Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-13

To the Editors Of the Union and Americana .
The direful fruits of youth reared in ig.
norance and idleness are eyinoed in every
portion of Tennessee, and it is not unfre'
! quently the case that these sad effects car
/ be traced 10 a lack Of mental culture in
the parent, or the fractions disposition o.
the child, and rarely from circumstances
or social condition. Parents are often
heard to say that they have made their way
through the world withou! an education,
and that their children could do Che same.
This language, the legitimate consequences
| of an illiterate mind, is not only antage-
nistic to human progress but solace to
the unwarning loiterings of the unfostu-
nate youth, indirectly encouraging dissi-
patton and crime until ruin stares its VIC
tins, unused to the voice of rectitude, fair
in the face, and the lifsof prostitute or
prison-convict becomes their inevitable
doom. To prove this, We have but to take
the city of Nashville, with its actual resi-
dent population of twenty-three thousand
(23.OO0) souls, and we find it contains no
less than the incredible number of eight
hundred public prostitutes, with proper
viets and Workhouse "chronics" turned
loose without means of support, with the
soiling of crime resting upon them to har-
rass the community, by resorting to their
old games of plundering for subsistence.
Yet Nashville is not an excsptsn to the
rule. With yearly increase Of crime, the
Penitentiary has become financial en-
barrassment to the State, and the question
of enlarging it under its present system, as
also the question pending before the Leg
islature Of reducing what has hitherto
constituted Peniteutiary ofense to few
days incarceration in the county Jail, will
Justify unlimited comment from the COM
munities that are made to suffer from their
influences, especially the latter measure,
which cannot but prove an inducement to
the commission of crime, rather than the
desired Objects prevention. If the
Legislature desires to render an act Of JUS
tice to humanity, as well az one of political
economy TO the State, they cannot better
accomplish it than by the establishment of
a State Industrial House of Refuge that
may become comparatively respectable and
self.sustaining in the mental and manual
culture of youth. When the orphan and
wayward youth detained at the age of
twelve, fifteen or eighteen years may be re-
leased at majority, in possession Of me-
chanical means Of support, and liberal ed
uca,ion, and is prepared to contend against
the conflicts of life. When youths are suf-
fciently reformed, indenture might be
made a prominent feature Of this institu-
ton, while its mechanical products
will partially obviate the prevalent neces-
sity Of expending our money to pay for
importing from abroad, to say nothing of
its moral effect on the community. The
city of Nashville would make good move
in the right direction by donating to the
State, for this purpose, portion OF its
useless Park, that is otherwise destined 10
remain unimproved for many year,, jUdg-
ing from financial standpoint. 1t were
better far for Nashville if it could be do
mated entire to capitalists "a mauufactur-
ing Site. This will give little tone to
her boosted spirit of enterprise. There are
very few cities that can boast Of less indie
pendenca.
1t ia understood that a Law creating a
House of Refuge will be introduced into
the Legislature during its present session,
and it is hoped, as an important local
measure, that it may receive the consider
alton it Justly merits. Let Tennessee keep
pace with her sister States aud it will en-
courgge Immigration YOUTH.