The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-12-23
That New Jail.

Mn EprroR: Allow me few words
In reply to your editorial OF last week.
And first. must deny your premises for
facts will not sustain them. More than
year ago large number Of petitioners
from t,centu different towns in the county
men of influence. wealth and respecta-
bility, men too, who from most OF these
towns must have been and still are unin-
fiuenced in the matter by any local or pri-
vate considerations-prayed the then
hoard OF commissioners for n new Jail
commensurate with the wants and ability
Of the county. In pursuance Of such Pc
tition the board, after fully weighing the
whole question. their powers and duties,
the public and popular demand, decided
To take preliminary steps towards the cree
ton of such q building rs was prayed
for.
Where, then. Is the evidence OF '.grcat
opposition to the scheme" and whence
could they derive the reasonable knowl-
edge that the utmost resistance would be
made to building such jail"p There
,cas none. there Is none have such rs came
then and has ever since come from Ger
tain locality. and possibly from .'priyatc
and Interested parties" At our last cleo
ton, ..the commissioner who favored the
scheme" was defeated to be sure but
every voter in this county. of the slightest
discrimination, knows that Mr.. Parker
was defeated solely because he was a
Democrat, while Messrs. Sweetsir and
Hussey wero elected solely because they
were Republicans. The issue '.jail or no
iailr was not before the people Of this
10. nj
alities near the mouth OF tho Saco, and so
"thc scheme" has not been rejected nor in
any way passed upon. In the action nj
ready had. u majority Of tho board have
listened to what may justly DO called the
TOR populi, expressed 50 widely not only
through the petitioners, but from all
quarters of the county sare one, and truly.
in the name Of humanity, II may DO called
TOR Del. The third member OF the board
Is known to be opposed to tho jail Mt Al
fred. We know not what opinion MIR.
uusscy may entertain on this particular
question. but this much we fully believe
that he will do what he regards to be for
the interest Of the people he represents.
the entire county. having m cye-pecu-
liar to his party and his sect-watchfui IN
the public demand. the public treasury,
and the cause Of humanity. Again, IL u
not true that $1,000. viii be expended up
ON the foundation of the new Jail. On
the contrary less than $1,000. will pay this
expense.
But phy and chencs this assumed great
opposition" and .'utmost resistance!' 10
quote further tho language Of your arti-
Gle, "it Il admitted that the present jail ut
Alfred Il unsuitable" and ''there Is need oi
better accommodations" How shall the
want be met? Tho present Jail nj Alfred
can be remotlelled.n RemOdeiicd indeed.
As well talk Of retaining the Spanish In
QUESTION to republicans Of Spain. This
old she'll. n standing reproach TO Its archi-
tect, damp. dark. unhealthy, unseemiy'
and uncouth, has become adisgracc to the
county and bye-word In the State.
The people want no palace for con-
victs. These petitioners ask for no eN-
travagant outlay Of the peoples money
for such purpose. The commissioners
have adopted no such scheme. But we
do need Jail that shall evince nm appre-
citation of the decent the humane. the
useful. the respectable, and tho cconomi-
cal. Convicts are by sentence deprived
only OF liberty. and In the execution there
Of they should not be exposed to aught
that viii increase such punishment. other
wise injustice and wrong are done under
the color Of law. Criminal laws are
made and should he enforced for the pur-
pose OF humanixing. elevating and inn
proying those unfortunates who are called
10 answer to such laws II Is. then. tho
duty and should be the desire Of the peo-
plo and their servants, Ia do all In their
mower tn encourage and elevate rather
than debase and dishcarten the convict.
Yes, new Jail Il wanted. and the only
ouestion Is rherc shall tce 6ssiid3 This Is
the canse Of this whole agitation. Some
months since. n writer in certain paper.
In AN ungardei moment. frankly gave
his readers tho real secret Of this oPposi-
m ao.,-s. ,,,,,sf All La held M Saco.