Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-11-24
rRE PENIFENrrAsY QUESTION

We ind space for the following, from
a very intelligent and able correspond
eut, who has had considerable expert
euce in public affairs. It argues strong
ly for q disposition Of the labor Of the
penitentiary such as EX-President john
son has favored, but which We do not
feel at liberty to indOrse until we have
examined more closely into the present
and past management of the institution.
There is much TO be said for and against
this outside employment Of penitentiary
cOuvicts, and we hope that all the facts
VIII be made to appear before sny def
mite attempt is made toward It's substi-
tuton for that which just now is source
Of profit rather than expense to the
people:
WHAT SHALL BE DONE WITH TIE
PENIrEN TIARY9
EDITORS APPEAL-The peniteutiarv
question rs OF deep interest 10 the people or
Tennessee generally but particularly to the
mechanics or The STATE. II lis true there are
lever convicts, III proportion 70 the number
ia The IpenltenIlaTyr engaged IN mechanical
pursuits Llau ever vas al any former period.
reforms are necessary il regard 10 the man.
gEemenf Of this institution. We do not think
crime should be made source OF profit either
l1 the state or 20 individuals. What are the
remedies we PROPOSE There are TOO MANY
C1uvlcts lC me peniteutiaryr. The number Of
fel0uies ls TOO great Many OF the off-nsas
now punished by sending men 70 the peniten-
-lary should be punished by confinement ia a
county wOrklOuse, or upon the public roads,
These onenses should be tried by magistrates,
and not consume the time Of the criminal
courts. In ne wOrkhOuses established IN the
Inherent counties for the punishment Of
ullenHes OF a lower grade than felon4es, no me- l
cnaulctl trades should be taught, but only 1
such work should be done as requires no DaT- I
tlcular akin. The public roads OF the several I
counties might be worked by these men, and
in l1at way 8 great saving would take place /
Now, the working Of the public roads is a |
great public expense often interfering with /
ne CULTIVATION OF Lne crops very seriously. j
II using these men. as well Is the con viCus In l
me penlleutlairy, in doing the work upon the /
public ROADS OF the country, the expenses Of I
The state prison, and Of crime generally, I
might be grestly reduced. Certainly these
men, who work without any remuneration 70 |
themselves, might be 80 managed as not only /
not be an expense, 1It a great saving 70 the
people. BY all means, however. they should
not be Taught mechanical trades, for the rea-
-llh ael loIll N q pfea4llie ana rys0lul0ns
introduced into the legislature in 1853 by VIM.
j. sykes, then representative from Maury
county. now a citizen Of Shelby county. On
Maury, introduced the following preamble
and resolutions, which were adopted:
every wise government TO encourage and i'm
prove the mechanic arts by all the means
within lis power and whereas the present
system Of penltenuary labor is emlnently
calculated 70 iunlct serious pecuniary injury !
upon a large and highly Industrious pOr-
ton Of the community. by creating COM
petition between the mechanics and the
conElcts IN the penltentiary, and also tends |
TO degrade labor or 70 discourage the me- /
clanlc arts, and is therefore a well grounded /
fource OF complaint operating as u uoes, as /
sore grievance upon That numerous and 1
mighty valuable portion OF our citizens who /
contribute 80 much % the well being and q
strength OF the state; therefore
hes0tusd, Thai 10 is tbe true policy OF the I
STATE not % permit the labor Of The cOnvicts
10 Inc penitentlary 10 be brought into COM
petition with that OF the mechanic IN the
state.
Resolved, That the committee on the penI-
lentlary be instructed 10 inquire into the ne
cesslty and eEpedleucy Of so changing the |
s2 stem OF peulteutlary labor as 10 remedy
ensuing evils and 10 prevent the COnvicts
nom being taught mechanical trades.
Res0lted- That in The establishment Ct an
Qiler peul sl-ntlary, IN either East OF West
tennessee mat the same committee be in
slruCted Oh inquire whether the making of
Dagglug ana rope. or the working on public
llsoh might mol be- substituted for The present
y STEM OF p1n4i-l lLstrl LaD0rs ana that said
COMMITTEES report By Dill, OF Otherwise.
These are lae sentiments which are now I
much prevalent ID the country. Working
on public roads requires no mechanical skill,
ana rs what these cOnVlcts should do. Wheth-
~ each county should pay Tor the work done
Id mat county OF whether the whole amount !
should be paid by the State IN It's aggregate
-apaclty, are questions 10 be settled by the
legislature. Certainly the labor Of The con
'-cis VIII Yield enough TO pay all expenses 10
esfrd 20 them, and this Is All the state should
reg llIer Tor crime should never be made a
-3-iee gl pr1lt9 either % individuals OF 10 the
STATE The skilled mechanics have a righf Ia
ak lnal me peuiteuiarv should not be made
q mechanic 3 institute. The los 70 the state
s..s q. ear caused by degrading skilled labor,
-h -s- more llhn al the services Of the con
hlcia are worth. Let us prevent this lnsfitu-
non rom being an expense 70 the Stale. but
Dt an means let 10 not be the cause OF driving
lioul me p als mechanical labor, which we 80