The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-11
THE CONVICT LEASE SYSTEM.
A Strong and Earnest Protest Against
Its Continuance.

From the Brookhayon Leader.
The manifold abuses and horrors Of the
penitentiary leasing system in this State
its grasping avarice, its inhuman cruelties,
and its dark and shameful record OF blood
and murder and dishonor, can never be
revealed in all their naked hideousncss un-
Ill the final judgment itself. Its record is
so black with compounded crime and in
fanny that one can scarcely contemplate it
with composurc or even liberation. Yet
it is a subject that should be considered at
this time without passion and without
prejudice by the people Of Mississippi, to
the end that correct solution may be
reached once for all regarding IL.
Ever since the Legislature OF 1850 passed
the net providing for the convcis TO be
lea cd out 10 the highest bidder the idea
has prevailed with lawmakers and people
that the first concern OF the State is TO
speculate upon the labor OF the wretched
criminals who, from time to time, fall into
its custody. True prison reform has had
no place or thought. With the speculative
idea predominant, they were first leased
To Hamilton, Allen x Co., who, in turn.
sub.let largc numbers OF them TO other
parties, and when the cruelties and bar.
| barilics incident 10 that lease had become
notorious, and change WIS demanded
by an outraged public sentiment, another
lease was contracted with the Gulf x
Ship Island Railroad Company Tor pecu-
MARY consideration. The same cruelties
and disregard OF State authority which had
characterized theadministration OF the for
mer lcssees were here repeated, and in some
! instances aggravated, and penitentiary
| Board of Coutro finally found IL neces-
sary 10 declare the lease cancelled. Since
| that was done the Board have released a
considerable number Of the conyicis 20
| different parties TO work ON Delta pania-
| tons, leyees, etc., in squads OF twenty five
TO 100. Strictcr rules have been promul-
gated, the employment Of any Of the old
professional guards and taskmasters for
hidden and other precautions taken by
the Board 10 secure kind and humane
treatment; but With all this, IL will be safe
10 assume there will be little or no cessa.
ton Of maitrcatmcnt Of prisoners. The
essential conditions which brought about
abuses In the past still exist Men, with
desire Ia make money out Of convict
labor sufficient to make IL rcmurcritivc
10 themselves aud pay the state slipu
lated hire, have them In charge scattered
around on isolated plantations aud lcvee
works, aud tho abuses will COON. In fact, IL
has been quite clearly demonstrated that II
IL not 20 much the particular men who may
lease the couyicts ~ the lensng system
itself which Is at fault. The State leases
them 10 make money. the men 20 whom
they are leased hire them To make money,
they are generally placed la charge OF
subordinntcs from under the eyes OF the
State officials, and abuses follow ~
naturally ~ elect follows cause. A num-
Der Of outrageous brutal,iics- have been
reported from Bolivar County since the
lease With the Gull 4 Ship Island Rail
road was cancelled, and others will doubt.
lcss ro0u follow.
We believe the Board Of Control desire
Ia do what Is best. but We believe they
have made grave error, In the face Of all
past experience, In leasing out the con.
victs again under almost identicaliy the
same conditions. The only remedy is alb
solule State control and supervision.
Finally, the people should demand this,
aud the next Legislature should provid,
for IL. Away forever with the idea that the
state must make money out Of her con
yicts at the expense Of humanity and every
Christian Impulse. Any system which nee
ognz,s money making aud no, To 't a'
the controlling principle Ia prison ~
meni n essentially wrung. lot usiuyr o.
morc OF Il In Mississippi, even though d
should cost few thousand dollars unnu.
ally To treat the conyicts like human be
| iugs