The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-03-31
Governors Message On IIIc Hseni-
tentiary.

To ne Senate and House Of Representatives.
GENTLEMEN Herewith | place before
you the report of the Superintendent of the
Penitentiary. and copy of the contract uu-
der which this institution was leased TO T..
Richardson. by Aaior General Gillem Com
handing the Fourth Military District.
The report of the superintendent OF the
Peniteutiary is a very satisfactory state
ment of facts. But the Document to which
| wish to direct your attention specially is
that under which the establishment was
leased. l object to the principle OF that con-
tract for the reason that it virtually super
cedes the States control over its cOuvicts !.
and, while tending to degrade agricultural
labor, abolishes, in effect. the iniamy and the
penalty attaching in well ordered society.
to crime. Under this view Of the subject
am pleased to call your attention to the in
competence of the Commander OF the Fourth
Military District to make "A contract for the
civil government of the State of Mississippi: :
and to inform you thar while the lease made
by Gen. Gillcm to Mr.. Richardson runs
nominally TO the first day Of November
$50. IL had ceased To be binding after the
day of our restoration to civil government
Penitentiary labor should be employed
inside the penitentiarv. The utiltarian
of the question should be made subordinate
TO the moral considerations entering into
the reformation of criminals and the pun
ishment of crime While economical and
moral reasons combine in demanding that
the convict shall be kept III work. we should
not overlook the fundamental fact that he
has come into the hands ofthe State. for the
good of society. under a severe system of
pains and penalties. .
The employment Of convicts outside the
penitentiary involves eXpedencies rcpug-
nant to public virtue. The shocking spec
tacle ola group of men followed by keepers
with loaded rifles, ready to shoot them as
though they were dogs, lowers that senti-
ment of well ordered society which sur
rounds human life with sanctity.
4 full examination of the facts, may.
probably, show that the State is not in a
condition to employ all her convicts I'M the
peniteatiary. That, however is a result to
which it appears to me TO be our duty to
strive. As an essential of the system / re-
cOmIheDd that our conVicts be drawn as rap
idly as possible within the walls of the peni-
Tertiary and, whether worked by the State
or by contracting, that they shall never be
removed from the discipline and keeping of
men exercising over them absolute authors
ty as officers employed and paid by, and ac-
eountable to only, the State.
The Superintendent OF the fenitentiary
makes highly important recommendation
in reference TO certain prisoners on the
books of that Institution. These are Of the
friendless poor, and therefore without the
means of appeal which are open ordinarily
from Injustice to the ear OF the Executive
Some OF them are confined, he suspects, I'M
der sentences unreasonably severe, and 9th
ers absolutely nnjust, and the correctness OF
his remarks on the case is corroborated by
the fact that they may be supposed to have
been convicted under the harsh rulings and
angry temper Of the past four years.
On all hands | see the very gravest rea-
sons for concurring in the recommendation
of the Superintendent, and suggest to your
honorable body the proprety OF "A commits
sion: appointed by either the Governor or
the Legislature, to investigate all such cases
with view to selecting from them those
really deserving Executive elemeney.
j. L. ALCORN,
l,nvnrttr,r.