New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-24


He produces a memorial from colored Ia
borers to show convict labor is popular. |
Mayor Shorten's testimony on this point /
effectually disposes of that without refer
ring TO that of number of others. Most !
of the rest of Mr. Benham's remarks refer
20 proper control Of the Penitentiary and
do credit to his head and heart, and We wish |
he had seen fit to incorporate them in the |
report of the majority.
We have now only the letter of Colonel |
James to consider. 1t is long, but there is !
little in it.
In his testimony he processes ignorance
of the abuses, and his letter contains moth !
ing not derived through Others. We will |
be tairer to him than ne was to Convict. |
He analyses his statement OF routine to
show that he did not work the sixteen hours !
he mentioned in another place. The fact is
sometimes he worked sixteen hours in the
factory and sometimes only ten on the
ievee. But he did not complain of this,
bu. only for being beaten when unable to
perform his task. Not of running four looms
when Northern women run six. but Of the
strap he got when unable to do even that.
Mr.. James does not contradict this. Con.
yict did not say 800 bolts OF cloth were
taken in one night. He complained of lack
of moral teaching. of books and preachers.
and plenty of teaching in rascality-ss if
he did not know enough! He said he was
forced to steal shoes and cloth for the Off
GERS. Colonel James does not believe it.
and how he will find out whether his en-.
poyes cheat him and not the State is more
than we know. That part of the case is his
own affair, as he says. What Convict said
was this:
The states from the roof Of one building
| were taken for the houses of the officers.
| One night 800 bolts We're taken away. The
| tale of the brick yard is exaggerated. Twice
| the number OF men are charged that are
| employed.
! He doesn't mean "bolts Of CLOTH" and. as
| Colonel James says it would be absurd TO
| think he could carry away ten dray loads
| in one night. Whether the State or Colonel
James is the loser is not the point: there is
| something wrong in Convict's statement.
Mr.. James does not contradict it. Perhaps
Convict told lie for one bolt or didn't
know what "counting brick yard men
twice" meant, bu. he thought it was steal.
ing, and he ought to be q good judge.
AS to tho food Commissary Ebberts certi.
fies as to the q uantity and Mr.. LANCE to the
| quality. The latter says sometimes it is
very good, sometimes it is very bad this
from the butcher who sold it'll James L..
johnson. the cook says there was no flour
for the convicts. that was for the officers;
1.-The pork gave out. the meal became sour.
the beef spoiled but still we used both and
had no vegetables or change Of diet"
Other testimony is similar but not SO
strong.
| But Mr.. James says:
tits so universally known and commented
upon as to our feeding so well that that poc.
ton hardly needs comment.
Universal commen: and no comment
needed:
Where We build ievees the colored people
are only too glad to get the scraps from tho
table Of the coIvict5.
Colonel James does no: stand alone in
saying this. for the charitable Captain
Hayden comes to his rescue and says:
Instead OF want there was plenty to spare.
| ana l3OOrefS on plduIallouS frequently
visited our boats for the purpose of Ob.
tanning what the cOnycts lief. which the
free laborers on plantations We're only too
glad to get.
How nicely these two paragraphs fit to.
gether. We would like to capture one OF
these !aborers. Calvin Edison must have
been Daniel Lambert beside him. AS a
picture of starvation ne would be unique.
and when in the future . comparison OF
misery and despair is wanted, it may be
said. she eat the scraps a Louisiana convict
left" 1t is a new version of an old parable.
this plantation Lazarus seeking crumbs
from the convict Dives zone and half
ration" with Colonel James, for this time
only, in the role OF Abraham. But when
the latter day comes. which Of them will
ask for the drop of water:
But Colonel James goes further:
In fact, a prominent district attorney has
told me that my treatment and food was so
good that unless I abated in some way l
would demoralize his district, as 1t was no
longer q matter of dread in going 20 the
Penitentiary. owing to the glowing accounts
of returned convicts to his district OF the
food, treatment, etc.
l y
with the whole population. rushing to the
bar of justice and pleading guilty Of heinous
offenses. that they may partake OF the
sumptuous fare Colonel James provides.
Imagine him receiving his fifteen dollars
fee for each with one hand and writing TO
Colonel James with the other that returned
convicts found his treatment and fare so
good. begging him to moderate it so az not
to depopulate his district. This is fleeing
fromthe wrath to come.
AS to punishment. Colonel James says he
has altered and improved it. and we hope
he has. How he can say that. and testify
be knows nothing of it. and is not response.
bic. we do not know.
Convict said:
Jack Turpy. for talking. wa, given fifty
blows. He suffered as bad as did Navarro.
| / saw John McCort knocked down by the
captain with stick. and given fifty blows.
The Senate committee saw severa! cons
yicts who said they had been beaten. one
with ninety-fve blows. but 'there seemed
TO be general fear among them that j!
they answered questions concerning their
punishment they would be punished tor it.
Again:
| There was some diffidence manifested in
the prisoners stating these facts lot TIE
manner o: punishment owing to tear o!
punishment.
But Colonel James. Immediately on read.
ing our article, proceeded to do exactly
what ali convict keepers have always done
T.. u