New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-10-30
GEN. BsRyUH 4yD THE WoRKMGMEM
Nrw.YoRK. October Is. 1863.

To all Whom IL mag Concern: The following
communications were called out by attack hy Tia
Albany Arg,s upon Geu Henry A. Barnum. candidate
for Inspector Of state Paons the Republican ticket
ana present incumbent 81 that office. As will be seen
charge that has been. opposed to the inter
ess OF the w0rkingueu only FALSE hut the con
trry has past labored in hs official position "a
promote heir and is preSmnenty worthy OF
and entitled "a their support. .-....r
CORRESPONDENTS BETWEEN GEN. BARSUN AND TIFF
OFFICERS or TnE STATE WORK NGMESs ASSEMBLY.
SING SING PRISON. Oct. a. 1863.
GENTLEMEN: | an, attacked in The ALbdsy Argus OF
Oct - aud have previously been assaied by or two
other newspapers Tor my course relative TO the Prnt
Le Contract a. sang sing Frs3n ana me ~olklngh,h
uf the have been appealed to by these papers to
vote ~ the approaching election. n being
person opp"scd Ia ther Interests Un TINS Last aitack
a. Tie Argus, hVr rested quiet, knowing that the lead
ing members ~ Your Assembly were fully cOgizant ~
nav past and my convictions these subjects and
believing that would not be allowed 70 suffer politically
the hands % those who were misinformed or VINO Tor
partisan purposes. might mi,TrpreSent me; but now
ak, a measure Of justice. thar yon shall place me
of workingren IN The state. Had been misrepre-
tented aboyeset for should not have troubled you
certain rnt'os which wish y0u would use III
want HESRY A. BARSUM.
..... t...r NEW. YORK, Oct. y, 1868.
70 Messrs WILLIAM JEsspr. fresides!: ALL1 TROUT
Secretary, Neic York Site Workingaee's Asse"ttS
HENRY A. BAR>UM. esq: You're of 2Ath inst 70 hnnd;
and in reply would sas thai had yon hot been at
tackled, and political capital enIsayorsd 20 DC made
io have said anything but JON nave called upon us
"a say what we kuuw you m relation 10 the manage
menf of the prisons ~ the State rs far as regards the
interests CTSingnrn. will briefly state that We
frst yOU ~ Albany Last Winter at The session Of the
state Workngmrlis Assembly when y0n were endeav-
frng TO get tie Legislature 10 pass bill 70 break up the
contract system Ia Anuru Prison as to the manufacture
s boots and shoes aud have the state manufacture Ihs
Was demonstrated against by the Assembly when you
and your associates oi the Board OF inspectors to9S
ground that there was no reason why the otte sho'
enjoy the profits of us convict lahor instead OF
the contractors. NOu admitted that the introduce
ton Of skilled labor into the prisons was wrong,
and asked us L. suggest remedy. 1on aiso
eo6perated with Committee OF the WOrkingmens AZ
semhly 10 have the ire contract system broken up
bi introduced into the last legislature looking
toward this object IT. provisions beng that the only labor
60 be perfoued IN the prisons after the expiration of
the present the manufacture OF chains and
tbe qnaryng OF stone TUE Oil ptseeo the Assrlnoy
,te, On p,o Syi,i ~ ~ Gel heorirr - ver, had
in which yourself aud representatives took ground IN
favor OF the passage OF the b the contractors stren
oIsy opposed IT, The bill defeated I'm the Senate.
through the exerIioms OF representatives there who
amed that Of their constituents would be injured
y H. We have always believed you 10 be- opposed the
Contract system ma our prisons and know not hing
the contrary A. We said before. we should have remained
sent had the matter not assumed tins shape not wish
have Our names mixed mp In the present canvass
and only now reply - matter OF Justice to SET yen rght
wiz j. JRssur
ALEX TROUP.
