The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-11-21
For the Times.


tarily surrendered to the Sheriff.
For the Times.
Convict Labor"
MIR. EDITOR We mean by "convct labor
the working Of Penitcntiary Convicts promiscu-
ously over the Country, as has been the case for
some time past. Certain crimes arc, according
TO law, punishable by close confinement, at hard
labor in the Pcnitentiary; but our Legislature,
in its wisdom, passed an Act permitting the
board or directors 10 hire sut-convicts fer cer-
tain purposes, but expressly forbade hiring them
.out forsAgricultural purposes.
think the act permitting the hiring cut of
convicts ct all excepted those convcts who were
being punished for the Crimes Of murder, man
slaughter, Grape, arson, burglary &C., yet it
seems that no regard has been paid to this ex
ccption, aed convcts undergoing punishm,n mt
for grimes Of the deepest Gye" have been hired
out. On this point furthar comment is unne-
cessary. :" ..naf .,.ES
l would lNOneSr some man, weh versed in
consistency Nhat precious and rare jcwel-to
explain or answer few common sense ques'
| tons:
1s,. wherein.is the rrepricy of the common
| wealth Of South Carolina and the counties com.
| prisng said common wealth being taxed from
| one hundred to one hundred and fifty thousand
| dollars per annum, to try criminals, if such
criminals, when tried convicted and sentenced,
are to be turned loose upon the publicP say
turned loose from the fact that it is a very COM
mon occurrence for such as are hired out TO
make their escape.
ID Why further tax the whole State TO build
officer and equip Peni,entiary, if convicts are
to be indiscriminately hired out? Why not al
ter the law, so rs to dispense with the Peniten
tary and its expenses generally, and Jail the
convcts until certain seasons of the year, and
at stated times have general Jail delivery to
the highest bidder, due notice being given
through the press in each County?
The whipping post would do more to dete
certain offenders, white or black, than does th
Penitentiary under the present sy.tem. Ther
is but little indictment for law-abiding citizens
TO pursue criminal offenders to conviction fo
their offences, at the expense of the tax payers
with the sure prospect ef having the convict:
sent back to their old haunts Of wickedness, I,
the terror Of the people. Allow me to make
few suggestions before Closing this artcle
lst. Change the present management Of con
victs, by working them inside the Penilentiary
or a. least OH public works.
I'd. Re.establish the whipping post for certain
offences committed by white or black, and there
by save expense or
. 81. Wipe the criminal Code from the statut
books and stop the mockery, and thereby saw
expense. ONE OF MANY.
PROSPERITY AMONG CoLORED PEorLE.-Som
time ago seven colorcd men, namely, Morri
Stroud, Bob Cordes, Thomas Walker Fay Coher
Shed Mitchell, VIM Ramsey and Reuben Hal
: rison, purchased place known as Spring Vale
from the Rev. T. w. Irwin. On the first of las
December they owed nearly three thousand dol
lars, Of which two tho,sand and twenty-fy
dollars, Including interest, were payable on ib
l lst of December next, and the balance one yea
thereafter. They have already paid fftce
hundred and ninctytwo dollars this fall IN
, expect TO pay the other four hundred by Decem
ber, exclusive Of payments for supplies ad
vanced, &c. This circumstance is worthy OF re
cord as showing the progress of the colored rac'
, and as efrcclualy dispelling Radical stories Q
!, shotgun oppression in the South Vinnsborc
Ners and Herald.
We are pleased to add to the above the fa'
that number Of good colored men in Unio
County are doing equally as we'll; and the
command as much confidence and respect 0
: most men in the County. In few weeks W
: shall be able TO give the names of these prosper
ing colored men.