Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-04-14

We spent a few hours in Baton Rouge last
Saturday, and concluded that we would, for
the first time, pay a visit to the Penitentiafy.-
We never had much curiosity this way to
look upon a nugaber of disgraced and doomed
human beings-their world the dingy walls
that ~encircie them-was q scene, we imagined,
not calculated to excite very pleasant feelings
in our breast, and we We're not wrong in our
aaticipations. Few, ;Se think, can visit a PEN
i~tentiary without leaving it with sad and sor.
rowful feelings.
Having Procured tickets at the store Of the
Peniteni;.ary for our companion and our our.
self, We were directed to proceed to II round
gate in the wall, resembling a huge cylinder,
which was turned round that you might enter.
when you are wheeled into the interior. The
frs, object that struck our eyes after getting
out Of this cylindrical gate into the little en-
closure, surrounded by walls and high iron
pickets, (Which latter front the yard,) was a
young man, the gate-keeper, with a large re-
volser, which he keeps constantly in his grasp,
to be in readiness should one or more attempt
to make their escape. An Irish woman and
her little son Of about four years old, came
out Of q side door as we entered, in company
With one OF the keepers where she had been
searched, doubtless, previous to seeing her hus.
band. a fine looking young man, whom, on our
return, we saw conversing with her through
the iron picke,s which separates the main yard
from the small enclosure frst entered. 1t was
q sad sight. There stood his wife whom he
had so foully wronsed. separated from bis em-
brace by the grim barriers Of brick wall and
iron railing, and the still harder and necessarily
immovabls administrators Of stern aud inexo-
rn0se IAN. 5sgsl 81 ,ss , aas
A conductor having offered US his services,
we proceeded FIRST to the first floor of the ma
nufactoring establishment, where almost all
the c~onvicts are engaged; thence through the
length Of that room, and ascended to the Sc.
cond story, where the weaving. was going on.
through which we were likewise conducted
Everything seemed quite neat and in good or
der. The ~convicts were clean, and seemed to
take but little notice of as; their features gen.
orally wore the expression Of british resigna-
ton and indifference som few attempted to
conceal their fsces-to avert the prying gaze
Of the intruding visitor |; but to take them in a
mass, we were never before surrounded by
such . number Of dark and f~arbidding human
beings, and must acknowledge that we felt re-
lieved when we once more got ou. into the at.
mospbere Of the open yard 7 sa
We now proceeded to see their cells and din
ing apartment. 1t was near IL. and thei. din
nsr was preparing. In = large Tub or half bar
rel were pieces Of meat weighing about =
pound each, which . big negro convict was
taking up piece BY piece with his hand and
placing it in Z tin plate on . number which cor.
responded with the number on = c~onvict's jack.
et This piece Of coarse meat. a little broth,
and rough corn bread, constituted their dinner.
Their fare constitutes, We presume, q portion
Of their punishment. Their "dining apartment"
is really in their cells; for when their meal is
announced, each one takes the plate from his
number, AID goes to his cell to eat It. These
cells are about seven feet in length by three in
breadth, containing each a blanket, and appa-
rently quite cleanly.
Thus ended our visit, and when we were
again wheeled round in the cylindrical gate,
and once more faced the world without, and
inhaled its pure and halmyairs heard the chirp.
ings Of birds, saw the green trees, and the hap.
piness which every where prevailed through
the blessings Of liberty and virtue. we could
help approaching more highly, land being
thankful for 70 40 over-ruling Providence the
humble but contented position which is our
own lot and destiny on earth. s3 y, Ys.av I
49,