The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-01-06
Our Ja,ls-Barbarity Of Civilization.


the treatment of prisoners which recently
have fallen under our observation ARE abso-
lutely heart-rending. No man can visit any
Of our iails, even the one in this city, with
out deep, indignant emotion. Piety, phi
lauthropy, patriotism, humanity, all unite to
denounce the guilty authors of those feted
dungeons. That so vile a system has so
long prevailed in such a State as ours as
astonishing as it islamentable No cause or
reason can be adduced in its behalf capable
/ of abiding the test of reason 1t is simply
needless, gratuitous, proftless oppression.
And VIC are sure that nothing but the knowl-
edge of the facts is necessary to command
from you such an act of devotion to hui
mainly. -.,,.,-.-
We are no aceuscrs, we are only informers,
that this crime against civilization may be
arrested. We are confident that nothing
more is required than simply to state the
case, with its aggravations and enormities,
to induce compliance with proper measures
ofreformation. The state of things which
we denounce and 'deplore as bitter source
of human misery is one which every friend
of his race should earnestly labor to miti-
gate and reform.
We shall, therefore, endeavor to set before
the Legislature few facts, and we doubt
not that Ill legitimate means will be adop-
ted for the reformation of this order of
things, the approbrium of the State, and the
curse Of the most unfortunate portion of our
fellow creatures. & @ e
In this State it is computed that there are
hundreds of persons, some of whom have
been tenderly reared and well educated, but
who from vicissitudes of fortune, and fire.
ouently from the pangs of the hunger tiend,
have been driven to commit petty violations
of the law. The condition of this class in
our iails is truly deplorable. During this
season they are exposed to the cold snaps,
without much clothing, and are fed in such
starvation style that seldom falls to the lot
of even a beast of burden These unhappy
victims of our humanity rise at five o'clock
in the morning and continue in their narrow,
filthy cells till night, without fire and with
out even the luxury of a blanket Only
think of young man, graduate of one of
our Colleges, arrested upon suspicion, no
guilt yet fastened upon his character, rising
at four o'clock in the morning, landing all
day in his wretched CELL and in order to
resist the oyerpoEerins infortrHsties of
sinking nature, is compelled to jump and
stamp like Iaving maniac SO that warmth
may be produced. This young man.. of
tender years, possessing a gifted mind, re-
specially connected, and whose reputation
hitherto has been stainless, kept in one OF
these loathsome prisons for weeks on mere
suspicion and then dischargesr Ge
appearing against him v In these living
fires, and the prisoners are compelled to lie
on stone floors
1t frequently happens in our iails, as il
did with poor Hester Vaughn in PhiladeI
phia, that during the night the mice and
rats eat the finger ends off of the prisoners
Not few of these unfortunates have neyel
been tried for any offence, and like the young
man referred to, are consigned to torture OF
mere suspicion. Scores of the inmates O
our Jaiis are poor colored men, who, fo
trivial offences, and not being able to pro
cure bail, are thrust into these dungeons
where the Christian civilization of the nine
teenth century has consigned them In man,
of our prisons the convicts are exposed to tn,
grim and heartless humors Of ghouls, jailors
who delight to mock at the sufferings of poo
humanity. Such is the affective condition
of our jails, and surely the recital must suffic
to move the hardest heart Shall We afte
this talk of whips and chains
These sufferers are our brothers, partaker
of our own frail natures. Some of them, w
repeat, have been tenderly raised, and ar
possessed of kind, human hearts The dis
cip.ine of our prisons, strict and infexibl
as DEATH is based on the idea that no goot
can come out of Nazareth. The Massachu
sets people have different and better view
Their banner prison in Charlestown is baset
on the idea that the criminal may be reform
ed, and therefore it surrounds the convic
with religious and secular instruction, ant
privileges of various kinds, if earned b,
good conduct. 1t brings him in contac
with officers and teachers who are gentle
manly and humane, and it enforces its re
quirements not by the lash, the iron Jacket
the iron coat, the buck. but bv frmness onl
gentleness I 500
The report of the Massachusetts, Stat
Prison for 1868 was recently placed in on
hands We have seldom read document s,
suggestive. or one which so wildly illus
trates how much can be done in the way O
reforming convicts, even in prison, if tn,
discipline is based on the moral government
OF God and ministered by humane and intel
ligent men. The convicts are obedient
chreerful and industrious. Another result
OF the management which will be appreciat
ed by tax payers is that the receipts of thu
prison over its expenditures show profit O.
thirty-two thousand dollars. A similar state
OF things will take place in North Caroins
If our Legislators will be only prompt in the
performance of their solemn duties Tn this
much needed cause of prison reform, we
make an appeal to the women of the coun
try. They will not lend deaf ear to the