Sharp County record., 1888-05-03
REMEMBER THEM THAT ARE
IN BONDS.

I am just from Coal Hill where there
has been another CHASTITY lind in the
convict camp. A man so decayed,
that it was difficult to tell whether
he was killed by having his throat
cut or by being shot in the neck or
perhaps both. lie was shackled and
it is so improbable that they would
have been put on after death, that one
is forced to the conclusion that in a
cowardly way the poor man was
murdered while in irons and to escape
detection his body was hurrIedly
thrown into the sump Of the coal
mine where it has just been fouud.
When | came on this circuit | at
once visited the place and found them
entirely unsuppIied with the means
Of grace, the Legislature having de-
clined to make any appropriation for
chaplain. So | brought their case
before the local preacher and the
Young men here who can sing and
for the honor OF religion, be it said,
that they promptly responded. And
every Sunday morning since Con-
ference a detail of from two to four
have gone there with directions to
try that day and preach and sing
their very best. and if possible be
sunbeam a very angle Of light shin
ing into q dark place.. This has at
least secured for the convicts the
Sabbath as a day Of rest which it is
currently reported they did not ais
ways get before. And we believe
the Lord has thereby refreshed the
spirits of many in prison, for there
were some melting seasons under the
preaching Of the word.
1t was a bare accident that these
horrible crueItieS were mearthed.
The coroner went in to examine the
case of a man whipped to death, he
having received four hundred lashes,
and other abuses c-mo to light by
the dozens. From an acquaintance
as close as an outsider usually has
with the lessee system, | have long
believed that under it sucn cruelties
were not mfrequent, particularly
where the conyicts were worked out
side the walls. Some eight years ago
when the time came for the renewal
of the present lease, I was so I'M
pressed with the inherent yiciousness
of the system that l had petition
signed warning the Legislature Of It's
evil and asking that it be not renew
ed. 1t was presented by Judge Dun
can, who was then in the senate, and
made q speech in its favor; but the
majority of the members were hope
iesSlv addicted to a picayunlsh
policy and the decision Of the guess
ton turned on whether the legisla-
ture would have sufficient public
spirit to vote the money needed to
purchase machinery 50 that their
mode of employment could be
changed. When the appropriation
was refused, it necessitated the re-
newal Of the lease and working them
outside the walls and this chapter Of
horrors is one Of the results. And
if one single investigation reveals 50
many abuses, does anybody doubt
but there were others in the past that
have not come to light and probably
never will?
An effort is now being made to
saddle the blame on Gov. Hughes,
but the cause lies deeper in the obi
GUS laws that ought never to have
gone on the statute book. And yet
Mr.. II. q. Alis in recent number
of the Gazette, eNtoIs their wisdom
and says the present laws are ample.
They are; but it's to produce revolt
inc cruclues and horrors, that are q
blot on the civilization Of the ag..
1t Is a sound principle Of Legislation,
that the tendency Of a law and its
liability to abuse ought always to be