The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-06-24
Jf!lGrrllalltullt.
From the Carolina Spartan.
ALABAMA, May l9, 1857.

ALABAMA, May l8, 1857.
MrssRs EDwoRs see in the Spartan
tina. there is much discussion in the Pal
metto State with regard to pen;tentary. *
lour Judges, Governor, &c. appear to DC
in contention for it. And it seems that
when the wisdom OF Il laud advocates any
matter it must be right.
| live IN the country where there is a
peniteutiary, aud have iived-yea, raised
in South Carolina, under its rigid laws
from the whipping post 10 the gaIIows
and Low | am satisfied which system oil
puntshmcnts has the greatest bearing to.
wards expense, safety, and morality. |
lived in Georgia two years, where there
is a penientiary have been living in
Alabama nearly fourteen years; and liv-
ed III South Carolina nearly twenty four
years and of course have seen the good
and lad effects of the Institutions that are
, intended 10 cutoice safety, punish crimi.
mails, and bring about morality aid hon
csty.
/ In all the lands il which have lived,
am satisfied that in a country where
there is Il pcnitentiary there is the least
/ regard for the laws, and | think the
/ grandcSt rascaIs. Still, there are thou
sands Of tie most honorable men and real
mOraltsts. But where there is the least
/ disposition III any one to act out Iogncrv
the peultenliary is no Uarrier. There
have come under my own knowledge ca.
scs enough To satisfy me.
/ There is hardly court in my knowl.
I edge but sends to the States prison more
or less comvictS annually or bcnualy.-
/ AT Lafayette, Alabama, they will send
convlcts for stealing and for numbering
/ and before the next court cOnvcnes the
/ jail is crowded with criminals for the same
diaboiIcal offences. Last year here were
/ one or two sent; this year there are !our
/ more III prison for murder and stealing.
! The country is generally so; and, from
+ the best information | can receive, in the
! statistical accounts of all lhe States where
! there are State prisons, lhat is the gene.
/ raj result. Thern Is man in ,he iail at
/ AT Fayetle, Alabama, who was put in the
/ Sta:e prison some three or four years age
for sealing horse. He served out his
term and so soon as he could get back,
lie stole the same horse, and will 90 back
, again Tor he same or II longer time
And THIS IS very often the case. This does
not i1oi much ike reformation and chris.
tanizatj"n. They have regular ) S.bbath
preaching, and every honest cndeavor &c
bring about Il reformation, and with but
very little good, if any.
Ni;h regard to revenue. or income to
n State, ny impression is it is but quite
limited, and very likely othcrwise-a
least of the State prison OF Alabama.
Some eight or ten years ago, to III,
best recollection, the prison brought th,
State Of Alaoama nearly 100000 il
debt and, to remedy the evil, what did
the Legislature of the State do The,
rented or leased il out at $4,000 per i
years, or five thousand per year. for
get which but | believe the first state.
ment is correct. Does this look mucl
like revenue! 1t seems to me such drag.
will keep money from rusting in our pock
cts. Ii also makes me think the Sou,l
Carolina laws should be enforced, an,
break their Internal nccks, or keep then
IN prison for one hundred and fifty year
please God they should live so long
Furthermore, occasionally an honest ano
nottensvc man has to 90, who by acci
dent is caught in an unexpected snare, bl
the hand and tongue Of the base and ras
cally class, who will stick 10 their brolhe
SCoundrels.
Was not John A MurreIl, and his dia
boIicaI organization in lard Ct peniteu
tiaries, where there have been more afro
eious cas- es Of murder of the innocent, rob
berry, stealing of negroes, &c, than in an,
land where hanging is instituted to pu
An end toe crime. South Carolina ha
never been so bothered by murderers
stealing Of negroes, DC, as State priso
countries. My impression is, il it wa
lett to vote Of the people Of Alabama
they would do away with il, as they hav,
seen its fruits. Capital punishment i
quite hard looking case but it seem
to me that it is the shortest way to exc
cute and get rid Of those wrelches, il
whom there is no hope Of reform but ge
worse and worse-steal uore and more
when opportunity is presented.
If there were any hope Of a change be
ing wrought upon such characters by .
State prison, it would look more reasona
ble; bat they nearly always get wors.
4 There was some years ago, and th
subject is still occasionally alluc ed TO b,
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