Huntsville gazette., 1881-09-03
Our Convict System.
Jacksonville Republican.

Jacksonville Republican:
Some papers ia this State q few
weeks back went off half cooked on
the supposed suppression" of the
Report of the Legislative Commit
the appointed to investigate the
treatment of convicts in this State.
We happened to be a member of
that committee, and remembered
that SO far from suppressing the
Report, the Committee had five
hundred copies Of it printed togeth-
er with the testimony taken by the
Committee on that subject. We
sent copies of the Report and
Of it printed together with the testi-
meny to some of our erring brether-
en-. Some have had the manliness
to acknowledge error, others have
not; but we opine the Committee
will survive the "denial of justice. .
We shall publish this testimony some
day in order to give our readers an
idea of how convicts are treated in
this State ut the coal mines and iron
works to which they are sent. It is
safe to say that, bad as things appear
from the testimony taken, not half
the truth in regard to the treatment
of these unfortunate people is dis
closed. The Committee were great
ly hampered. Interested parties at
the mines put the best face on affairs
of course. The testimony of the
convicts could not be taken, and
they stated they were afraid to dis
close Things against the 'bosses"
even to furnish clue by which the
Committee might arrive at the truth.
Parties living near the mines and
not in the employ of the companies
were interested generally in keeping
on good term with them, and there
fore avoid giving in testamony
against them. The Committee
were ont during the intense cold
weather Of last winter and it was
with great difficulty they could get
from point to point, and this preven-
ted that thorough investigation they
desired to give the subject Not
withstanding the cold and sleet and
rain, however, the Committee, at the
risk of health and life, explored the
mines and suffered exposure to reach
true knowledge of the condition Of
the convicts. They did the very
best they could under the circum-
stances and developed enough to
show that our present. convict system
is a blot upon the civilization Of this
century aud shame upon the State
of Alabama. The Committee more
ovec tried to procure legislation
looking to the correction of absuse
in our convict system, but failed on
account of the shortness of time al
lowed after the Report was made
and other causes not necessary here
to mention. We hope they will keep
up tue agitation between now and
the next meeting of the Legislature.
50 that body will take decided steps
in the matter. Humanity demands
legislation on this subject Chris
tianity demands it. The State will
never prosper as long as the infamaus
system prevails in her borders. Ii
the State had deliberately set about
in all her wisdom, to have devised a
manufactnry of criminals she could
not better have succeeded than III
the usage which now prevails of in
carcerting together, chaining togeth-
err, working together and subjecting
to Le same discipline the misdemt n
or and felon classes. 1t is rep ig-
nant to the idea that the State cor
reefs to reform. God will not look
with favor upon the enforced associ-
alton of the boy guilty of some
thoughtless misdemeanor with the
hardened criminal of the worst class.
Money got for the service Of men
under such conditions is the price Of
human souls, and receives it. We
are sorry that Calhoun county, chris
tianized, enlightened G ,lhoun, coun-
ty, will hencsforth send her county
convicts to the public works. rather
than hire them to humane men
within the borders of the county.