Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1888-01-07
u THEPENITENTIARY.
What Shall be Done With ItP

What Shall be Done With TIP
One of the most important questions
TO be settled by the Legisla ture is the
properestablishmeTt Of thePenitentiary.
In an evil hour, 10 Mississippi the
leasing system was adopted. From that
} DAY to this the State has been plagued
by this abandonment of duty.
The developments ofthe last few years
have fully convinced every one of the
essential evil of the system. The pres
ent lessees admit the evil aud will ten
der the convicts to the State. The way
is fully open now for the State to take
up the long neglected duty Of furnishing
her own criminals, and while punish
ing them taking a care for their lives,
morals, etc.
It is unqupstionable that tie lease
ought to be summary abrogated, and
for these reasons:
1st. Because 1t is wrong in princi-
pie. it being the duty of the State to
punish and protect her wards, and this
can never bo done der the lease sys.
TEN.
81. Because the lease system ruts
the cupidity of one set Of men against
the humanity Of other men and always
leads to cruelty.
Sd. Because Invariably the lease
system gathers about it a set ofinter
estcd men who form a political ring
which corrupts politiessas.s sg-.-.
eEs Is NOS ne 4Borate
these painls hsE lave all beeh snon
strated ii the recent pastin this State.
as 10 other States, and there is some
thing like unanimity Of sentiment
among the good people Of the State on
the matter.
No wise legislator will hesitate on the
grt und that the State. is not able to
take up this duty. Mississippi is
able to discharge plain duty in the in
tersst OF law, humanity and her own
peace, honor and purity. The slgges- !
tions of the Board OF Control aud Of |
President Hardy are valuable aids to
to the solution Of the problem, which is
by no means as difficult dissolution as
many suppose. We submit that this
question should be considered as any
other from the standpoint Of duty and
according 10 stlle aissates esln I
mon sense
One Of the plainest dnt.es Of the Leg
islature is to change what is called the
pig Law, so as t. relieve the Peniten
tiary ol food Of criminals who are
punished beyond the grade Of their
crime.
After this, as Amattcr Of common sense,
the State should provide for the proper
employment of her convicts. To do
this IS, Of course. to solve the problem.
The present Peditentiary buildings were
devised for white criminals and there are
not many Of them compared TO the great
mass OF c0nvicts now on han i. The
existing Penitentiary is entirely insult
ed to our present needs and should be
sold and a Lew one bought,
A Pcnitentiary ought never to be
located 10 city. It's influence is bad
en- the city, and the city, influence on it
is evil. TheL in case Of an epedemic
il becomesdangerous as we'll as expen
siye.
The present property should be sold
and part OF the money used in pur-
chase Of a suitabIa tract 0 land rightly
located, upon which modern y rison
should be built, attention being given
t. sanitation, the separation Of its pris-
oners With reference to sex, age, grade
OF crime, etc. Every question of health
and morals should be considered be Zero
q brick is laid.
And not only these, but referance
should be had to lines of work suited to !
the class Of convicts peculiar to Missis-
,ippi. Most ofthe labor is ignorant aud j
lnskilled and must, therefore, have plain
work. There could be tannery.
hoe anl harness shop, blacksmith
Ihop, wagon factory and a cotton manu- t
factory to manufacture plain cloth, etc.
Then, Of course, there would be farm
upon which any number Of hands could
be employed.
To make ready for the proper hand {
ling ofour convicts as aforesaid will cost /
and it is that which terror
ICES the ordinary Legislator. We in !
sist. first Of all, thet great State cannot
hes tate in the discharge ofso palpable
and urgent duty on account of cost.
Government exists for the purpose of
protecting life and property, BY uphold
inc morals and Furnishing crime. The
State must not become a criminal nor
the patron Of crime for money, to
maize or to save it,
But. the difficulty is easily overcome.
After paying for the land, the remain
der Of the money realized from the sale
% ~ old buiIdings and site