The morning comet. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1856-1856, 1856-02-08
tn. 1.cmsssnn. penit.utie.y.

institution for the past eight months,
affords material for much grave specu-
laticn. Whether the institution has
been 4 money making one 10 the Slate
or not. is question with which We
have nothing to do. Statlcians may
figure al It, aud show matle,natcaIly
ON unerring principles of compound IN
terast, that il pays well all round, that
it pays the State, pays the board, pays
the chief Warden and Assistants, the
Clerks, commissioners, etc. etc. This
is a matter Of itself apart, and asJout
head is not shaped to entertain" more
than three figures at time, we leave
this branch Of the matter to others -
There IS one thing however in refer
ence TO figures, which it affords us
pleasure to be able to state. In case
there should be deficit in the casl,
account--a small balance short, there
is nothing lost, for the State COMES in
with her tnagnin;,nity and after frank
" confessing that nobody's TO blame
but herself, settles it. This il credita-
BILE 10 the State. She listens to the
complaints Of the suffering. and # she
fluids them worthy aud well qualified
to support her, in the hour Of trouble,
she comes promptly ny will, bill for
relief j" one 5a"1 and the cash i" the
other, taking care always that com
fort and consolation is not awarded ~
the enemies Of the magnanimons party
in power In the report Of the hi
rcctors. the following strikes us as
worthy Of comment:
The internal management and dis
eipline has never been better, and The
results Of the labor actually employed,
it is believed. has never been surpass.
ed Ivy the results Of any yea,O under
the leasing system. At the same time,
no unnecessary severity has been OK
ercised towards ,e conv;cts; their
food has been abundant and Of goe,l
quality, and they have enjoyed tI,,ougI,
the year The advantage of religious
worship and instruction. by charlaios
of five different religious denomiua
tiopa.
We are not disposed TO doubt wha,
the gentlemen composing the Board
say in reference to the internal man
agemcnt aud discipline; but should
like TO know how they came to sucl,
conclusion, when there has been but
three meetings, since the establish
ment went into their hands. and the
Board has adopted no system Of disei
pline. If we are not grossly m'sin-
formed. the whole matter of discipline
is in the hands Of the chief Warden
and his Assistants. BE this ms il may
The question for the General Assem-.
bly, to ask and answer intellgently is.
what is the design of tho Pcuitcn-
tiary sysIem; is it to reform tho orring
or is it to manufacture Elons for e,he
State, as class necessary to give en-
ployment to Judges. Juries, and at
torneys? If SOC tho object is fully
and eiec,ual|y accomplished, and if
not, it becomes the duty Of the legisla-
tgr, who represents the interest of the
State. to devise some system Of discii
p''ne adapted to the soul and spirit of
our nature. Flo who is so narrow
sighted as to suppose that because
man Sgcon6ned within prison walls,
and is cased in n prisoners jacket, that
he is any different in his nature, from
ten millions Of thieves on the outside
who have wealth and influence to pro
tect them in viIliany and hypocracy-
We say the man who thinks thus. is