Wilmington journal., 1876-09-01
WHAT TO DO WITH OUR CON
vUGTS


The eleventh article of the Consti~4
tuition relates to punishment for cri me,
to the institutions provided for that
purpose, and TO State institutions for
charitable purposes.
The only change in this article, pro.
posed by the amendments, is made by
adding a provision to the first section
authorizing all convicts, sentenced to
hard labor, to be employed on public
works or highways or other labor for
the public benefit, and the farming
out of the same where and in such
manner as may be provided by law.
No convict shall be farmed out, how
ever, who has been sentenced on a
charge of murder, rape, attempt to
commit rape, or arson.
The object of this amendment is
plain to the commonest understand
ing. It is to save money, and at the
same time to benefit the State by car
rying on the public works of various
kinds that are SO much needed for the
development of it's resources. Ever
watchful of the interests of the people,
the Democratic party at its recent
Convention pledged itself to use the
convict labor of the State for the pur~
pose of securing the completion Of
those great works of improvement
| olH
intimate union the people of the
East and the people of the West,
thereby giving each section easy
access to other markets than its
own for the sale of it's surplus pro-
ducts.
This policy must commend itself to
the judgment of every one. Indeed,
the Democratic Legislature has already
acted upon it, but owing to a question
that has been raised as to the consti-
tutionality OF such a course, it was
thought best to remove all doubt by
making this amendment to the Con.
stitution.
| By this means the State will get
| the benefit of the labor of the convicts
and the expense of entertaining SO
many colored gentlemen of elegant
leisure at the penitentiary will be
avoided.
The penitentiary has provek griev-
ons burden to the tax payers of North
Carolina. Near a million of dollars
has been expended upon it and in
feeding the convicts, and it is full time
to make the convicts useful as we'll rs
ornamental. Let them earn THEN
bread and m eat, their victuals and
clothes. They are generally people
who have sought to live by stealing
rather than by honest work. They
have lived in that way long enough,
let them now be put to work upon oul
railroads and other public improve
ments.
IF some some such disposition az
this be not made of the criminals ot
the State they will necessarily have te
be kept in confinement in our jails anC
penitentiary and thereby entail upo1
the people the expenditure of vas
sums of money for houses for then
to live in and for food for them to eat
without any corresponding advantage
&C tbs Ssats Ihe number -at ct c2RY69fs s9fY6fs
administration of the law is now 81
great that the tax upon the Stat
for their keep and maintenance i
no hight burden, and this mus
be 80 as long as deprivation of person
al liberty with or without hard labo
is the penalty affixed by law to 81
many crimes.
That it is a hardship thus to ia,
good men for the support of bad mel
is undoubtedly true, but like man,
other hardships of this life, it mus
be borne for the reason, if for n,
otker, that it is cheaper for the good
men to support criminals in confine
ment than to permit them to go a
large. The good of the communit,
absolutely requires that crime shall b,
punished at any cost, but at the same
time common sense teaches that Grim i
nails ought to be made to earn THEN
living, if it be possible to do so. Th,
amendments propose to give the Stat,
the benefit of the labor of he criminals i
is obliged to feed and clothe. That i
all the change the amendments pro
pose to make in this matter. LIE
them be ratified.