The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-05-13
The Convict Problem.
Galveston News.

The convict problem in Texas is engaging
the anxious consideration of our most
thoughtful public men. When il is con-
sidered that thousands of ex-conyicts and
escaped convicts are at large intestng society
and that whenever an efficient penitentiary
system is adopted the lease system must be
abandoned and the cost of keeping about
four thousand convicts must be added TO the
annual expense, we have the principal fea-
lures of this important problem. What is
10 be done to protect society against dis
charged and escaped felons, increasing at the
rate of five hundred annually? In another
term of two years the increase will amount
to nearly one thousand annually. II is not
pretended that one in Il hundred of discharged
convicts reforms, and of those who do, not
one in hundred is able to live up to their
good resolutions. They soon find themselves
unable to outlive their misfortunes. The
penitential pretensions Of the system deceive
no one, not even the convicts. They scott at
referm. We have thousands of convicts
discharged In Texas; also escaped or dis
charged convicts from other States. Gov
ernor Roberts and many others have said, or
are reported to have said, in reference to the
extradtion of accused persons seeking refuge
in other States, and who have not been
charged with serious wrong, "let them stay
where they are" The Governor OF North
Carolina, when notified that an indicted party
from his State was in Texas, and could be
had If wanted, replied, she is not wanted"
These are indications of the tendency Of
thought. Trying criminals and supporting
them after convictions cost the States fabu-
lous sums OF money. Now and then there
! may be an exception, where State converts
penitentiary into workshop on direct
State account, of where the convicts are
leased out to contractors. In the latter case
convict labor is apt to become dangerous
and disgraceful process for numbering the
weak, and setting the bold and hardy free.
1t IL probable, then, that q strong impulse
towards radical change in the penal
system, applied 10 convic,s sentenced to
less than capital punishment, will be found
foreshadowcd in the indicated expressions of
Texas ard North Carolina Governors and
politicians. The only radical change in
keeping with the idea implied In these ex-
pressions is to establish penal colonies, and
this proposition has recently been suggested,
and even advocated by gentlemen who, from
official position, are possessed of an intimate
knowledge of the defects and dangers of the
existing system. Alaska is suggested as
proper place. Texas, should the coloniza-
lion scheme DO adopted, could very well af-
ford to barter large portion of her unset
tied territory for a sufficient tract of land in
Alaska to answer the purpose Of penal col
ony. Mr. Seward, some affect to believe, in
tended by the purchase of Alaska to provide
new Siberia for the especial use of the ma
ton in dealing with copperheads and Con-
federstes. If such scheme was really en-
tertained, Il was not abandoned because os|
lacking elements OF abstract possibility, and
itwould be very marked triumph for South
ern statesmen If they should be the first to
put into successful execution penal colony
expedent conceived at the outset for the
Wholesale deportation of Southern people.