Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-07-29

ip an adjoining room and others doubtless were
in call should q crisis arise. Soon a bell rang. an
inner door opened, and a party that had been
through retired. We were then told to follow and
we should see all that was within. The door was
locked behind US and we went single file through n
narrow, strong door and left a guard there to shut
and to open &c. We were in safe keeping far
once: hut without alarm we went forward, atten-
ded by an intelligent conductor who showed w
first the "bakery'' and samples Of bread-very
good then the dining room-a plain clean hall
with rough frames for tables. So, they cook good
thread and plenty Of it and have a place to eat it
in. Leaving thisdepartment. we mounted into the
second story and Immediately came upon the work.
ers busily engaged in fabricating chairs. shoes and
boots &C., and found n clerk on hand tn sell Mt re-
tail. Looking quietly around, pricing a few ar
ticles, scrutinizing the silent laborers (they are
neither allowed to speak or look away from their
their toil.) we soon passed on into the carriage
~factnry-,hen to the cabinet shnp-then to ana
through the cnoper's division, where we found an
active retail business gning on with strangers
in selling and buying toys, churns. buckets, DIP
pers &c. Our number from Georgetown (D"lph)
purchased two neat and curious Pig gin'(6 and
our friend LESTER bought roter can with handle
and cover and filed it with toy buckets; the can
for his mother in GreenviIle, and the smaller arti-
cles for some of his numerous pets among the
~.srising generation" Leaving the workers in
their shops and their varied and curious handi-
work. we we're showed out in the open court in
the midst of which a hundred workers were hew'
ing stone. driving carts and carrying burdens. NIL
silent and all dressed in uniform-white with blue
stripes, with the number Of cell and name of wear-
err on the back.
We were then led to the sleeping establishment
and the inhmary-be.ween which apartments we
saw a menger show of books-as sort Of library-hut
1 guess there is not much Appetite or opportunity
for reading. There is provision made for regular
sabbath preaching alsn; SO. you see, those whose
conduct procure for them lodgings in the Tennes.
see Psuitentiary are shut up close-well watched
BY dav-barred and bolted by night-fsd and put
up in ~cells-allowed TO- read ~some-cared for in
sickness and pre,ched TO on tie Sabbath. There
were about 8l1 there at the time of our visit
Teas than half dozen females! .
lam not prepared to pronounce as to the merits
of the penitentiary system. A great number OF
the States of the Union have adopted it. and 50
have they made governors and judges elective ny
the people, which you have not become progressive
enough to do as,yet. l reckon | may safely dis
match this matter as a prudent friend of mine al
ways does in such cases by saying, lit is a dsod-
table question:" I can ay,however' that the Prac'
,;ca, Tepuesseans have achieved one grand re-
su,t By convict iater-bpsides being self sup.
p%orting. the ~cnnvicts have for years heen engaged
in ouarryng stone, and ailing in the erection OF
the new State Capitol, thus saving the Treasury
hundreds Of thousand Of dollars. With the Uul-
i~.arians, who are governed by present expediency,
this wnuld be an argument Of great force; but
true Craftsmanship would require differ mt and
higher reasonings to adjust penalties. in their n&
ture and duration, ii crimes in their 'mrnediate
results and as tn thu authority they infringe and
the interests they imprril. But AZ know little
ahnut such things. and a. I am perfectly willing to
leave .afairs Of State" I'd Caesar. | viii cloae ny
saving left the Penitentiary under the influence
Of sober feelings and sad ref factions as to the dis
honor sin had put upon immortals!
Yours, truly, J. W. kELLl.