Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-11
The system orLcasing Convicts.


! There is no doubt growing sentimen,
against the system of leasing convicts,
not only in this State but in every state
where the system exists. Within the last
/ few weeks the MORNING NEWS has
| called attention to some Of the objections
! to the system, and pointed out the almost
/ imperative necessity in this state OF over
coming these objections by adding a
reformatory feature to the system. The
system ought never 10 have been adopted,
and it ought 10 be abolished as soon as
practicable. During the time that the
leases have 10 run, however, the Governor
should exercise the greatest care in pre-
venting the abuses to which the system
exposes the cOnyicts, and the Legislature
ought to take steps at once to provide the
means OF reforming those OF the conYicts
who are susceptible of reformation.
The South Carolina authorities have
succeeded in getting at most of the facts
relative 10 the crueltes practiced at the
convict camp on the savannah Valley
railroad, the publication of some Of which
a few weeks ago created such a profound
sensation throughout the entire country.
In an editorial article the Charleston Ne,cs
and Courier says: The facts disclosed
in the reports are shocking in the eX-
Irene. Henry Porter was so cruelty
beaten by Jackson that his complete re-
coyery is doubtful. As evidence Of the
severity Of the whipping, it is stated that
the tissues have sloughed, leaving an
open sore Is inches long by 10 inches
wide. Frank Smiley, another convict,
was also severely whipped by Jackson,
and was sent back TO the hospital by Or.
Pope, the penitentiary physician. There
We're slight sears on the bodies Of several
of the other convicts, all of which were at
triDutable to whippings by Jackson. The
number Of conyicts on the Savannah
Valley Railroad at the time Of the inspec
ton was l03. or this number 96 were at
work. Sixteen of the c0nyicts died be-
tween Jan. 10 and June Is. Ten of the
number died between May . and June Is.
little more than a month. In this brief
period OF time nearly OHe-teRth Of the
1obole nun,ber Of ledSed CONFLICTS died. At
that rate everyone of the hundred con-
victs would have been set free, by death,
in less than year.
"Why was the mortality so terrible? IL
is stated distinctly that the deaths were
due to natural causes, and that there
were no indications of Il-treatment or
cruelty.
"Shackled, with insufficient food, and
working about eighteen hours a day, is it
surprising that one-tenth of the convcts
should have died in about six weeks, and
from natural causes?' II is too plain
that these poor people were brought into
so low a physical condition by excessive
labor, with the occasional accompaniment
of ill-treatment, that they succumhed at
once when attacked by maladles which
persons in good health would have sue
cessfully resisted. That, in our view, Is
the whole truth about IT,
ga fixed sum is required to be paid for
the convicts, and it is to the interest of
the lessees 70 get as much work as posi-
BILE out Of them, and to bring the cost of
feeding and guarding them to the lowest
practical point. There is, as we have
said, but one remedy, and that is 10 pro-
htbt absolutely the leasing Of CONFLICTS.
They who allow this horrible system, this
worse than Siberian system, to continue
will be responsible for every death that
occurs"
The treatment to which the South Car
DINA convicts at the Savannah Valley
railway camp were subjected was not
much more cruel, perhaps, than that to
which convicts in other camps in States
where the lease system prevails are sub
jected. The story which the NetcS and
Courier tells is dreadful one, and ought
to arouse a feeling Of hostility against a
system which makes possible a condition
of affairs that is disgrace to civilization,
but it is probable it would not be difficult
to find its parallel in more than one State.
Let Georgia do what she can to remove
the worst features of the system at once
and prepare, during the period the leases
have to run, for the adoption of a more
humane system.