The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-12-13

those who are its drones and its pests And
asit would be inhuman to take life for every
kind of offence, some other means is requisite
to remove the perpetrators and protect society.
The ialIs have been instituted for this purpose,
and what good do they! They answer very
we'll as a safe retainer for rascals till the law
c,n apply and dsT ose of them; but as means
of reform they are failure. Do any ever 60
in scoundrcIs and come out gentlemen! va.
grants and return models Of industry! rogues,
and issue forth again honest men! We think
not.-The reformation of Il man full grown in
wears, who has so far degraded himself as to
merit a Judgement in Jail, would be no less
than miracle. Society is 10 tie relieved of
their presence in the first place, and then it be-
comes us to see that they are forced to be use
ful in some way. There is no land of exile to
which we can send them where they may be
compelled to labor for themselves, and it is
foolish to confine them here and allow them to
live in total dleness at the public expense.
Send them TO a Penitentiary, and let it be seen
to they have plenty of work, and that they per-
form it. If they have families, let portion of
their public serrice he allowed them. good
plan would he to estimate the cost of rearing
the Institution, the annual expense OF keeping
it up, and if the labor of such convicts as have
none who may look to them for assistance,
will not suffice to pay those outlays then let it
be done by taking part of that of other con-
victs But we doubt not that in most Peniten-
tiaries, the labor of the former class more than
pays all attending expense. But even if the
services of all would not suffice, what of it |?
Does the State Of South Carolina ever receive
a dime from criminal or a vagrant for her
fostering care cfhim in jail9 Then why not
rather provide common Jail for the whole
where they may be forced TO work. even though
their labor should fail to enrich the treasury {?
Work is generally, too, the hardest punishment
that can be inflicted upon rascal, for an indus
trious man is rarely arraigned for. those crimes
which call for a milder form ofpunishment than
the gallows.
The most plausible objection that we know
of to Penitentiary is, that it makes mechan-
les of rascals, and sends them forth to compete
with that honorable class who voluntarily have
chosen that vocation. This is not at all a for
midable one, however. There are scoundrels
in every profession, and if a mechanic is hon
est, industrious and competent, he need never
fear injury or disgrace from one who has learn
ed his business under State direction. And,
besides, there are not very many who choose
to pursue thertrades after they leave the pen
itentiary. But if one should continue to ap.
ply himself vigorously to his business after his
release, it is evidence of his disposition to re-
form and we may hope he will yet be useful
from choice. Could we not then, tolerate his
presence as a member of the same vocation.
Our remarks have been heightened unduly.
We have not space to discuss the subject fully,
nor indeed have we the necessary information;
we should know the annual expenses of jails,
and those Of Il Pcnitentiary. Neither have we
room to examine fully the objections which
might be interposed against the establishment
OF such an institution. We have only ventured
to notice one, which is, we think, the most rea
sonable Of any that can be urged. Claiming
to have interests, in every respect, common
with the mechanic, because we are one our
self, we would not advocate any thing that
threatened to degrade our noble calling ; rath-
cr would we raise our arm to protect its dig
nifty and honor But we do not regard u
Penitentiary as in any way dangerous to eth.