The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1868-07-09
Correspondence Wyandot Pioneer.l
Our National Anniversary Cele-
brated in the Ohio Peniten-

COLUMBUS, O.. July 4, 1868.
Mr.. EDITOR A new and novel fea
ture of prison life was inaugurated in
the Ohio Penitentiary to-day. The
Warden, Chaplain and Others interested
in promoting the well-being, temporal
and spiritual. of the prisoners, acting
in concert with the Directors. con-
ceived the idea of getting up a celebra-
tion in the Chapel of the prison, for the
(perhaps ten hundred) prisoners there
incarcerated, rank after rank of whom
filed in, attended by the prorer officers,
and were seated, as were also the visi-
tors, of whom there was geodly num-
Der in attendance. when, after a few
preliminary remarks by the Chaplain
CDR. Byers), the services proper COM
menced, consisting Of singing, led by
one of the prisoners at the instrument,
in which all Joined with q will, both
prisoners and visitors. Reading the
Scriptures and prayer, by Rev. Mr..
Robinson, of Westminster Church of
this city, followed by manly and STIR
ring addresses by Hon. c. n. Qlds and
Judge Bates also of this city, OIL the
blessings of good government, and the
necessity of obedience to law, as the
law is made and enforced fer our good,
| and the rights of every individual are
protected by it, both at homo and
abroad. Nor did they fail to point
them, with earnestness. to that hie her
law, an infraction of which we all alike
were justly chargable with, and which
we all alike must be forgiven for. if our
happiness, present and future, has any
place in our good desires. In the alb
sence of the Governor, whose previous
| engagements prevented his being pres
ent, Rev. Mr.. Crook came at his special
request to speak and act for hia. He
| addressed the prisoners on the neces-
| sity of good character, assuring them
| that their record was closely watched
| by the officers of the prison, and that
| they had determined to fav or those
whose department was uniformly good,
and to show that his words were not
meaningless. he had come this day with
authority from the Governor to present
his pardon to those of their humber
then present, whose uniform good char
acter had won for them this special fa-
vor. They were also informed that
pardons would be extended to others
from time to time, as fast as it was
Judged compatible with their own and
the interest of society. Mr.. Crook then
stepped down in front of the stand with
the pardons in his hand, and called the
men designated to come forward and
| receive them, as the recipients had no
knowledge. that anything of the kind
was on foot, till their names were pub
licly called out in that assembly, it fur
nished one of the most touching Incl
| dents of life, and one that will not be
| forgotten by any present till our hearts
shall cease to beat, and death teach us
to forget all nature. One OF those men
had served eighteen years, one thirteen
and one four, making an aggregate OF
thirty-fye years of prison life. o. who
is competent to describe the emo
tion that filled the hearts of those care
worn men, when it was thus publicly
announced that among that vast assem-
blage of ill-fated men, their humble
| names were drawn for freedom once
again. E. t. R.