The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-08

labor Of the convicts at from 40 cents
per day. and upwards. At Albany, we
believe, the government pays only
$50 per week for each prisoner ;
board but an the Federal cOnvicts are
nearly all sent for long terms their
labor is very valuable. the green"
hand requiring several months 10 learn
the trade. This writer worked eigh-
teen months as a shOe-trimmer. and
ONLY learned how to do his task Zone
hundred and twenty shoes a day during
the last month or 50. At first it re-
auired half IA day TO finish II mum
Der two" ladies gaiter. and he gene
rally cut several air-hOles in each before
be finished.
As q commentary upon the foregoing
it may he mentioned that. in 1877. Al
bany Penitentiary ran in debt 50, 900
and upwards: in 1867 it ''cleared.'
above all expenses, S2l.364. In 1872
it's clear profit was S21, 929; and every
year since. the increase has amounted
to one or more thousands above the
previous year.
Why should North Carolina los Eer
share Of these profits
III.
Ii was not, however, from this point
Of view that Senator Vance drew his
bill. He advocates the measure from
the side of humanity and Christian
feeling, as we'll as a proper regard for
the lives, the health, the families, and
the future of our Southern fellow citl-
Zens, who. however erring, (and scores
of them are only technical offenders
against partisan and unconstitutional
bills" or devious and irritating Rev
cnue rcgulations), are entitled to be
treated with reasonable care and COM
fort.
The idea upon which the Governor
no doubt acts is that, for Southern
men, a sentence in the Federal courts
is equivalent to DOUBLE PUNISH
MENT. The prisoner from Carolina
who serves a term in Albany Peniten-
tiary does not merely undergo the years
of solitary confinement, the i%ron-toOth
ed discipline, the unceasing sense of
ignominy, land the stoutest soul cam
not at all times rise superior TO his sur
roundings, no matter how he came
there) and unremitting daily drudgery,
but he has also TO bear the sudden.
change to an Arctic climate, the total
isolation from home, family, and
friends. besides many minor rigors not
to be mentioned here. The combined
effect Of these ''side issues" as it were,
Of his imprisonment is greater than
most men can bear.
Let the reader bear in mind that
Albany is from Raleigh about six hun
dred miles due North !; being $50
miles directly North from New York
a change of six degrees in latitude.
and many more in temperature. From
Alabama to Albany is a change Of fully
ten degrees j: amount ing in April or
November to the difference between a
wintry wild and a 1owery parterre.
Unfortunately, we ourself know the
results of this sudden change OF climate.
and of life, by many personal sufferings
whose stamp canno be effaced this side
of the Great Scroll. We do not care to
parade our own losses in voice, health,
and otherwise but We may speak of
our fellow prisoners. And for example,
VIM. Teal, one of the eight prisoners
sentenced by Jeffreys Bond, in 1871,
died in about twelve months Of a
wasting disea e evidently resulting
from his imprisonment. The party Of
eight men, from Raleigh, reached AL
bany, in handouts, early on the morn
ing of October, 18th, 1871. The date is
mentioned, because even so early in
the fall the climate at ALBANY was
chill as a January day at Raleigh'
Shivering and wet from IA drizzlIng
rain, the party were marched into the
massive stone hall, and after having
been shorn of hair and beard. were
stripped and turned into a cold bath.
The party had been instructed to take
nothing from Raleigh except what
they wore on their person, so that they
were without extra undertaking to
put on when deprived Of their citizens
suit. The consequence was a fit of
ague for several of the party, including
Teal. and this writer. Teal did not
ike to return and report his feelings.
Nor either did Hezekiah Porter, anoth-
er North Caroline. Nor Mr. Stampers.
an old man from Ashe County. Nor J..
ID. Young, of Youngsvilie. Ala.-a man
whose case is worthy relation. He had,
together with a party of eight or ten
.nelghbo-s, III broad Gay, either whipped
or threatened to whip, an insoleLt
.arkey, suspected of having stolen a
roll of leather. The negro finally con
and showed where the stolen
property was hidden. The affair was
forgotten for six months, until Bond
to manufacture political capita!
lnder pretence If enforcing the uncon-
stltutional kukluX law. DIRTY Dick"
the deposed Federal Judge of
Alabama, felt that he must not allow
Bond to have all the glory. "Landau-
et' Williams had flooded the South
spies, pretending to be toDacco