Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-09-19
THE cHAIN-eANe.
A Weird for the U~nfOrtunste-A City Bride.
well Suggested.

Editors AppeaI-Having esteemed my
previous communication of sufficient inn
p~ortance for publication, it has drawn
forth in your local columns some few re-
marks in relation to your city "cbain-
gang,n which, in q measure, have been
written under a misrepresentation of the
position which / assumed upon that sub
ject. To correct this misrepresentation,
and to say something which viii not only
| prove of interest, but, 1t Is hoped, have
some influence in directing the attention
of your citizens to 4 matter which at no
distant day will require their most earnest
| and thoughtful consideration, / ask space
in your columns for the present communi-
cation.
Sc far as it relates to the extent TO which
the "ball and chain" has been used my in
formation seems to have been faulty, for
YOU state il to have been used only once
In a great while. While this be rue hat
q ball and chain is used at ali, or that
| criminals are used as street workers at all,
| will be an admission sufficient for present
purposes.
That your police officials are the perfec-
ton Of manfiness their appearance will
indicate.
That a "Fouche" system of vigilance
| pervades the entire force, and that pre-
| cision of movement and clock-work regu-
larity extends throughout the ramihca-
| LlOU5O vi EulS lhbANO1E0 uOP1A VI NANJ
goverAment, will not be denied.
That they are kind, merciful and just
to criminality will be conceded. That
the "cuisine" of the prisoners is all and
more than it should be. no one will uues-
ton. Nay, more; that the inten-
tons of the city are carried out,
both in spirit and letter, and hat not a
single dollar is appropriated byan official,
be ne of high or low degree Ia variety in
| this day and agel l will grant. Allowing
all this and more, then, as in my previous
letter, L object to the system per sc, as be-
ing wrong In principle, degrading in its
/ application, and lamentable in its ulti-
mate results.
great flood" but it has been conceded
that punishment has for its ultimate OBJ
iect the reformation of the criminals.
| Admit this, and il is the 'sxletrse" of my
argument, upon which l turn and shall
/ continue to turn, +" then the question must
become secondary as to whether the sys-
tenn does or does not augment the general
\ Golfers, and hence it is not an important
matter whether or not the amount OF
labor performed by the ''chain-gang''
makes the system seIf-sustaining.
The paramount duty which the state
owes to society, is to see that a correct
| standard OF morals is maintained through
out the general community, n in this
behalf It's exertions should be active,
earnest, never falling, never ending.
Presenting, as it does, so vast a field for
active and thoughtful philanthropy, the
subject of criminal reformation has mer'
tied and received the earnest cOnsidera-
ton of all those mob men and women
who have bean interested in the war fol
the public veal, the war which virtue has
ever carried on against vice, in which
virtue has been her own reward, and vice
her own deformity.
And however much they have differed in
MANY conclusions, to this all nave agreed
that public exhibitions should not be made
| of punishment; that to do so arouses the
combative, destructive, and obstinate ma
/ ture of the case-hardened criminal, ano
defeats the Objees for which the punish.
ment was inflicted.
Here then Is the pith and marrow of the
| objections to this chain-gang system.
We resd with horror of the execution
scenes enacted in the city of London dur
ing the last century. Happily for com
munity these days are of the past, and
now rarely is a criminal of any degree
exposed to public view more than can be
absolutely avoided.
should be glad to pursue this train OF
thought further, but my letter is getting
lengthy. 1t is sufficient to say that each
and every large city has tried the chain.
1 Rhlks anu dlAbI uub ca DCI1lI6uN Gl0 a 4dAl
trial the system has been abandoned, as be
ing a source of no profit, as tending to de-
grade to the criminal and demOraliZs
the community.
If, as your article states further, the
ball and chain is put upon only those who
can be reclaimed in no other way, then
sad indeed is it, for such men are lost for
ever, as you may rest assured, the little
/ remaining manhood in them will not be
revived by their being sneered at, scoffed
at by scotfers, and pampered like wild
beasts.
In conclusion, hessrs. Editors, who of
US shall say but hat there is deep down
among the dying embers of the moral
nature of the most hardened wretch, one
little spark of Gods love, a love for that
mother who bore him, q love for that sis
ter who moistened his fevered lips, a love
for that patient wife who yet loves him,
though he has cursed her and beat her,
for the good there was once in him, q
spark that may perhaps be mad to kim
die into a living flame under the revivify-
ing touch of gentleness, of kindness, and
which at last may become fit for that
" house, not made by hands, eternal in
b heavens"
Let me end my letter by suggesting
something practical. Erect forthDitb q
city BridetOeH. Yours, etc.
FACTS AND ITEMS.