The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-12-15

SCfOl5, piOSlOCO III ooi Joiuo ASoo' ~NAoA1 |
together with maps of the localities to be
surveyed. The maps have been promptly
furnished, and presume that corps OF !
surveyors will soon be assigned to this duty
| have transmitted copies of your joint |
resolution to the Governors Of North Caro-
lima and Tennessee, and requested like ac-
ton on the part of those States. Your joint
resolution evidently contenplates the APP
pointmcnt of but one set of commissioners
on behalf of this State to adjust the North
Carolina and Tennessee line, as well as the
Maryland line This may be found to be
impracticable, or, at least, attended with
much delay In view Of these very possible.
contingencies, I would respectfully recon-
mend that the joint resolution be so amend
ed as to authorize the appointment OF other
commissioners to adjust tho North Carolina
and Tennessee line, and that the number OF
commissioners be increased to three. 1t
would also appear to me advisable that the
compensation of the commissioners should
be determined, and that suitable provisions
be made for defraying the other expenses
will be necessarily incurred in the prosceu-
ton and settlement Of these important ques-
tons.
PENITENTIARY.
The report of the board of directors ofthe
panitcntiary exhibits in detail the workings
of that institution since the present encrget
ic superintendent assumed control Of it
While there has been slight increase III
the number of prisoners the very great i'm
provement in its financial condition may
we'll be the subject of congratulation. |
have no doubt that, in the language of the
president of the board of directors we may
Indulge the hope that the pcnitentiary will
soon not only cease to be an expense, but will
| become a source Of revenue to the State.
| respectfully call your attention to my
| views and recommendations upon this sub
| jcct, as expressed in my message of the 9th
of February last. In response thereto, the
Legislature passed San act to authorize the
| Governor to appoint commission In rela-
ton to the sale and removal Of the pcnitcn-
tiary,'' which was approved April 23a last.
Commissioners were appointed under this
act who, after thorough examination Of
the whole subject, made their report, which
was submitted for your consideration at your
adjourned session in October last | fully
concur in the conclusions expressed in this
i report. 1t is imperatively demanded that
4 the present penitentiary shall be either re-
modelled, improved and enlarged, as urged
by the board of directors and supcrintend-
ent, or that it shall be sold and new one
built of a capacity. and fitness commensurate
with our present and prospective wants The
outlay, in either case, need not be heavy,
and in no sense comparable to the benefits
it would confer.
Under an act approved April 23rd, 1870
entitled ian act to authorize the Governor
to hire out the convicts i'll the penitentiary
for work in stone quarries, or for other suit
able labor" over three hundred prisoners
have been contracted to labor upon the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad at twenty five
cents per day, net; that is, the contractor
81 boards, clothes, guards and cares for the
j prisoners at his own expense, and repays the
State any expense incurred in the capture
and return Of any escaped convicts, not ex
cccding one hundred dollars in any one
case, and pays the State twenty five cents
per dav for each convict while in his custo
dy Che amount heretofore received fol-
the hire of convicts, under contracts made
by me, [ have directed to be paid directly
into the treasury Of the State but there are
many good reasons why it should be paic
over to the general agent and credited tt
the penitentiary; and, unless some differen
rule shall be prescribed by the General AS
scmbly, | shall, on and after the LIST o
January next, so direct. The amount re
ccived to date, since the passage Of the Law
above mentioned, should be credited to tn,
penitentiary in balancing lis accounts 70
that period and there should be charged
to it the expenses Of the temporary guard
fo7 the same period, which amounts t
twelve thousand, forty three dollars ant
twenty five cents, and which has been pai{
out of the contingent fund Ass
The system Of employing convicts labo
outside the walls of the penitentiary is oper
to many grave objections. The people il
i the localities where they are employed pro
/ test against it. The effect upon the youn.
of daily contact with the prisoners is mos
& deleterious Tt familiarizes them with thu
idea Of crime and has a tendency to softer
and destroy the terrors and shame of con
vict life. The most serious objection, how
ever, to this system is its effect upon the
convict himself. Prisons and penitentiarie
are maintained chiefly for the purpose o
punishment; but how much punishment ii
it to many of our prisoners to be we'll fed
d clothed and cared for, and only compelled
to perform about sufficient labor to kee1
them in good health doubt not thai
many of them. would prefer it to a life o
selfdepcndence and care, and, in many ca
] ses, of want and hardship. have yielded
reluctant consent to this system under The
pressing necessities of our situation. L
would be almost impossible to keep all ou1
convicts within our present penitcntiary
while the expense Of maintaining so large
a number in idlcness would be enormous
and the effect upon the prisoners most inju
rious. If: however, our present buildings
were enlarged Sufficiently, OF a new, COM
modious and we'll arranged prison were built
all our prisoners could be employed within
the penitentiary to a much greater advan
tage to the State, the people, and the con-
victs themselves. than by the present con-
tract system. The prison could thus be
made self sustaining and complete realiza-
ton of the idea IF penitentiary place
where offenders are confined for punishment
and reformation, and compelled to labor"
Another change is required in our prison
system Now the youth of twelve or fifteen
Years sent To the nenitentiarv for a wear