Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-02-27


peace, the result would be an immense
saving to the State.
With reference to crimes OF higher
grade, the judges of our courts exeT-
cisiDg criminal jurisdiction might be
authorized, upon being notified by the
sheriff of any county that an illeged
criminal was in eust ,dy. promptly to
convene bis court to try the cause
and if justice required, he might ad
iourn from time TO time, so as t. secure
q fair trial at the earliest day prsctica-
BILE. Besides saving a heavy expense
to The sta'eineideDt to the unfavorabie
delay under our present system, the
practice suggest would, by giving TO
the public assurance of speedy trials
of persons charged with offenses res
sultipg certainly in the acauitsai of the
Innocent and tue punishment of the
guilty, efecually remove the tempta-
ton TO mob violence, which, too often
provoked by the laws delay" breaks
forth With ungovernable fury, to the
shame Of our civilization.
SUPREME COURT.
The 18th section of our bill Of righ hts
declares that all courts shall be open.
and every man, for an Injury done
him in his lands. goOds, person orrep
utation, shall have remedy by due
course of law. and right and justice
administered withou! sale, denial or
delay" This solemn deciarat on adj
dresses it elf to you with great emphs-
sis. 1 respectfully but earnestly sub
NIT to you that the present over
crowded It ate of the dockets of Our
supreme court amount; 10 a practical
negation Of this declaration. Causes
remain upon the GOckets for years be.
fore they eau be heard or disposed of,
often to the very great injury of liti-
gaDts.
rhis delay operates ipj uriously and
frequently ur justly in more ways than
one. Not only are liiigauts denied
their rights for long years while waits
ing for their aoj udic alton, but The con
fidence Of our people in aud respect
for cur judiciary Is pondiRgiy
weakened. do most earnestly desire
that you in your wisdom may inaueu-
rats some method by which these evils
may be remedied. ant justice no longer
tardily administered.
PENITENTIARY.
The condition of our STATE Irison is
earnestly pressed upon youT attention.
Tba. institution, as 1t now exlss, is no
credit 70 our STATE. 1t is over-crOwded,
| insecure, and in every way inadequate
or the purpose for which lt is
designed. It is situated in the
heart of pOpu!ous city. and from
It. defective construction and appoint
ments, is liable al any t me TO become
radiating center from which pesti-
lence and death may spread to the sur
rounding population.
Consld =ratlous Of interest and the
voice of Humanity alike demand of
you prompt legislation upon this sub
ject. For more satisfactory state
ment of it. condition. refer you TO
| tae reports Of tue officers in charge
and especially to the reportof the com
nittee OF 1.-the State board OF public
health on prisons and public charities u
From these you will see the urgent
necessity for prompt legislation in Ghe
| premises. The term of the present
lease will expire on the - day OF
--, 1888. In my opinion q new
site should, be selected at some accessi
bic and suitable point away from any
great center of population, and the
erection of new prlsop commenced 81
once, in accordaDce with t6o more ion:
proved system Of prison construction o
the present day, and pushed to compile
ton by the expiration of the term o
the present lease. So soon as the pres
ent building can be vacated 1t shCuiC
be sold.
Should you not determine to build q
, new prison, it Will then become neces
, sgry I'd provide by appropriation TO
j such repairs as are OF Immediate ne
: cessity, and in this connection I deem
: it but just to myself to say That tn
? present sanitary condition of the pen
itsulisry may furnish a reason for {
{ more liberal use of the pardoniD!
? power by the executive than w0Ult
: otherwise be deemed advisable. e.
1t is mantfestly urjas for the State
, by the use Of its convict labor, to eute
7 into competition with it, honest la
I borers in those industrial pursuits u POI
/ which they are dependent for sub
' sistence for Themselves and their fam
3 iiies.
= II is also indisputable that the EN-
t ploymen Of convict labor ia tn
q ordinary industrial vocations Of tn
: laboring classes OF our people. tend
= largely TO degrade laoor in the eyes
e the world.
q No policy can be more unwise i
q my opinion than that which is caIct
II lated to render labor disreputabl
The honest toiler on the farm, or
e the shop of the humblest srtza,
II should feel that in all tbs essenti
s. charac.erist ties of true manhood, he
= the peer of the proude>t citizen in a
= land. Any policy which is calculate
q to place stigma upon labor. even
g of the humbiest character, Is both VI
II wise and unjust.
AS no material change can be effec
u ed in the direction of convict lab,
= until after the expiration Of the pre-.
:. ent lease, / suggest to you the organ
IL cation of commission, composed
lr practical men of intelligence, chose
ii from the various pursuits in life, who
e duty shall be to take this whole SUI
,e ject of convict labor and punishmeI
: into consideration, with the view
devisiug some plan to remedy q
many evils complained of under Of
present system. their conclusions
~ be reported at the meeting of the ne
~ general assembly.
1r REFORMAToRY SCHOOL.
il There are, as I learn, N w confin,
ne in our pen!t4Ltiary number of yout
=. of tender years, who have been col
+, victed OF crimes by oar circuit al
| criminal courts. Sich depravity
a the mOrDing o. lie is usually the I
ut suit of evil associations, ,upled wi
the want Of IL oral, parental trainin
| respectfully suggest that the inca
Id csration OF such youths within Il
ma walls of prison. in daily associst''
n with, and uader the constant ind
ar encs OF, men hardened in crimes,