Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-04

The New Yorh Tribune. in late edi-
torial article on 1.-The Southern convict
system" In axes some statements that are
wholly without foundation, and are cal
cula;ed to create the impression taat COL
ored people in the South, who are
charged with ofenses against the laws,
are not accorded fair treatment. The
Tribune says: when a negro is con-
victed Of some petty odense he is first
sentenced out Of all proportion to the
Otfense committed, and is then handed
over to a contractor, who works MIN with
a single eve to getting the most out OF
MIN, or he is sent to one of the county
convict farms and there subjected to the
same general maltreatment. In Georgia
and Arkansas this evil is apparently par
ticularly rank. In most southern states
the law, in dealing with colored citizens,
reyerses the maxim that man shall be
deemed innocent until proved guilty.
When negro is accused OF any petty
otfense he is delivered over to contractor
pending indictment and trial"
As matter Of fact, the sentences Of
negroes are not out of all proportion to
the ofenses committed. While it may be
true that it is more difficult to convict u
white man in some localities Of assaults
with intent 70 do bodily harm and TO COM
NIT murder than it is to convict negroes
Of the same Ofenses, it is not true that
courts impose heavier sentences upon
negroes tnan white convicts. There
is a very kindly feeling towards the
negroes all over the South, and negroes
VINO have any character At all for sobriety
aud industry have no difficulty whatever
IN getting white men OF influence to assist
them whenever they are called TO account
for violations of the law. The impression
which the Tribune endeavors to create,
that the white people feel sort of salts
faction in seeing the negroes sent to the
chain gang and the convict camps, is not
correct. At the South the feeling towards
the negroes is kinder than at the North.
1t is not true that negro offenders
against the laws are sent to the convict
camps before they are convIcted-that is,
it is not true so far as Georgia, Florida
and South Carolina are concerned, and
we do not believe it is true so far as the
other Southern States are concerned. 1t
would be so much better from every point
of view if the Tribune would get the
facts before making such broad charges
against the white people of the South. 1t
may be. however, that 1t doesn't want the
facts. If there is any State in the south
where a negro who is charged with an
offense Is held to be guilty until he proves
himself innocent, the Tribune ought to
give the name of it. 1t is perfectly safe
to say, however, that there is no such
State.
Tine leasing system is certainly open to
grave objections, and in some of the con-
Wet camps there are doubtless grave
abuses. 1t could hardly be otherwise
under the circumstances. In this State,
however, the authorities keep an eye on
the camps, and everything that it is pos
slble for the State to do Is done to insure
the convicts humane treatment. IL is
probable that the same thing is done in
other Southern States.
The leasing system is not popular in the
south, and the wisest and best men in the
Southern States are discussing the ques-
tion how to get rid OF it. At least three
fOurths of the cOnvicts are negroes, and
it is about impossible to employ them in
any other way than in the mines aud on
the railroads and farms. 1t would hard
ly do to keep them within tine penitentiary
in idleness, and besides, the taxpayers
would not be willing to bear the enor-
nous expense with which such a convict
policy would burden them. The oolored
people furnish nearly half the children to
be educated, and three-fourths of the
cOnvicts to be taken care Of, and
yet they contribute very little to the
revenues of the State. The white people
willingly assume the burden of educating
the colOred children, but they are
not willing and cannot afford to support
prisons full Of idle negroes.
The convict question is being earnestly
discussed in this State, aud it may be
that the next Legislature will discover
some way to take care OF the convIcts
that will be more satisfactory than the