The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-24

During the days Of slavery tho was
comparatively little crime. The easy
go-lucky nature of the uneducated and
poorer whites was not ambitious
enough to be criminal. The better edu-
Gated were too well bred to stoop to
criminal life; and for the colored
criminals the masters acted as court,
Judge, jury, and executioner. There
was no well-developed idea of meum
ana tuum in the negro's brain. and If
he sometimes inverted the possessive
adjectives he met his punishment in
the stroke of the overseer lash.
II he were guilty of murder he
might have to forfeit his life, and the
State-some of them. at least-made
good this loss 10 his master from the
public treasury. Here and there a
calaboose, and BOW and then a jail.
comprised the chief provisions for
criminals under the law, ana State
ppnitentiaries were almost unknown.
Tennessee was an exception to this
One of the earliest and best State
prisons of the South wa, erected there
in 1928 Ia f0rlorn building it is now ::
and. largely inspired by visit from
DOrothea Dix-whose portrais, given by
herself TO Nashville. Is one OF Its most
priced pcssessions-tbe criminal law
was made broad and progressive, and
the treatment OF cOnvlcts bumane and
wise, as compared with other places IN
the south.
Suddenly this stricken land finds six
millions Of people thrown upon 1t. OF
Z. 4 l., th..t,cnnHe "A
culprits under the law. What should
be done with them. without buildings
to receive and house them: The States
~ ere at first almost palsied by the stu
alton. when the proposition came to
lease the convict labor It was regarded
as the b, It ana wisest thing under the
circumstances Here. again. the prOyi5-
ions made by Tennessee were intended to
be humane The first lease kept State
control over all tie prisoners. No band
could be raised against them without
the permission Of her authorities. Every
prisoner who was aG Judged guilty OF
the infraction Of rules Of the lessees,
and 50 deserving Of punishment, had
first TO be examined by the State Off
Gals. and could be punished OILY by
their permission. Other States had
somewhat similar provisions, though
II is safe to say they were not always
carried out to the letter.
The leasing of c0uvlcts dlspc sed of
them eifectually for a time. The va
riOus States were no longer haunted
with visions Of the necessity OF build
ing Great prisons and pe0itentidries.
The lessees carried the cOnvcts oil.
body and soul, though M many a transit
The soul took its flight. and Only the
dead body was left on their hands to
be covered away out Of sight. Without
Christian rite or ritual. rs soon a, pos
sible. The horrors OF this recond age
Of slavery have nos Oniy been written
by George W. Cable. but by less prac-
liced masters Of the pen 10 minority re-
ports Of legislative committees through
out the South. No one appreciates
mere keenly the evils of this iniquilous
system than the best aod most thought
ful men OF the South.
1t h seemed. however. hopeless
task To lid Themselves OF il, and 10 Is
therefore the still accepted system OF
most Of the Southern States. Texas
threw it of some years ago. aud It's
army Of 3.2l0 convicts IS employed III
various industries under the direct con-
troll OF the STATE. South Carolina,
thanks TO the devoted efforts Of Mr..
Guignard. one Of the directors Of the
State peuitentiaIy, has given up the
lease system and cares for her cOnglcts
herself. Arkansas. it is believed, will
no, renew her lease when the present
one has expired. The other Southern
States continue this method Of employ
lug conyicts, though the agitation OF
pablic opinion la, lessened many of the
ABUSES connected with it.-From Life
~ Southern p. i,ons, by Isabel c. Bar
.,.e ia Ilarpptfs WcpklC