The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-03-20
THE STATE pENIrENTIARY.
Discussion III the House of Delegates
on the Question Of Removal end
# Lease.
TIE CONFLICTS AND sToxE-cU7Tzgo, dc.

At an early hour yesterday in the House
of Delegates the bill in regard to the hire of
convicts was taken up, the amendment of
Mr.. Clopton, of Chesterfield, providing that
they shall not be hired out to learn stone
cutting or other mechanical trades, being the
pending question. This was the signal for
an animated debate.
Mr. Clopton Conservative contended that
1t was the duty Of the State to guard by leeis-
lation against putting felons in competition
with honest mechanical labor. While our
mechanics do not fear practical competition
IN skill and workmanship with these con-
Victs, their pride and their appreciation of
their honorable and useful calling revolt
against II. lie cited the case Of the LAWYERS
OF Klchmond who refused to practice with
an attorney convicted of on infamous offence
even alter the Governor had pardoned him.
ana adued that mechanics were not less SEN
| sitlve than members of the bar.
MIR. Peter K. Jones {Republican) opposed
The amendment as discriminating against un-
fortunate convicts, who he thought ought to
! be permitted to learn trades. He believed
there were mechanics now working in Vir-
ginia who had been in the peni,entiaries of
other States. 80
Mr.. Norton (Republican) was very earnest
in his opposition to the amendment. Rich
mond and Manchester, he said, was not all
Of Virginia, and he wanted the needy people
Of his section if they couldn't buy the stone
cut by others, to buy that which was
cheaper, and cut by conyicts. Let convict
labor be added, make what it can, and if out
side labor cannot compete with it, why let it
so under.
Mr.. Peter j. Carter (Republican) said Mr.
Clopton had not given one single reason, in'
his Judgment. why conyicts should not be
permitted to learn trades. We had as well
say they shant pray and become Christians
because they have been in the renltentlaly.
He earnestly opposed the amendment and
hoped it would not pass.
Mr. Gilman, of Richmond city, (Conserva-
| tive.) said he had expressed his views freely
| on this subject, not only before the commit
| tee, but to members lii private. He had
given it thoughtful consideration, and be-
| eved that not only duty, but sound policy
| dictated that convicts should not be hired
out to learn stone-cllttipg or any other me.
| chanical trade. The amendment was in no
| way connected with politics, and ought, in
| lis opinion, TO receive the endorsatIon OF
every thinking man on both sides OF the
| House. He was proceeding to enforce his
views with his accustomed cicarness andforce,
| when the hour arrived for the special order,
"THE rESIrgNTIARY BILL"
Mr.. Brown, of Richmond, moved to amend
the Seuate bill so that there shall be no lease
without removal of said institution from
| Richmond. This was earnestly advocated
| by Messrs. Brown, Dooley, Gilman, Daniel,
! aud Lnycnstein, and equally as warmly OPP
posed by Messrs. Lawson, Poague, and Full
| kcrSon.
The amendment being finally adopted, Mr..
Lawson moved to reconSidcr, aud again a
! fight was made equal in warmth and length
| 10 the original discussion. The motion to re-
consider WAS finally lost by decisive vote.
After the adoption of other amendments,
Mr. Wall. of Frederick, moved to dismiss the
| bin, which was advocated by Mr. Brooke, and
lost.
iere the hour for taking recess arrived,
| and the chair was vacated.
THE rEN1rENT1AEY QUESTION BY GAs-LIGHT.
The House rcassembled at s O'Clock, when
The discussion of the pcuitentiary bill was re-
s,mcd. Sundry immateriaI amendments
| having been adopted, Mr.. Clopton offered ali
| amendment to prevent the conyietS from hc-
ing hired out to learn any mechanical trade,
| including stone-cutting, shoemakug, &C., and
! proceeded to advocate it with carnestleSs and
ability.
Mr.. Freeman (RadicaD contended that to
deny learning conyict 4 trade was not
Christian. and added that gentlemen forgot
| that some of the hest mechanics in Richmond
| had been convicts.
| Mr.. Gilman, of Richmond, spoke elo-
qucntly and at length in support of the
| amendment. He said that the mechanics OF
Richmond and Manchester are as proud Us
they are independent, and came not as sup
plants, but to demand justice of the Legsla.
ture.
| MIR. Anderson, of Louisa: The gentleman
says the lawyers OF Richmond will not prac'
iicc with a convict, or the doctors practice
with quack-but do either ask legislation
Mr. Gilman: Certainly not but let law.
yers or doctors be detailed from the penl-
teMtiary, and they will demand legislation.
The amendment was lost, many who
would have voted for it as an independent
proposition voting against it for fear Of EN-.
barraSsiug the final passage Of the bill, which
INJURIES the removal OF the penitentiary from
Richmond, provided the Senate concurs in
tile action Of the House.
Our Richmond delegates made an earnest
and effective fight for removal. The House,
having tired OF the subject, at ten minutes to
~ ordered the bill to It's engrossment. [Sce
legislative report for the vote.
| Unless there be i decided change in the
views Of members, we Will chronicle its pas.
sage in Cur next issue.