The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-02-11
THE CLARION.
- a
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY = IL, 1850
To Lease or Not To Lease, That Is
the Question.


EDITORS CLARIoN-Much has been said
pro and con lately, both in the press and
elsewhere, in regard TO the question IN
volved in the foregoing caption, and, as it is
matter of great public interest, desire to
submit a few remarks to the consideration
of the body whose duty it is to review the
whole matter in controversy, and decide it
in the interest of justice and of the State of
Mississippi
1t is conceded that a great deal can be
said on either side of this question that is a
theme fruitful of suggestion and Astounding
in pegs on which to hang an argument.
1t Is generally admitted thai under the
administration of Col. Hamilton the affairs
of the institution known as the Penitentiary
were never better conducted or more admir-
ably systematized.
Certainly under no former administration
of that institution has it been conducted
with ANYTHING like the skill, and managed
with such general satisfaction, as it has
been since Col. Hamilton became its lessee,
this occurring on the 10Th of June, 1876.
He has been equal to every duty, and
faithful TO every trust, and the State has
been, in the opinion of the writer, greatly
the gamer thereby
In DAYS agone. we find Gov Brown COM
planning that the success Of the penltenti-
AIRY has not equaled the general expecta-
ton. On examining the balance sheet for
the year 1916, the year before his message
to the Legislature was delivered, we find
that it exhibited Il loss Of nearly nire
thousand dollars in round numbers. And
things proceeded 10 90 from bad to
worse till 1888, when Governor Nc
Willie, in his message to the Legislature,
evinced such a disheartened spirit at the
ill-turn Of affairs that he exclaimed almost
patheticaIly that the Penitentiary was very
expensive to the State, and, in his opinion,
the State had already incurred sufficient ex-
pense for the benefit Of thieves and other
outlaws who iniest that institution.
Mr.. Hardin, Superintendent at the time
made the fact known in his report that the
amount drawn III excess Of the amount paid
into the Treasury ran up to $24, $50 25-
showing that SO far from the institution
being self-sustaining, as it has been under
the present management, it was a very
horse-leech's daughter, crying give, give"
and was never satisfied. And so on for the
most part, to the end of the sad chapter.
When the honorable body which has this
matter in hand consider the facts stated
and they are incontrovertible, if figures
don't lie, and it is said they
do not, and take cognzance of
the further fact that when Hamilton & Co.
took charge of the penitentiary the priso-
ners were literally beggared of everything
that could conduce to their comfOrt-that
the institution itself was the very allegory
of want and n-productiveness. And of the
further fact that they commenced operations
with a law suit, i'll which repleyins, injunc-
tions, and iniunctiOns mandatory, figured
most conspicuously, giving the lawyers am
pie ''scope and verge enough" to display
their legal acumen, and their powers to
make the worse appear the better reason, at
n cost to the lessees in the way of a compro-
mise-lawyers fees and court costs includ-
ed about six thousand three hundred dol
lars. And of the additional fact that by
compromise with Col. Richardson, I65 of
the best hands of the prison, which should
have come into their possession without in
curing to them dollar of expense under
the lease and law''-should hasten slow
w." as the Spanish proverb runs before
doing anything injudicious in relation to tho
institution in question. The present Leg
islature is composed of rs good material as
we all conceive, As ever assembled at jack
son to make our laws, and further all the
varied interests of the State, and that they
will act with due deliberation and caution
in the matter IN controversy none will for a
uGSlloI- u uuOuDleulN LI1cY Will
act upon the maxim, Let justice be done
though the heavens fall"
As to the criticism of a portion of the
press of the State, and the criticism is by no
means general or popular with those who
have taken the pains to inform themselves
of the matter which they write about with
such flowing pens, regarding escapes, deaths,
c.,-there is but little in it.
When touched by the Ithurel spear of
@r,,tb ba toad of i-
made to assume its real form and
dreadful image reveals itself
in all of its horrid proportions.
The truth Is, and it can be substantiated
by the prison record, that fewer prisoners
have died, and fewer have effected their en-
largement without saying, 'by your leave,
sirs,' taken the number into consideration
than at any time in the whole history of
our Penitentiary system: One solid fact is
worth a thousand fne-spun theories 1t
may do for men who rely upon their MEM
DRY for their wit, and their imagination for
their facts, as Sheridan said of noted wit
of his day, to talk as they do, but not for
those who desire to advance the cause of
truth, and who would not set down aught
in malice against a fellow-man.
The leasing system is the best that has
yet been devised by the State; it brings
more money into the Treasury; it enables
our fields to mimic the snow of the North,
and speed the enterprises which we all have
so much at heart. aud while doing all this
the State, instead of being run to dollars
expense, will receive from the present lease
over $4,000.
This is matter to be considered.
AS Col. Hamilton says in his admirable
report to the Legislature: eve have carried
on the Penitentiary without cost to the
State; have paid all expenses and with
general approval and satisfaction of all with
whom we had to do.
eve are in Il position to be of great
service to the best interests of the State, re-
lieving her of expense and finishing some
works of internal improvements and some
public works, while she will annually be
building, improving and enlarging her
Penitentiary without adding to the burden
of taxation"
When the Penitentiary was leased the
object of it was that it should be a selfsus-
tanning institution and not an incubus upon
the State and the taxpayers thereof and
this has been done beyond peradventure
under the wise, skillful and able administra-
ton of its affairs by Jones 5. Hamilton &
Goa fact which none can gainsay.