The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-04-10
ALBANY ~PENITENTIARY.
The Modem BaStile to Which
Southern Political Prisoners
Are sent.
AN OUTSIDER +

Tor more than two years suffering the
torture Of the condemned, in that
Llvlng-Grave, = the Albany Peniten-
tiary. To do this with justice to my
sell. and to thousands of my fellow
sufferers, a. well as to my State AMI
Section, will necessitate a concise Re
vleWal OF the whole period OF mis-
nomered Reconstruction, portraving the
successive epocls OF Military and
freedmen Bureau rule; OF Thieye-
hing reyeImg; Of Kirk and Bergen
outraGes; and OF Grant, Chandler. and
Landaulet Williams conspiracy to In
tlmldate the Electoral vote OF the
South, by armed Jannizaries:-aII of
which requires much time and labor:
50 1t Is doubtful if | can arrange the
information already accumulated i mime
ior publication during the present year.
Meanwhile, to some of my friends
| there may be a measure of interest in
the following account OF the Albany
Prison written by a staff correspondent
OF Appletons journal. 1t will afford
a faint conception OF the dreadful dis
cipline and drudgery OF that Human
lIead-lmlil though the CORRESPONDENT
E"N oiiN tIIC u EiittSl SiIt. the most
favorable appearance, the c~leanest por-
to OF the prison; and he naturally
was ~prciudiced on the side OF the onlci-
ais, who are extremely courteous to
visitors, especially reporters
ALBANY STATE PRISON.
This institution has become lannon's.
1t has acquired a worldwide reputation
as a model prison. There are but one
or two others III the country that ap-
pToach 1t IN excellence.
Here you have the criminal incarcer-
ateu, reduced TO complete subsection,
hampered by ineXorable rules. and vet
converted into a profitable laborer. The
law SEXES the wrong-doer; he is brought
mther, Is given the regulation dress, is
taught the routine, and is placed at a
bench, where he is expected to recon-
pense the State for the trouble it has
taken in his case, and to earn it a reward
Tor having captured him.
There are a few prisons, and only a
few, that equal the Albany Penitentiary
IN either OF the particulars that have
made 1t noted. Its fame depends upon
the strict discipline OF It's inmates; the
rigorous supervision by its officers,
which causes punishment 10 follow
quickly upon the heels OF any misdeed,
however slight and upon the executive
and business talent OF its managers who
have made 1t produce, l~atterly, an am
nual profit OF twenty and some odd
thousands OF dollars by means OF labor
OF the conylcts for outside contractors.
The penltentlaiy is IN the western out
skirt OF Albany. 1t is situated upon an
elevation III the midst OF rolling grounds,
through which lead fine drives and
walks. In the summer the lawns are
rich and fragrant, and the lofty trees, OF
which there are many, throw grateful
shadows upon the verdant grounds, and
upon the stern walls Of the prison.
The prison IS a castellated structure,
built OF brick, and s~urmounted by bat
tlemented towers. Its front is well pro-
portioned and imposing. The prison
proper is in the rear. One enters at a
centre door in the facade. There is a
wide hall, on the right OF which are the
parlors ofthe superintendent, and on the
left the offices of the prison, together
with the guard-room. The guard-room
IS furnished with plain tables and chairs
ior the use OF those who come to visit
The institution, and upon its walls are
racks OF muskets and pistols, half-cock-
ed, and ready for use. This is the first
token that one is in any other than a
quiet and well-ordered country-house.
Ali is silent. There are no sounds of
loud voices OF loud laughing; In fact,
involuntarily lowers his tone, and
III an attitude Of humility, as If in
the near presence OF something dreadful
and forbidding.
On turning to look out Of the win
iows, one sees a broad yard.
In its centre Is a large graSs-plot, en-
unobstructed. Around its edge is
A broad smooth walk, perhaps eight
feet wide. Beyond the yard there are
workshops, two low stories in height,
and well lighted by numerous windows.
There are portions OF a high, brown wall
o be seen, with a foot-path and railing
lpon It's top. AS one steps into The
.ard, he hears the whir OF sewing-ma-
and Il general sound OF small
work, a hustle OF industry and activity.
3ut no one is to be seen, In all the
BROAD space hot a man appears; 1t is as
deserted as II Il plague had cleared 1t.
t Is clean 10 Il fault not Il stick, nor a
tone, nor Il bit OF waste, al be found
n it. 1t is rectangular, well swept, I'M
naculatc. 1t Is an index OF the supreme
,rder and policy Of the place.
But, by looking upward, both to the
light and the leit, there is to be seen On
hand, in a sort OF tower thirty
above the ground, q guard. Before
i'm, in plain sight, and resting cross
wise upon IA railing in front, IS a mus
,et. with It's glistening barrel. In a lit
le nassane-MaY betMcen this ra.llng and