executions,
when each individual was not sure but tfat his
head would be the next TO be brought to the
cuotine. If is intended to strike terror to
the heart of the multitude, by witnessing execu.
tions, the ypublicity of them defeats this end.
Much more terror would be inspired BY the
knowledge, that at the tolling of bell, or some
other signal, human being, within the narrow
compass of his cell, WAS Iaunced into eternity,
uls,lstained in his last dark moments by the
sympathies of a surrounding multitude. 5g,a
If the punishment of whipping is to be con-
tinued, that, too, were better done in private,sl
doubt exceedingly, however, the propriety of this
mode of punishment under any circumstances
Reformation of the culprit Zone Of the important
ends of punishment) is seldom Or ever effected
by it. If one spark of good, upon which hope
of reformation can be built, is left in his heart, it
is entirely extinguished by the degradation Of
public whipping. Ifhe is already hardened in
crime, and lost to all sense of shame, no other
effect is produced upon him beyond the physical
pain inflicted by the lash. think that the gen.
eral feeling of our people is decidedly opposed to
this mode of punishment; so much so, that it is
exceedingly difficult for the Executive to resist
tie earnest appeals and powerful influences
brought to bear upon him either to remit or
change 1t.
But 1 will not trcspass OH your time by pur-
suing the subject further merely wish to draw
your attention to.it This subject, together with
the revisal of our whole Criminal Code. requires
a more careful examination than you would
probably be able to give it during short session
of the Legislature. Therefore recommend that
you appoint, or authorize the Governor to APP
point, a. Commission, consisting OF the Attorney
General and the Solicitors, or some 9th " conf
petent persons to take the whole subject Of our
Criminal Law, Prisons and Prison Discipline, un-
der consideration, and report to the next Legis-
lature such changes as may be .expedent or ne
cess;ry. In this manner, all the facts and sta
tistics necessary to fvr," correct Judgment on
the subject will be brought before YOU by those
who are most familiar with them.
BY a joint resolution of the last General As.
sembly, was requested to communicate with
the Governor of Georgia on the subject of the
Constructions to commerce and intercourse be
tween the two States, and to take such otEer
steps as would lead to full exposition and un-
derstamding Of the rights Of all parties concerned
and to frank and friendly settlement of the
whole natter On the 9th Of May addressed
letter to His Exccllency Governor Cobb, in ac-.
cordance with the spirit Of the said join; reSolu-
tion and requested the Attorney General to look
into the matter, and report to me wIlat were the
legal rights Of the parties concerned. have re
ceivcd us yet no direct reply from Governor Cobb.
My letter TO him, together with the correspon-
dence between the Attorney General and the
Executive Secretary of Georgia-the statement
of the Attorney General, and the result Of his le-
gal Investigations Of the case embodied in the
form of a Report, are all herewith transmit
ted.
think it however, proper to state, that the
question of the boundaries between the two
States has lost much of its interest at present,
since an arrangement has been made by the
President otthe South Carolina Railroad Company
with the city authorities of Augusta, by which q
free passage across the Savannah River is secured
to the Company.
feel it my duty to call your attention to Ger
tain proceedings which have grown out of the en-
torcement Of that law of our State, which re-
quires The Sheriff of Charleston to seize anu i'm
prison co!ored Seamen who are brought to that
port You will remember that the British Con-
sui addressed communication to the Legislature
in December 1850 on the subject Of a modi6ca-
ton of this law. A Committee was appointed
by the House and Senate to report upon it at
the next session of the Legislature. These Com
mites reported adverse to any modification. On
the oath of March, 1852, Manuel Percira was
imprisoned in accordance with the law alluded
to. The vessel in which he sailed was driven in
to the port of Charleston in distress. This was
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