The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-04-08
SUPPLEMENT- TO TIE ANDERSON INTELLIGENCER.

SUPPLEMEN
fciency of room in the buildir
the prisoners were crowded into clo'
quarters and their health enda1
gered thereby. For the purpose
relieving the State in some degrf
of this expense and to secure bette
health and management Of the col
victs I introduced the fcllowin
resolution, [Senate Journal, 1075-7t
page 475]: .. :,
"Whereas the financial condition Of the Stat
ofsouth Carolina renders It im9eTadvU % ', a
lowest practicable amount; and whereas u
State Penitentiary is q grievous burden, and n
adequate provision can be made for its propt
support and maintenance. the present populf
tion of the same only being considered, unless
Gun be made to derive fair revenue from tn
| labor of the prisoners; and whereas it is plal
that, Mt the rate of increase OF Its popu!auo
obtaining during the past six months. fiVe Q
even six hundred prisoners may have TO D
provided for during the present fiscal year, an
that even more moderate rate OF lncreas
would in few years become very burdensom
| and oppressive; and whereas the. cxpericnc
of other States has led almost universally I
the policy Of contracting for the support
State prisons with private parties as the mos
satisfactory and economical provision TO- ID
same: therefore,
REPRESENTATIVES, concurring, That the Direc
tors of the State Penitentiary, by and with tn
consent Of the Governor, be directed to ascer eel
tain whether any contract can pc maqe VIII
any responsible party or parties Tor the Teasing
of the convict labor and the maintenance
the said Penitentiary on terms Just and adYan
in their discretion the said Directors Of the
State Pententiary and the Governor are here
by authorized to draw and execute such con,
tract and submit. the same to tho General
Assembly for ratification" -,
This resolution was adopted, but
failed to accomplish the object for
which it was intended. The mum.
ber of convicts continued to increase
in a distressing ratio, and their proper
treatment and government, in a
manner consistent with the laws Of
humanity, and at the same time to
save the people of the State from
unnecessary expense in their sup
port, became a question second to
none in Importance in the economy
of State government. After much
reflection, and obtaining all the in
formation within my means, I pre-.
sented to the Senate "A Bill to util-
ize the convict labor of the State
and to let out the same by contract. !"
[Senate Journal, session 1876, page
1921 The Bill finally received the
necessary readings, became an Act,
and was approved by Governor
Hampton, June 8, 1877. The Act
provided under certain circum.
stances for the completion of the
Penitentiary, and authorized the Di.
rectors to take immediate charge of
the inmates, property, &c. But in
order that you may more fully un-
derstand the object, scope and In
tention of this Act, and to prove
that the subsequent alleged ill-treat-
ment of convicts is not because it
was not forbidden, or through the
fault of the law, I submit several
Sections of this Act:
SEC. 4. That the said Board Of Directors are
1, ah,,o kbor md pnwarnn t0 lnagh
hire out, upon such terms and conditions as
they may think most advantageous to the
State, and that will secure the health and con-
fnement of the prisoners, any or all other
convicts in the Penitentiary. except the con-
victs under sentence for murder. rape, arson
regulations and restrictions. with all others
imposed by the said Board; that the said Board
of Directors shall make an annual report to
tho General Assembly at the regular sessions
of all their actingS and doings, showing the
number and names of conyicts hired out, to
whom hired. for what purpose and for what
money are received for the labor or hire Of
said convicts. or any of them, the same shall
be paid to the Treasurer of the State. OF which
full account shall be given in said annual
report: First. all conviots shall be safely Kept
within tho State and humnnely treated. the
food. clothing. lodging anG modes of punish;
ment to be carefully provided for in any and
ali contracts; second, convicts shall not be re-
uuired to labor moro than ten hours day, or
on Sundays or holidays: Provided. That con,
victs shall not be hired out for agricultural
purposes. M, ~, ...o..,. =. ~ o,.roo,,rs
shall be required to enter into bond IN the
sum of fifty thousand dollars, with good and
sufficient sureties, to be approved by the
Board, for the faithful performance Of said
contract; and any contractor or contractors
who shall be guilty of maltreatrnent,. neglect
or cruelty towards said oonvicts shal! be liable
to indictment, and on conviction shall be pm
ished by Imprisonment for term not .
than twelve months nor loss than one month,
and by fine not more than one thousand dol
lars and not less than fifty dollars, ut the dis
cretion Of the Court"
It is evident that if the law had
been complied with no trouble could
have arisen; the convicts would
have been more humanely treated,
their health and condition improved,
and the State relieved in a great
degree of the burden of supporting
them. Much has been accomplished
in relieving the State and in having
the aid of this labor in constructing
railroads, drainage of lands and
other public enterprises intended fol
the development Of the manufactur
ing, agricultural and mineral re
sources of our State; but it is with
deep regret. that ! am compelled te
believe that in some instances tht
convicts have been inhumanly treat
ed. The subject is one of grave
Importance, and 1 can only hope
that future Legislatures, warned BY
the fearful experience of the past
will devise and maintain such a plar
of government of the institution al
will make it a place Of punishment
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