Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1854-01-05

.AS.'S !" ny "CNAA fttNOuiRV ebN aOAOi
nation oil the Mon must employ
means. They m lst bear in mind
that threeidurth4 Of those who are
stained with crime can neither read
nor write. Tie mind must be cnlti
waited in order TO pro l4ce chose gent
al influences which are calculated tC
remove vicious id cliniti9ns andsbase
propensities, and give place to prop
er sensibilities Al d correct feelings
from which alter ed intentions ant
yirtuoqs actions OBJ st spring
The trial, conviction ana sentence
by the court OF persons, to the peni
Tertiary for violation Of the laws has
had no restraining influence what
ever on immortality, and carries little
or no terror to tn e IeEil-doer. The
announcement in the COURT house
yarl that such a person his been
sentenced to 50 many ) ears impfison-
meat. is received with no alarm, but,
on the contrary, With great indilfer-
ence; and it is The frequent remark
that it is better for the individual
who has just been Sentenced to 50
many yefrs confinement it will be
far better for him. lie will, while
there, be enable to learn good trade,
and will i've better there than he cy-
er did before. The sheriff then pre-
pares bis guards and starts with the
convict fbr the penitenti;I Try, making
rather The impress sion, as he leaves.
upon the' mind of many spectators,
that the prisoner has done we'll in
obtaining travelling trip Of pleasure
and a money making business for the
sheriff and his escort, and he in the
end to be made one of the mechan-
les Of the country. IN fine, or
these two points, it Will be readily
perceived, the pc nitehtiary reforms
no ore after he is confined within its
walls; and the sentence of the court
and confinement, together, deters no
one from violation of the laws Of
the land.
InHthe next place, the system has
fallen far below tlp expenses incurred
in the erection Of the establishment,
and the annual cost of carrying il
on, up to the present time Upon a
close examination of ALI the items
properly chargeable to the institu-
ton, after giving full credit for all
that it is entitled to, there will still
be found a deficit OF notices. than one
hundred thousand dollars probably
much more | have obtained sutli-
Gent dates from Mr.. Love, the prin-
cipal book keeper, who has appeared
very accommodating and much dis
posed to afford every facility in bis
power to remove every difficulty in
getting al the true financial condi-
ton Of TIE institution, together with
a report recently made by the Comp
troller to the Senate, showing how
much has been paid out of the
Treasury for the conveyance of con-
victs TO The penitentiary, to satisfy
my mind that the State has incurred
a heavy loss by the pehitentiary. 1t
will take but little Investigation of
this subject TO satisfy any discerning
mind that the penitentiary system
exeits no beneficial moral influence
on society, in or out of the peniten-
tiary, and that it is now, and has
been, an INCUBUS on the treasury, and
will most likely continue 50, unless
the whole establishment undergoes a
change.
While the institution has failed in
all the leading objects of its creation,
the manner in which it has been con-
lucted has been made to operate IN
uriously upon the mechani cal inter
est Of the country. 1t has been
made. practically .Stafe Nedhnic IN
,Ftate, fostered and SUSTAINED by the
.reasury Of The State, and brought
nto direct competition with the me-
'hanics of the country to the extent
If its entire operation. The condi-
ions upon which persons are admit
ed into this State Mechanic InSh-
ute, are very discriminating and in
'idious in their character Before
he candidate can obtain admission ;
o the high privileges Of being e m ]
loycH in this institution, at any one
f the branches Of business carried
n there, he must first commit the
orrid crime of murder. arson, larce-
y, rape, or some other one of the
fences yiolative, of law. He mus It |
Zen stand a trial in some Of our t
ourts Of justice. and then receive a .
from the presiding Judge |
nat these facts are all true, and in
EDITION TO this. he must be accom- S