Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-11-17

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER II, 1857.
Operations OF the Tennessse Pe1Iten-
Ifary.


Operations of the Tennessee Pe.iiton-
tiary.
We have received the Report of the
Agent of the Penitentiary from which we
condense the following facts. They show
the institution in a fourishiRg condition,
The aggregate business of the Penitentiary
for the past two years, ending on the SOth
September, 1857, foots up the sum of $2l8,-
879.86. Work done on the State Capitol
by the convicts amounts, during the two
years, to $51, $40. The cash transactions
including the amount received from the
Commissioners of the State Capitol and
appropriations by the Legislature, sum up
$134, O59. 92-$9I, O96.56 of which was re-
ceived from current sales and collections
fromthe both Sept. 1855, to same date 1857.
The whole amount of manufactures, sold for
cash, on credit, and for the Prison itself is
1854 ,026. 95. The present Indebtedness of
the Pententiary is SIS, 385 Sits availa-
BILE assets $50, 849.73-showing a net bal
ance in its favor of $35, 464.19-which may
be set down as the net profits of the insti-
tntion for two years. There is further
balance due the Prison on the old books,
bad and suspended debts, which it is i'm
probable will ever be collected This
shows the financial concerns of the Peniten-
tiary to be in a healthy condition. And
the Agent predicts that the profits will
hereafter be increased. The number Of
cOnVictS in confinement at the date Of the
last report was 24O-admitted since 1877
discharged by expiration of sentence, par
don and death $50, escaped leaving still
in confinement on the Both Sept. last 286.
Gov. Johnson pardoned 81; the President
8 and Is died.
OF those now in prison Davidson county
has a representation of 81, Shelby SO,
Stewart 10, and the remaining counties
each n smaller number. OF the occupa-
tons before conviction there were 10 farm
ers-8l laborers-105 no occupation-I4
bIacksmiths-15 shoe-makers, and u car
penters--of other trades and under.
There were Is sentenced for murder in the
first degree-39 for murder in the second
degree-5 for manslaughter-13 for assault
with intent to kill-16 for horse stealing
for negro stealing-8 for arson-5 for
passing counterfeit moneys for rape
8 for false pretences-5 for malicious
shooting for grand and petit lar
ceny-and less numbers for other crimes
The ages of the convicts range from
Is to 70 years--the largest proportion
being from 90 to 80. There were mar
ried and widowed 162-never married 1914.
There are who can neither read nor write
56-who can read 78-with common school
education I48- classical education 4.
There are who were temperate 33-mOde-
rate drinkers l28-intemperate 125-hav-
ing Incorporate parents 81.
The Chaplain in his report says that,
" the history of Penitentiaries forbids us to
hope that they will ever become schools of
reform for the unfortunate, the ignorant
and the Vicious their tendency being rath-
er to render vice inveterate and crime con-
tagious, by associating the depraved to-
gether in masses-the combuStible elements
thus becoming more explosive by contact
and compression" But he tells us that of
the whole number now in prison, 80 pro-
TESS to be sincerely religious. 81 of that
number having made that profession since
their Imprisonment. He also says that
most of the convicts are in the habit of
paying earnest and serious attention to the
ordinances and services of the Lords
day.
The Agent states that the grounds &c.
of the Prison are too limited for comfort
and convenience; and that under the ex,
tension of the city it is becoming a nuisance
to the residents and property holders of
the vicinage, and strongly recommends the
purchase of a new site and the erection of
new buildings, somewhere on the Cumber-
land river, three or four miles above the
city. He states that the present establish
ment can be sold out for nearly enough to
cover the expenses of removal, and thinks
it would subserve the interests of all con-
cerned to change the location. The ply
stefan, DR.. Robertson, urges this or some
other measure, as a sanitary one.