Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-16
Georgia Convict Lease SYSTEM
ATLANTA Constitution)

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When the history OF our convict lease
system IS written it will prove to be- the
blacklist chapter I'M the history or Georgia.
II Is a Pandora's box, out OF which mas
swarmed a brood OF evils-a brood that
is constantly multiplying and growing.
The NIT prominent among these ey iii
we find fraud, corruption, BRUTALITY,
butchery, and a high-handed violation OF
the law THIS network seems TO De
spread over the whole State:
The announcement that the lease or
misdemeanor conyicts to private parties IL
illegal and has no warrant In law, shows
to what depths of decentralization the tease
system tends. TO lease misdemeanor
convict to private parties Is direct viols-
ton Of the law. and yet this illegal traIhc
IS carried on so extensively that the Gov
ernor OF the State has found 1t necessary
to have the camps of leased misdemeanor
convicts inspected.
When the plain letter Of the law Is thus
violated by the very men who have been
selected TO uphold 1.-THE county solicit
tors and other offIcials--it is small cause
for wonder that the criminal classes nave
a growing contempt for the courts and
their processes. The report OF Colonel
Byrd is disgraceful enough, but much
knows that all those horribly inhuman
conditions are based on plain and d.
rect violation OF the law.
The officials who thus traffic In human
misery are themselves guilty OF more
serious crime than any OF the conyicts
VINO are serving out msdemeanors. These
officials are guilty OF striking most dls-
astrous blow against the good name OF
the State. very pretty story Is told by
a State House official In regard TO negro
who was convicted and privately sold by
a county solicitor for 800. When 1t was
discovered that the man was innocent,
the Judge and jury signed petition TOT
his release; but the County Solicitor re.
fused 10 sign 1t because he had received
slOO for the hire OF the man.
Here ii will DO seen that the lease sys-
TEN has not only led 10 fragrant violation
OF the law. but to active corruption; ana
IL may be safely said that the good peo-
Pile OF the State will never have an op-
portunity of discovering all the facts In
regard to this wholesale violation Of the
law-this fraudulent traffic In human
misery. The political pull will cause the
facts TO be suppressed, and the compla-
cent grand juries las Colonel Byrd's re-
port has shown will refuse TO and indict-
ments.
IL is idle to boast of our civilization and
progress when officers Of the law conniye
at a direct and nagrant violation or the
law for the purpose OF trafficking In hu-
man misery. And II Is limited from the
State House that not only the county
officers. but some of the members or tne
Legislature, are engaged In taking the
foul profits Of cruelty and brutality.
There Is but one thing 10 do, ara That
Is for the Legislature TO take hold OF
this matter actively at the next meeting
and provide the remedy. The enlightened
public sentiment OF the State VIII not
tolerate such foul blot on the good
name of Georgia. There Is fame ahead
for the man who. representing the righte-
Gus Indignation OF the people shall lead
the fight FOR n new system which will put
an end TO the traffic In human misery
and the corruption that dances attend
ance on II.
And the discussion ought TO be the
means OF bringing about wholesome
change in the inequalities OF the law
changes that will make for justice and
humanity. A negro who steals a chicken
is promptly punished. A county ofic.al
who attacks the law Itself and Sramples
on n 10 the end that he may pocket the
nroceeds OF corruption and cruelty. goes
scot free. Grand juries wink at the fraud
and the brutality that ensue. and the
good name and moral welfare Of tho
State are dragged In the mire at the
heels OF petty greed and avarice.
All this must be changed, and that radi-
caliv. Let the Legislature go TO the root
of the business.