The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-02-05

graduated punishments, rewards
and parOls, so successfully operated
in many other States, be inaugaratrd
in ours. Such a system has been
found to operate most satisfactorily
whenever it has been put in practice.
We must not forget that the un-
fortunate inmates of the prison are
our fellow mortals, and that it is one
of the most weighty responsibilities
upon us who are called upon to
manage them to see that it is done
in mercy and with the view to keep
ing society free from harm when
they shall be turned back into it. l
have not changed my opinion one
jOt or little, that the system Of re-
wards, combinations of sentences
and paroles for good conduct is the
best system of prison management
ever adopted. The sorrows and
tears and penitence of those who
have broken the law ought not to be
disregarded by those in power over
them. My record in the treatment
of convicts has been much criticised,
but declare to you that nothing l
ever did has given me so much salts
faction in my own conscience. l
am especially interested in caring
for wayward children, and / repeat
to you what have declared on the
hustingS in the presence of thepeople,
that it is crime against humanity
to send children to he pententiary,
there to mingle with and imbibe the
spirit of hardened criminals; and
until the Legislature of the State
provides reform school separate
and apart from the penitentiary, l
see no other course for me to pursue
than that which | followed during
my two former terms as Governor.
recommend that department be
established in connection with the
Tennessee Industrial School for
criminal children, to be under the
management of the Superintendent
of the institution, not allowing the
inmates of the two separate depart
ments to have any communication
with each other whatever. / further
recommend the enactment of law
providing that all children under
the age of l6 years convicted of
felony, be sent directly by the court
which convicts them to this reform
school, there to remain until releas-
ed by the Governor upon the recon-
mendatiOn of the Superintendent of
the institution. | further recon-
mend that you formulate such rules
and regulations for the government
of this institution as are found to be
in successful operation in other
States. This question of caring for
criminal children and separating
them from the environments and
horrors of the penitentiary appeals
tenderly and eloquently to you. If
you will listen to the voice of hu-
manity and establish this institution
you will leave a monument to your
magnanimity and wisdom; you will
receive the plaudits of the State and
be remembered with the warmeSt
emotions of gratitude and pleasure
in many a home that will thus be
saved from the tears Of shame and
the blight OF crime. The peniten-
tiary will soon be finished, and it
now becomes the duty of your hon
Orable bodies to provide for it's
proper management and control.
Under the administration of my
honorable predecessor board was
created by the Legislature, consist
ing of three Penitentiary Commis-
siOners. 70 this board was com
mitted the responsibility of superin-
tending tie erection of the new pen
itentiary and putting into operation
new system for the employment
Of In lN,p ,f int hpT N
into idleneSs upon the State by the
expiration of the old lease system.
The work for which the commission
was created will soon be completed,
and it will become necessary to re-
organize the official management
aud to define the powers of those
who are to have charge of its man
agement. | recommend that the
Board of Commissioners be made per-
manent, and as to the continuation
of the Office of uperintendent of
Prisons, it remains for you to de-
termine after full investigation.
1t is proposed to work the cOnvicts
by contract within the walls of the
prison. 1t is certain that they must
be worked somewhere, or else they
Will be milestone about the neck
of the commonwealth. The old
lease system which brought them in
contact with free labor in the mines
has been abolished and therefore |
am sure that good policy demands
that they be worked within the
! prison walls.
Centennial.
Here at the beginning of a new
century of our existence as State, |
am sure it Ough: to be the pride of
every patriotic Tennessean to join
in the great movement to celebrate
the birthday of our proud common
wealth. The great Centennial EX-
position which will be open to the
world on the first of May next has
been inaugurated to commemorate
the States natal day, and surely the
State itself should preside on that
great occasion of rejoicing. 1t will