Press enter after choosing selection

Massachusetts State Prison

Massachusetts State Prison image
Parent Issue
Day
6
Month
April
Year
1846
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

A corresponden! of the Ame.rican . Frccman vcsthc folfowing accuum of tliis l'cnitcntiary "Tlie food oí ihc convicta consisis oí coars lircatl, mear, vcgciubli.'í, and ailoy cofl'ce sen soned wiih motasses ; nll pveparcd nnd served ur with ncuiness. mul n qini.-iuy so inucli beyon ! tlffc wants o lio convicta ihat a consul'írnMi numí-t-T of I usiy swinc nrc cointmitly fed u.ion iho riífuse. The sty'e of cloibing is remóte froni iny iliing lik rapgodncss or illth, or t-ny sennty supply; but coarso. and of liiihtside 001 left side colora, 'l'lir, rcHs aro fuiíii&hcd witli clean nnd coniíortnUlc bedding, but noiliing caícuinted lo induce clFciiiinncy is secn in ilia: de imr'.nicDt. Constnni labor, during ilie assi;ncd, is cxnctcd hy tlie overseors. Cuttin; and Udnfmering stono, bl-sck-sniitliin, shoc-making. c-iiopi'iing', tailorinjr, cabinet and jnincr work, IjiUHh-muking. &c. are tlie principal ccu(ia tions. Aïiy yvlio havo not Icarncd tu read have thc pponunity to fio so herc. and nro strongly nr(:d. tut not compcücd, to avioil ihemselvcs of ít. A Sunday scliool fnr.'iishus bible instruction. instruction in ronding and t-ininy, etc., to all who .nre willinjr lo receive it. Morning and evening prayera, and orcaching on Sunday, nl ircrcrjuinid to attend. A goo(í library. etrWbra cirig i .-eru amount of vnluablcrcidiii'j, is in the constant use by tlie conviets. Takin;; otit ond rfetuníihg books Woa thc busiuor-s ot ilio houi wliile ] wns rriakiñg iny inquirí" a. Kvery convint lias thc privilege of liaving a letter written to liis fiiund, l.y thc wnrdoi or cliaplaio. once in six montlis. Fainily connetions visitin ü:e prison aro nllowed t- sio árld converjo wltfi llic convicís at the disorction of thc warden. Lcuerp from fiicnds are noi-givi.-n, ui u;:d to ihpin. The average term of Bentenco. including tho cííecs of sonlunce for liíb. uiiicli ié csiiniriíedat thc average of 35 yoais. is seve-i ycars and a qi'.arier. At the expiration of thc term of sentciH'c. thoy are 'turned loóse.' witli n knowledgc of a useful oceupation, of reading. ol the bililc and its systeni of doctrines and inoráis, and thc store 'of general ir.formation whicii 11 use of the libr.iry niay have furinshod ihcm. - Sucli is the sliccrtj. (i f yon choosc bo' to considci it.) of tho nioLt depraved and vicious of üc drega of soc'eiy as wc fmd it in the.frec Statee."If foliows ilion inevilably Ihat n Win t bc consistent, must be wholly opposed to ih principie? of blavery. - Oakland GazMc. No doubt. Who, except Cnlhoun and h class, are rfot opposed to the "principies" o Slavcry? Henry Cloy soys he íf. B-it ar you opposed to the practise of Slavery? Her is the gist of the matter. Will you go o far as Gov. Seward - for the imonediatc exer clse of all ihe powersgrnnted by the Consti tution for the abolition of Slavery ; and i these be not enough, will you go for euch a amentlment of that instrument as will giv the requisito power for its extinction? Unti you do lilis, your thcoretical opposition t the "principios"' of slavery, while you uphol it in practisc is not worth a straw. How d you answer on this?