SEN. BARNUAs REPLY 10 THE TNTERROGArORY oF THE
CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF TIN LABOR REF9Hs rAR a
GENTLEMEN l am IN receipt of your communication
DrOpOunding the question, II elected, VIII you endeavOr,
tract system in the prisons OF this state aud that the
labor of the eonVct shall BE- employed 90 such branches
outside of prisons and thar the wares manufactured 10
the prsons shall not be put Oh the market az less than
current Faiesf To This uteTrOgatOry answer eDphat-
caly YES. Aud further hold that the CONTRACT sys
tenn now prevailing at Auburn and sing sing Ps-ons
Il not only depOTahe failure financially 20 the State,
bar also OF great injury TO the moral discipline OF the
prisons well OF ncalculabe injury tile interests o.
the honest awbidg mechanics Of the state. With the
contract abolished, and State employ" snbs
tued the prisons Auburn aud sing Sing mny be made
60 be successful, financially. the PRISON IN Clinton
County which has been under state employ since 1865
paid the State Treasury; while always prior
to sGs when conducted SYSTEM showed
an annual average deficit Of about $4,000 Auburn and
Sing SING now show ANIMAL deficit OF nearly tH1Oo
need not here discuss the perncious influence OF the
contract system upon the disciplinary anu nori resuts
OF our PRISONS suffice u 10 say that tns system bng III
teamsers fOremen, aud general hired heI-whose inter
esis are not at all Ia harmony with the proper ends 81
deed But, gentlemen am aware that can,ldates ioT
oSs, %o are ussy = sa aG az you2s In such
they may think viii best subserye their
yourselves with my record during my present term as
Inspector Of state Prisons aud particularly dunng the
ures placed before that body the request Of the Com
Sittee appointed by the state W.,
Assembly; Mr., TTyup. the secretary thereof and MT
aItee Of three appointed by your state Assembly &c
iook after the legislation deemed requisite by that body
in relation 10 such legislation aud / ask you 10 Obtain
from these gentlemen their opinion npon ms question
determine whether am the man the mechanics o. ths
prepared act accordingly. have the honor 70 be- 70
sreeffuy Your ol,edieHt servant. HKsRS A. BARsuN.
LEIIER FROM TIE SECRETARY on NETWORK TYPO
GRAPHICAL UNION no c.
NEw-YORK. oct &c, 1865.
HESRY 4 BARyUN. es1., State Prison Ias0te'oT.
SIP Al the September meeting OF the NeW-1orK Typo
graphical Union No your letter In reply 10 mine TASK
ing the truth aisehood OF charge made against
you by The Hudson Star, and winch was copied aud
edOrially commented upon by The AIOdJtg ATgas tat
the printing contract being surreputousIy earned
on n Sing Sing PrisOu aud the documents accompany
Union was perfectly satisfied 20 the entire fasy OF
the charge and passed unanimous vote OF thanks 70
yOu ~ being the instrument IN procuring the GbfO-
cation OF that Infamous bargain, which VOuld nave
wrought such mischief 20 all honest prinefs as the
sysem q convict labor has done to all othHe
branches of mechanical pursuits whose walks have
been invaded hy Your Offer 70 pay the expenses OF
auy Committee which the Union might appoint 10 VISIT
blg Sing and examine for thelnseyes was Respectfully
declined 50 thoroughly the Union satisfied by the
statement should have forwarded this before Dul dd
not desire 20 have hing published a. coming from
the Union which might be supposed 20 have pQllcai
bearing seeing that the charge has revived and
reiterated deem u my eafy 20 make You aware %
the action taken Sy the Union, which body, before az
others would most Certainly have denounced you hau
there been shadow of truth in the allegation. ,
lfeIDsiD SIR, Win great respeet your most oDeueht
ser amt ROBERT NJ CLARK,
Cor. Secretary Typographical Union No O.
LETTER IRON JAMES b. SWAIN, PRINTING CONTRACTOR.
NRw-YoRK Oct. a., 1863.
Gen HENRY A BARSuM Inspector 81 Prisons.
SIR see II stated that favored the continuance
Of tie printing contract al the Sing Sing Prison Pert
me 10 say that INT for the which you manfesy
your duty To pursue In cOus0naBce with the
pressed Will Of the Legislature should have
strenuonsly opposed continuance tine contract would
have worked its full extent and TO the last day
that the law gave as. Respectfully yours,
JAAEs y. swAIS.