The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-27
TO THE LEGISLATURE.

EIscahere we print some facts concern
ing the Virginia State pcnitentiary. 1t is
hard for any person who has not seen
for himself TO believe that this condition
exists at our State prison. 1t is hard for
any civilized man or woman to believe
that such a pest hole could exist in a
civilized community. If the people OF
Virginia did know tho facts about the
pcnitentiary they would not, they could
not rest until relief was given They be-
licve that statements concerning the pen
itcn.iary have been greatly exaggerated,
and. therefore, they have not given the
subject the attention that it demands.
But these statements are not exagser-
nted. Indeed, it would be hard in Ian
guage to exaggcrate the terrors of that
prison The prison was built for three
hundred men, but an average Of fourteen
hundred men men are confined in its cells.
Think of packing twenty-nine mon into
a small room. Yet this sort Of crowding
must be- in order 10 keep the prisoners
shut in at night. Think of twenty-nne
men III a Silj3ll III t1iS meat VI sum
MGR! How they manage to survive Is
more than we can understand, especially
when it is remembered that each cell is
lighted and ventilated by one small
heavily barred window at one end, and
a snail transon1 over the door.
10 add TO their torture, the walls OF
these old cells are fun of vcrmin, which
come out in tho nighttime and prey
upon their victims.
But worse than all this. in thus crowd
ing mon together, those who are COM
parativcly innocent with the brutal and
depravcd, practices too horrible to be
mentioned in public print are common,
and Generalization is complete.
Who ere responsible for this condition
of affairs? The members of the General
Assembly Of Virginia. We so a step
further and say that each member Of
that body IS responsible unless he eXelts
himself to briIg about q reform. 1t viii
not d for any member to throw the re-
sponsilility up,n the organization. This
is peculiarly an age of individual respon-
SlDillS. ~ iIitii may sclilti ~ '4iS NNhS
the obligation is none the less upon him.
The Times is no alarmiSt and is not IN
the habit of going into Mysteries over any
subject, but in all reverence, and with fun
knowledge Of the import OF the words we
employ. we believe that the Almighty Goa
will manifest His displeasure and visit
this sin upon the State of Virginia If the
Legislature does rot soon so TO the relief
of those accurscd wretchcs in the peniten-
tia,y. We are cruelty and numerically
cfflictinr those ;.:3n. who are in our pow
or. and if we show no mercy, how can
NE expect to receive il? If we curse
GODS creatures. Low can We expect TO
escape His course?
The Times has no sentimental regard
for criminal When men violate the
law, they ought to be punished. There
is too much of morbid sentimcntality on
this subject among a. certain class OF
well-meaninE people. But because man
has violated the law, that is no reason
why he should be treated like a brute.
I'VE have a right TO deprive a man of his
liberty If he has been convicted of a
crime but we have no right to deprive
him of the air of heaven which a good
God sends TO the unjust as well as to
The just. We have II right, for certain
crimes. to deprive q convict of his life;
but we have no right to torture him TO
death by inches. When the State has
taken a mans person into its own
hands, it takes an obligation upon itself.
1t is in duty-bound to treat him like a
human being and TO exercise ordinary
care to preserve his health. 1t has no
right, during his term of confinement, to
destroy his health and his morals, and
TO turn him out at the expiration of his
term a physical wreck and a moral
degenerate.
We address these plain words to each
member Of the General Assembly, and
we hope that each one of them Will take
The message to heart. We repeat that
The obligation is upon each member as
well as upon the organization.