Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-01-07
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1873.
THE PENITENTIARY.

We are glad to learn through our
Richmond exchanges that there is a
purpose in the legislative mind to
make radical change in the manage
ment of the State prison. The Cover
nor, while complimentlng the officers
record the unpleasant fact that this in
stitution has drawn from the treasury,
in ercess Of its receipts, more than
sixty thousand dollars. We confess
we were not prepared for such an an
nouncement for, il we are not mista-
ken, it was promised last year that in
the future it would not only cease to
be charge upon, but would bring a
profit into the treasury of the State.
We do not remember that it has ever
been otherwise with the Penitentiary-
the only difference i'm all the preced-
ing years of its existence being in the
amount of the burthen to be borne by
the State. If the officers be faithful
and efficient, land we have no reason
to believe otherwise) the conclusion is
irresistible that there is some innate
and irremediable defect in the sys-
TEN, and if continued, the past must
be the history of the future. When
prosperity gladdened the hearts of our
people, and plenty reigned throughout
the land; when the seasons were pro-
pitious and the public imposts were
light it was a matter of little import
whether the Penitentiary was sustain
ed through its own management or
from tbe State treasury. But our cir
cumstances have been wOfully chang
ed. Our people for the most part are
involved in ruin. Advcrsity as with
a pail covers the land; want now pre-
walls where prosperity obtained; crops
have failed and the seasons have been
most unfortunate. Taxes are onerous
and the bloated bond-holder, like an
other shylock, demands the penalty of
his bond. His heart knows not the
impulse of sympathy, responds not to
the plea of mercy. PAY me what
thou owest," is the steady refrain, re-
echoed by the appellate tribunal full
fill thy contract" Thus it becomes a |
necessity, which will permit no eva
sion, that the expenses of the State
government shall be curtailed in all |
and every direction-and cut down to !
the lowest possible figures. The Pen
itentiary under the ruinous system |
which has prevailed i'm the long past |
has been running sore, ever depicting /
the State treasury to the tune of thOus- /
ands upon thousands, until its draft /
has reached, in excess of its receipts,
a point of burthcn beyond longer en-
durance. Were each county to MAIN
tain its own prisoners, the result would |
hardly he more onGrous upon its peo-
pie than il now is upon the common /
wealth at large. The counties, how
ever, are not prepared for this, and |
the Penitentiary is upon us and we |
cannot rid ourselves of 1t. But we can .
put an estoppel upon its feeding any
longer upon our necessities, in man
ncr which willpreseryC it in tact for all /
the purposes of primitive justice, and
subject to the control of the State
We say, lease it out to some response
Bile person, who shall guaranty to meet
all of its expenses, and who, at the
same time, will be under bonds to fill !
his contract, The Penitenfiary ought /
10 realize a large nett profit to the State
and under State management it has
hitherto not only failed to DO this but
has been a source of debt. Let US try
4 new departure. 1t would be far bet
ter for us to pay some one small 6O-
mas to take it than to continue its per
petual deficiencies. Change front!
we say.