The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-25
THE PENITENTIARY.


One of the most serious questions before the Cen
cral Assembly Is the pcnitentlary question. II Is n
serious question, because In the first place the lease
system which has 10 long obtained In this State has
been proven TO be nm abomlnablo system which
disregards every right principle involved In the care
and management Of prisoners Of the State. The
lease system has been condemned by every man and
woman who has studied the important question OF
prison roform. IL has been condemned by every
expert In the science OF p%enology and by nl who
take n Just and humane view Of prison manage
mcnt
The mercenary lease system has been privately
and publicly condemned by the people Of Tonnes.
see. Both Of the political parties have IN conyen-
ton assembled pledged themselves against H. aud
unless the pledges OF tho two great parties are do
llbcmte receptions aud lies. m determined steps
should DO taken by tho present Legislature, which
Il composed OF representatives OF the two parties,
TO terminate the lease system In Tennessee. To re-
lease the ponitcntlary for six years, would beta
continue indefinitely a wrong system. II we are 10
have any change, the step must be taken now. No
bill should be passed which does not contemplate
the early change or modification Of the present
entirely odious system.
Every consideration Of property and Justice dc.
mnuds that the old hull Of n penitontiary be TO
moved from the heart Of the city OF Nashville and
that n new and oommodlous prison DO built upon
an improved plan. To release the penltcntlGry
and the states conyicls for six years would mean
10 refuse 10 build a new pcnltentlary for an lnden.
mite number OF years. Meantime, the city Of Nash
lTJye, growing and spreading, would be made Il
miher the nuisance Of the old pcniientiary In Ia
center. Tho present General Assembly should
heed the appeal, NO reasonable aud Just, for the 70
moyal OF the pcnilcntlary and the building OF
..r IL. -. A.. Nl. .AN.vw.I VU.NaAN Nhs
State, Unless the i%nitiatory steps are taken by th,
present Legislature there will BE- continued ant
damaging delay.
liza new prison Is 10 DO built within tho mex
few years aud tho work should be speedily began
II would be- economy on the part Of tho State Il
utilize the labor Of The cOnviots m the main prison
In the construction OF the building. Tho Stat
could save thousands Of dollars by making Use o
this labor In building tho prison. hut II thl
whole prison Is released for six years, thcn Nash
yllc's appeal will be sot aside aud the prison les
sees will have another bonanza
OF coursc Il Is not Ia 10 expected that lmpmctl
cal legislation shall DO adopted. The State Is no
prepared now 10 take carr Of all Of ~ c0nyicu
but IL Il amply prepared 10 manage the malt
prison and utilize ~ labor In the erection Of a noy
aud a larger prinon. The release should not In
ciudo the main prison, nor should any lease
INV ~ NNANN A"NHNHH ~ NNH'AN AA |AM NNN AAA
system + wrong. radically wrong. and Il a dissmc,
10 the State. IL should be abandoned utterly be
iorc slx years have passcd.-Nahrie BdnhT.
TnE APPEAL indorses the above heartily.
The Legislature should not lease tho pcni
Tertiary for six years aud the Senate II /,
hoped will amend the Marshall House bill
in that particular when It comes before It
In the meantime the House should pas,
the Polk bill, which provides for the en-
ploymcnt OF the pcnitontiary conyicls il
tho construction Of a now pen
itcntiary. In tins way a beginning
might be made looking to tho abolition o.
the conyict-lcaso system, 80 heartily an,
unsiintedly condemned by the press ant
people OF the State. With the Marshal
bill modified 10 two years aud the Pol
bill enacted, the people would hayc rcaso
to DO satisfied that safe and proper sieT
had boon taken to wipo out an infamou
system and ono that has too long bee
permitted to disgrace and shame IN
State.