The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-07-09
Wednesday, July 8. 1902.


ference TO alleged cfuelties 10 copvictn. inc
oonyicss refsrred TO are those which the Coun.
~ secured nom the STATE. and are known a.
the .Stsie Convicts." and are under control
OF state ofscsrs. The other camp Is known ~
the County convicts." and 10 under coatrol
Of County officers.
Lot NO one 40 on ~ . tangent and form
opinions too soon. This 10 campaign year,
and these things should be Weighed carefully
ssSore giving judgment Capt Nickles 10
humane man and bis friends will be slow 70
believe that he would Knowingly allow cruel.
y 70 tho copvicis. The whole matter will oe
investigated. when the facts will DO known.
RuI assuming that there has been no cruel.
u % convicts. In this County. the Press and
Banner 10 armly convinced that the whole
plan Of leasing conv;ots % the different coun-
tiss should b abolished. We have never.
until now, heard one word o. TO cruelty ln
this county, and II IL should be clearly proven
that nothing 10 wrong here. that does not Jus
tify The leasing system OF theee poor defense
Iess creatures, who arc tied or ahaoklcd, and
whose voice may not DO heard In their own
behalf
> The frequency with which the guards In
oshsr counties or other States, shoot convicts,
and the ever present dogs with which escaped
oonvicts are hunted ike Wild beasts has
something about it which 10 neither eicvating
nor gratifyins to the public The hunting OF
human beings with dog and gun 10 not &C.
eordipg % the bstter feelings ofa locker ON.
In the State OF Georgia years ago the man.
aesmsnt OF leased convicts became . stencil
In the nostrils Of respectable people every.
vhsrs. So grsat Was The cry assinst the sys-
TEN that reforms we're brought about
While it 10 necessary 70 punish crime, yet
70 may bs % pupished % 70 have bad efyeci
On individuals and demorallzing influence
on The public
The net that few dollars may be made or
savsd u adopting system that may be de-
morslising or rsvolting 10 not to be enter
tained. A few dollars are not 70 be put In the
balance against the higher and better senti
msnt ofs psopie.
7hs care OF our eonyicts needs and do
mands the huEars consideration ofoar Leg.
islators and public. oniesrs. Enquiry should
bs made into the cause or reason for 20 much
consunption in the psnitentiary. Industrial
enterprises should be established within the
valis Of that Institution, and all convicts
should NOT DO distributed over the State, and
ecnvict campo should not bs established out
side tho psison walis.
The white people OF tho Stats ould deal
kindly. - Wsli - justly with ths negroes.
White people make the hwA White people
nh the jurlss. White men cit on the bench
and pFonounce Judgment. In making the
laws oe In punishing for ofssnssa. the negro
has nos one vvrd 20 say. He II often penni.
iess when drawn into tho temple OF justice.
withoat even friend ss court. wewould mol
have n different. We recite these iEcts mere
II % imprses upon our Officers the necessity
or bsiag guarded and extremely cautious In
indicating hardship on . people. who have not
. voice In the sxscution OF the laws, and
whose piteous sppsals for mercy may not be
heard.
II vs believe that tho criminal law II made
for sAs punishmsnt Of all alike. We must 3D.
mis that tbs panishmsnt 10 unequal. In this
jodieial distriot white men have committed
many homIcidss since Democratic reoonstruc
ton. Undsf ons prstsxt or another very low
Of thsm have been punished. There seems 70
be hstis or no punishment for onenses BY
white men against the psrson. Bot onense
aeAinss property b severely punished An
ignorant negro will take things when the
owner 10 not looking. and 10 punished. An
educated white man may practically do the
sams thing without incurring the least dan.
sss of pnnishment. A man may safely steal
under tho suise Of . contract.
:Lassly negro was charged with breaking
and sntsring another negro's house. He va
oonviotsd and sentenced to the penitentiary
for tiis. Does anybody believe that II . white
and arm that hs would have received ans
sach puuisnmsnt? II anybody bad killed
the negro whose house was entered and
robbed not haifso severe punishment would
have besn Unlisted.