The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-06-20

Are, Our Criminal Laws Effeotivei
Mn. EDIToR According to promise now
proceed to review certain laws now in force in
in this State: About two years ago our Legis-
ature passed an Act entitled, an Act to utilize
the convict labor of the State. The main pro.
vision of eaid law is, that the Board of Drec.
tors Of the State Penitentiary may lease or hire
the convicts to the highest responsible bidder.
suppose the Directors to be the sole judges of
who responsible. We also have Criminal
Laws in force in this State which declare that if
persons commit certain crimes therein mem
toned, they shall be punished by confinement
in the Penitentiary certain periods of time, va.
rying according to the enormi,y Of the offense,
and left generally to the discretion of the Judge
who passes the sentence. Now, it seems that
the law under consideration annu's, to O great
extent, the penalties annexed TO our criminal
laws, or so modiiies them rs TO render them in
effective So much is it the case that the Peni-
Tertiary has lost most of its terrors to the mall
efactor. 1t is n fact worthy of note that few
men ar too mean 10 have friends, and if those
friends happen to be adj Judged responsible by the
Directors, then the convict stands q fair chance
Of not being punished for his crimes, rendering
null md voiu our whole criminal code, far us
his case is concerned.
If the convicts are hired to those whose only
motive is to get the benefit Of their labor at
cheap price, the case is altered but little. A
great part Of the punishment is due to close
conference.-the being shut out as it were from
all intercourse with the world. Man is natural
ly social being and when you close behind him
the heavy prison doors and he hears their graf
Ing hinges speaking to him in doleful tones that
he is done with the outside world until he pays
the penalty due for the crime committed, then,
if he is not dead 10 all feelings of humanity, On
indescribaLle horror shakes his guilty frame
When evil doers fail TO have n wholesome dread
Of the strong arm Of the law, then an increase
of crime will he the nm N raj result
To prove that crime is on the increase we
need go no further than our long. tedious and
expensive criminal courts. Just think of il
Ii the little State Of South Carolina was divided
into two Judicial districts and two of our best
Judges were to commence holding Court on the
lst day of January and keep in session ccntinu.
ously until the last day of December they would
hardly be able TO clear the sessions Dockcts Of
the State. Besides, numerous minor causes are
decided in the Courts of over 2J0 Trial Justices.
These are startling facts. Many say all this in
crease of crime and litigation has been caused
by the war. II is true the effects Of the war
has done much to bring about this present state
of affairs. At the close Of the war n set Of
lying, dishonest, wicked men seized the reins
of government and enacted such laws rs suited
them to carry out their purposes of plunder and
oppression The tendency of these unjust laws
has heen to corrupt and demoralize the people.
But why. ask, have not these obnoxious laws
been repealed? The government is now con-
trolled by professedly honest men. And why
are not proper steps taken by our legislature
looking to the calling Of convention for the
purpose Of amending our constitution? Legis-
laturcs, like individuals, commence retrench-
ment at the wrong place. 1t is often the case
when men are ''hard up" they will refuse to
renew their subscriptions to their family paper,
but continue to spend, from $40 10 S25. year
for Tobacco and pr)bnbly more for Whisky.
If, for one dollar saved TO the State by the
hire Of convicts, three have 10 be paid out TO
Judges, Juiies, Sheriffs, Constables, &C., to
execute the laws, it is certainly poor retrench-
ment. 1t is observable that there is less ener-
gy and perseverance on the part of officers and
citizens to bring offenders to justice than form
erly. Men say 10 me often, II see no use of
putting ourselves TO much trouble to bring the
volators of law to justice If they are convicted
and sent to the Penitentiary probably they win
be out in few days" Now, If the law has the
least tendency to increase crime il should be re-
pealed. And now, Friend Stokes, IL your cor
respondent should have another attack Of that
old disease you call eaeoeihes scribendi, the
Homestead will receive his attention next.
few local items and close for the present.
Farmers have been busy during the past week
harvesting their wheat and oat crops. ,hiuk
an average crop has been produced in this por-
stroyed by rabbits this spring than usual, ew-
ing. suppose, to the scarcity Of dogs In this
section. Crops are suffering for..rain here. The
northern portion Of the Township has bad re-
freshing showers during the post week. Cotton
Is small but the plant looks healthy and is
growing, where properly worked corn is not
looking well, and must fail rapidly unless II gets
rain soon. r.e G. b. D.