New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-02-24
THE STATE PENlTENTIARY.

formed themes for exciting discussions in the Senate
during the major portion Of last week, and probably
consumed the greater part Of the session
Some queer legislation was brought to light, as those
Of our readers who have read the reports are well
aware, developing the existence Of mysterious IN
nences IL the doing OF unaccountabe things sJusuy
chargeable to the account Of cause and effect.
At 10 o'clock, NJ, on the 18th inst, the bill pro-
viding for the lease Of the Penitenary came up as
the regular order, and after much debate the hrst
section was adopted, by vote of Is yeas to nays
IThis section provides for leasing the penitentiary
five the lessee or lessees to be elected by both
houses on joint ballot
The second section enacted THAT the lessees should
the state onefonrth the annual proceeds flowing
from the labor Of the Penitentiary. Senator Hyams
moved to strike out fourth which motion pre-
vailed Senator Burlington moved to insert three
fourths' which motion waslad on the table by vote
Of IA yeas to 10 nays. Senator Defreese moved to
insert threefths laid on the table by decisive
| vote. Senator Oliver moved to insert one-half,"
which motion adopted, and the section as amended
carried. On the 10th the various sections of the bill
(there sixteen in ally down to the 18th section,
were amended and adopted, after which the Senate
went into executive session and then adjourned
On the Goth at II o'clock the consideration OF the
bill was again resumed and Upon reconsideration OF
section adopted the previous day, Senator Bufing-
ton moved amendment prohibiting the lessees from
employing the labor of convcts in those branches of
mechanical arts whereby such labor would be brought
in competition with that of the mechanics of Baton
Rouge and the mechanics Of other portions of the
State This amendment tcas laid ON the table BY a
4 pote Of fifteen yeas to nine nays ..,.
Right here we have something to say, and we mean
to say it, without regard to the pleasure or dlspea
sure Of anybody. Our only regret is that our COM
mand of language is altogether too feeble to denounce
the action of the majority in as strong terms as 1t
ought to be denounced. Than the mechanics OF Lousl
ana there is not better nober, more intelligent, or
more useful class Of citizens We take for granted
there are few very few, responsible men in the COM
monwealth who will venture to assume opposite
grounds. Yet, majority of the Senate OF louisiana,
in regular session, deliberately vote down an amend
1nent to an important bill which would precent me
labor Of marked and branded feons, moral outlaws
from society, men whose crimes-running through all
the gradatons of horrid calendar, from THEFT and
burglary to incest and murder-rom coming in COM
netition with their honest labor with their well earned
skill with the results thatwoud necessarily flow from
ther steady practice of the virtues of perseverance,
science, energy and industry! ,s
Fl The Senate Of Louisiana, by this vote, which can
not he reprobaed in too severe terms has to all prac
teal ntents and purposes sought to degrade the la.
hor of honest and skifu mechanics to the level of
1.-The lahor oceuned by peptentiary conyicts and fel-
ons No other legitimate construction can be put up
ON the vote above referred to- Had we an official list
4 Of the AYES and noes taken on this amendment, we
should certainly publish it. But we shall receive it,
and shall publish it, in due season. We trust the
names of none Of those with whom we haveever been
noiticay associated will be found recorded on the
affirmative list But it will make no difference in our
onion or action if our trust is verified or dsappoint
fa coodnacs knows ye are cha orped epoupb at the
Mt, river without an regard to any further partic-
e.ro,,,i, in f.,-or IF I,rr,o no t-aotn,ant +o
W. are as stfohsiy IL iafoi VI humane i0'isn' ~
nrisoners ma il is nossibe to be we would like to see
| fAi'S - ,
the moral status of the conyicts improved we would
| n. ot;o,, ~ l,,,> 80, ,1, ;.
aHoru tneu Iehsious alu ueip .tea aiohS
the na that leads TO ultimate regeneration to the
she pa'n s'''' '.'1' Y - -, .
u. =: . ,,h1;a l,+,, ~ nav o,,u ,rht ho,d
lie pohcy ana puplle uuty-pus may our Flght haho
,uitber and never he able to puide men again Whey
"i'nsi "AN ~ ~ - r. o' 49,"
| we fail to denounee any measure or any movement
- ,,1-o H., oo,,rot RI orr NO r,ottor ~ >,