The Gonzales inquirer. [volume] (Gonzales, Tex.) 1853-current, 1853-11-26
30 deemed sufficient to meet its current. though
increasing expensss 4t -

30 deemed sufficient to meet its current, though
| incrCsSiDg explnSe& et,- b 81, "
| With laudahe anxiety for tho advance
ment Of the interests Of the Penitcntiary, and
tho desire that the State should, A. far a. prac-
ticable, be relieved from the burthcn OF it's
support, the Directors have renewed suggcs-
ton, submitted in their former report for tho
establishment Of n cotton factory within its
walls, which would employ all tho convicts,
and exclude mechanical pursuits; the reasons
advanced by them In support Of tho change
they propose to make In tho Pcnitentiary arc,
that on the one hand tho labor OF tho convict
would not interfere with the mechanics Of tho
country, and, consequently, that the spirit Of
the law In relation to tho subject would DO
greatly benefited in fiscal point Of view, as
tho institution could then be made to bear its
own expenses, or, at least, realize a much
larger revenue than under thu present system.
In order to obtain some information in tho
matter and bo tho better able TO Judge of its
adyisability, requested John s. Bcsscr, Esq,
tho Agent Of our Pcnitcntiary, TO visit those
Of Louisiana and Mississippi, where under
| stood they had established cotton factories:
the result Of his examination Is given IN his
| communication TO this department Of tho Goth
October last, which will be found accompany
ing, marked -. 6aa. ,4t,st
Relative to the suggestion, aftor mature
recommend its partial adoption Tho State
Pcnitcntiary was instituted as one Of the adj.
juncts Of tho criminal code Of tho country,
for the suppression Of crimo and tho protec-
tion of tho morals of society; and, to properly
effect this, II appears to rue that tho rcforma-
ton Of tho convict constitutes tho only certain
means whereby the object Of its institution
can DO accomplished. From close cxamina-
ton of the causes Of crimes, and the expert
cicc to be derived from similar establishments
In our sister States and other parts Of tho
world, II will be found, that nothing has had
moro beneficial effect OH tho moral and ply
steal health Of their unfortunate inmates than
tho hahitual and steady occupancy Of some
mechanical pursuit which would aHbrd them
tho certain prospect of an honest and :sf fe,st
walls Of their prison. All other Considerations
should givo place TO these, or the intention Of
such institutions will be defeated, and the
State rs we'll IS tho individual, In reality, aro
loser. ,.., 1y
VIII, therefore, only rccommand that
cotton factory bef established In tho Peniten-
tiary, which will employ hAlfof the convict
labor existing there, and tho other half TO bo
regulations AZ may bo deemed most advisable;
Il will then be found that tho conyicts will not
sepsibly Interfere with, or Affect the mechanic
al interests Of tho country, and that they win
have tho chance when ticy leave, OF making
themselves good and useful members Of socic-
w. 81 . .r4b, .ta,tslt. ~. 8. " . S,st,.,,t,t
| ! cannot close this notice OF tho psnitentia,
1 ry without expressing my satisfaction at tho
4 very efficient manner in which its affairs hayo
been conducted by tho Superintendent and
\ Agent, under tho watchful supervision Of the
Board Of Directors, ~, f,.s ss'.. ~. IS
In connection with tho Penitcntiary, deem
4 II proper to notice suggestion which has becn
made TO me, viz: that in case Of . conviction
IN tho Federal Court OF this State, for an OF.
fence against tho laws Of tho United States,
| where the sentence was imprisonment to hard
| labor such sentence could not DO executed IN
our State Penitontinry without some Lcgisla-
tive enactment on. the subject. i would. there
fore, recommend the passage Of . law granting
the use Of our Pcnitontiary for such conyicts
upon tho sAino terms and conditions as arc
granted in other States for the like privilege.
Since my occupancy Of tho Executive chair.
| have had occasion, in moro communications
than one, to call the attention Of tho Lcgisla.
tire to that important article of tho Constit,i-
tion which relates to the great cause Of Edu-
cation; md, In doing so, by oil pertinent sug
gcstions and appeals TO Impress upon tha. body
the necessity Of an carly Mlhlment Of rs Arst
section, by setting on loot and maturing somo
practicable and liberal system Of popular ctlls
cation. Upon this subject shall fecl that my
duty to tho State has been fully discharged, -
when, In following UP q reference had tho
honor TO mako IN a communication Of tho 10th
Of November, 1851, relative to tho my leagues
Of land 10 DO surveyed and sct apart for tho
endowment Of two Universities, Irecommcn.
dcd, M I now do, liberal appropriation Of
means for the establishment and maintenance
|1f two Colleges. or Universities. to DO located
|M such eligible roinls "a may best subsarvo
she interests and convcnicncc uf tho two grand