The Daily clarion., 1867-02-07

The following is a copy of the
preamble and resolutions adopted at
the citizens meeting held here on Tues
day night:
1t Is the birthright of American citizens
to give free expression to their opinions up
on all matters of public policy; to petition
for redress of grievances, and to demand
such changes in the laws as will promote
the welfare and advance the prosperity of
the State. For these purposes the citizens
of Jackson have assembled tonight.
At the last session of the Legislature an
act was passed, authorizing a lease of the
Penitentiary to private individuals, and en-
poweTing them to use for term of years the
labor OF the convicts Under this act, a
company has entered into contract with
the State, and, as lessees have the manage
ment OF the Penitentiary and the control
and direction of the labor of the convicts
now there aud such Others as, during their
lease, may be committed to it.
1t is the first duty of every Government
to encourage honest industry, to promote the
mechanical pursuits OF the people, and, by
adding dignity to labor. to induce every
man to give his whole energies to the pros
perity OF the State.
Acting on this principe the Congress of
the United States has laid high tariff duties
upon the importation of foreign goods, in
order to protect the American mechanic
from competition with the pauper labor of
Europe. But the policy inaugurated by the
lease of the Penitentiary is directly to the
reverse of this. 1t has a tendency to estab-
lish a large monopoly in the midst of our
people, and at the Capital of the State, in
which wealthy capitalists have combined
together, have labor furnished II EN- bg the
State, without any cost save that of bare
maintenance and this labor is brought into
direct competition with the mechanics of
our city and State, who, less favored in these
particulars, are compelled to give way be-
fore a monopoly thus fostered and encour-
aged by the State.
But this is not all. The labor with which
they are thus brought into competition is
that of felons and cOnvicts-men who have
outraged the laws of society, and who should
be compelled to expiate their crimes in Sc
cluded cells, within the walls of the Peniten-
tiary, instead of being permitted, as is now
the case, to labor at large in our in the per-
formance of work, which should properly be
done by the honest and industrious mechan-
les who have settled among us.
The casualties of war nearly Frustrated the
mechanical and other pursuits OF the South,
aud dealt more hardly upon the mechanics
and other citizens of this place than upon
any other portion OF the country Here
their houses were burnt, their property of
every kind destroyed, aud for years without
employment, except in the workshops of the
Government, the peace found them entirely
destitute of means, with their families to
feed aud clothe, their children to educate,
and. ia many instances, without shelter
over their heads dependant alone upon their
personal exertiona, through life of toll. for
the means of subsistence, as we'll as the ed
ucation of their children. We feel that they
should be fostered and encouraged. and not
be compelled TO compete with the convict
labor OF the State, furnished without cost TO
wealthy capitalists, by which means the rich
are enabled TO grow richer, while the poor
man sees the bread taken from the mouths
OF his children, his means Of educa4incr
them destroyed and his vocation rendered
less honored and respected We therefore
earnestly urge change in the policy of the
law authorizing the lease of the Penitentia
~, q reeislon OF the contract, made in refer
enee thereto, and such mod fcatioDs of the
fenltentlaFy code as will require that the
convict shall be kept at hard labor within
the walls OF the Penitentiary, and in sucb
pursuits as do not come in direct conflict
with the mechanical industry of our people.
and with the honest and hart-workipp IA.
borer, whose daily toll has to provide the
daily bread of his wife and children. And
as expressive OF the sentiments of this meet
ing and the citizens generally. il is
Resolved, That in the law providing for
lease of the Penitentiary. to private indi.
f4ahals. with aui herity on their part to di-
rect and control the labor of the conyicts. a
severe blow has been struch ae the domestic
industry OF our State; great wrong has
been done 10 the honest and industrious la
ooreri aud the dignity of labor itself has
been seriously threatened by the erection of
4 huge monopoly, IN the hands of wealthy
capitalists, who, with convict labor. fur
llshed to them without cost, can drive from
he held the industrious mechanic. who has
40 means but his daily. unaided toll. with
which to educate his children, TO provide
he house that shelters them. and to some.
ne food and raiment necessary to their COM
o8t.
Resolved further. That we apprebend-
rom the lease Of the Peniten4iary. great
ianger 70 the moral and pecuniary interests
u our peoples We believe that il viii tlriys