MEMDRIAJL OF MISSB.L.DIX >ck f '"- , mi:^aitAi i:^u^ y -^ 4i^ / >^ i Illinois Lsnis. X^^T ViTX'Vv-j SENATE. IgT SlISJIOIH, J5fii Amk>i. LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS MEMORIAL or X) MISS D. L. DIX, IN RELATION TO THE ILLINOIS PENITENTIARY FEBRUARYS, 1847. Laid on the table and 3,0UJ copies ordered to be printed. To the Honorable, ihz General Assembly of the Slate of Illinois. Gentlemen: The reasonable claims of humanity, not less than the requisi- tions of justice, require that you sliould have a clear understanding of the system on which the State Penitentiary is establisiied; its general organization; its advan- tages, if indeed it possess any; and its defects, as well of location as of archi- tectural arrangements and daiiy discipline. 1 believe that I can represent those to you impartially. I have confidence, that, for palpable cirors, you -will not de- lay to search out and applj- a remedy; and I therefore lake the liberty of solicit- ing your attention to the actual condilion ol the State Penitentiary at Alton; to the system which has most unfortunately been adopted for tiie disposition of con- vict labor; as also to the daily discipline, and its inlluences in this priscn; annual- ly becoming more populous, and which will probably more than triple its inmates in a few years. Your vast extent of territory, now promising more rapid setlle- mei.t, insures this result. I think you will acknowledge the wisdom, not only of guarding the present, but of taking a prospective view ol" this serious question. Within the last eight months, 1 have seen a good deal of the citizens of Illi- nois individually, and of the state of society in general, and I entertain no ap- prehension that the disinterested and impartial deliberations of her Represcnta- tive.^ concluded by efficient legislation, will not be sanctioned by all who re- gard the well-being ol communities, and the honor of the State; as well as looking higher, owning their obligations to employ all consistent measures for the restora- tion of the guilty from an evil and criminal, to an amended liJe. ,,.--' There is certainly no substantial cause why the State prison of Illinois should hold so low a rank, compared wilh many State prisons in the Union; — those of Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Connccticul and Ohio, for example: and if 1 do not cite the best prison, as viewed under all aspects, the Eastern Penitenliary, in Pennsylvania, it is because I would, lor the present, be almost Avell satisfied to see this take a respectable place near the tirst named, and under a system which, V nccordinc: to my conviclions, is but secondary in procuring the results at which we should aim in the imprisonment of criminals, viz: the security ol" sociely, and more e> ')-;;' ^^^^^^,1 should be at great cost to the States owning such prisons. But 80 of the bb ce U have ever been completed, and 6 of the 80 are too insecure for the safe custody "^ThH^^'k' seems to have been executed in a very unworkmanlike manner, and with but little reference to securily or duraiion, as I will proceed to show. The dimensions of the lodging cells require, that, lor ^^e preservation of health and a tolerable degree of comfort, where so many causes exist for destroying the who esome qualities of the atmosphere, great care should be taken to secure a con>tant and\horough ventilation. The air flues in the rear wa Is of the cells m this prison are quite useless, and must have been so from the irs ; the ma.on work having been so clumsilv done that the passages are con.pletcly obstructed To prove the inutility of the'se, I held a lighted lamp to the apertures, which are all very small; and though I passed into at least one-turd of the cells for this purpose, I did not find in a single instance, the flame disturbed nor could any curr^ent of air be perceived. The investigating committee, (see Repor s of vessioa l8.38-'39,) declare that -the cells, from want ol suflicient ventilation, ^reextrencly uncomfortahU and nnhe^llhy;-\n summer the water trickles down the sides of them," (from defects in the inclosing roof and walls,) '-and in w ntcr they are coated with ice !" The Report of the present session ^hows that thoLh there are 88 cells now in all, but 80 of them are avaiohle, the other 8 havinc never been floored over^ and, I may add, that a careful ex.m.nation will reveaf such defects in the floors of others, &c., that the prison may be declared insecure, even now, when year after year, repairs have been demanded, and ad- ditions Vo cells required. This year's Report also declares that "the locU of the cells, as a general thing, are of cast iron, tender and insecure for the pur- pose for which they are used. In one or two instances, these have been sever- l\ of them opened with a single key." Of these ocks, 38 cannot have been m use before 1^39. See Report of 1840-'4l , charged 38 locks at ^\ 2j each. It does not seem necessary to adduce additional illustrations of the msecunlij, insuf- ficiency and bad construction of the lodging prison. ,. r«i T, I proceed to show the necessity for additional cells for the reception of the con- vict^ It is to sav the least, most unfortunate, that, in the location and construc- tion of this prison, no prospective views have been taken respecting the wants of the State, as regards fit provision for the detention and care of convicts 1 he Report of Inspectors, 183S-'39, shows that they " now have 5b cells, 3. hav- ing been addell to the 24 previously built, " of like materials and workmanship with those alreadv erected; also the wnlls and mof of the prison house were ex- tended so as to inclose the same." The Inspectors eo on to remark, that it i. vorv probable, that, betbre the next tw(. years end, they xcxll ad be occupied. — Th^tthis supposition was verified, is shown in the Report of the ^^'^^^rn^ice and that of the Inspectors, the following session, IH^O-Ml The first state* that while there are .% cells, the number of convicts is 89; this nun.beris hke- Iv to increase in a ratio that requires the immediate enlargement of tlie Feniten- tLv. and an increase of cells, and they urge, with sound arguments, the eredion of at least - 91 additional cells," &c. It may be well to quote what the liit, confusion, disar- rangement, and finally, the insufliciency of the work, that should be made the prom- inent consideration: it is the moral well-being of the convicts, which Benevo- lence, whose hand-maid is long sufiering Charity; Justice, whose best attril)Utc is Mercy; Religion, whose heavenly spirit is Love to God and all mankind, commeijd solemnly to your care. It is upon your deliberations, upon your ac- tion, a great and not-to-be-evaded responsibility rests. It is as you reluse to, or provide for, your convicts in the Penitentiary, the means of improvement; as yo\i put it in the power of governing otilcers, or withhold facilities, that the cor- rect discipline, and consequently reformatory influences of the prison depend. — As you neglect this prison, you become accountable, not to an earthly, but to an immutable tn!)unal, ibr the bad consequences wiiich accompany bad arrange- ments and wantcf discipline. As you study, with maidy fidelity and wise dis- cretion, its real good, you become alilt incurred, on the responsibility of the ollicers. For example, in l8i^8-'39, the sum of ,$55 25 was allowed lor 15 convicts who had served out tlieir time, giving an average of $3 GH for clothing, traveling expen- ses and sustenance. In 1840-"41, the account reads as I'ollows: "Paid money and clothes for 17 discharged convicts, who, at the time of their discharge, were end e'y destitute, and whose clothes had been lost or mislaid previous to the lease, $107 00." They add: "we have procured the cheapest clothing that could be purcluised;" and lurther, " we have supposed that we could not be justified in turning them into the streets, naked or pennyless; thus exposing them to the strongest temptation to commit again the crime for which most of them were sent here." In l842-'43, !f'54 25 was paid to discharged convicts who were destitute; and for clothes lost previous to lease, .$38 75, making ."^593 in two years. The whole number of convicts discharged in the same period, was 99. See Reports. How insufficient for their first pressing necessities, must have been the aid received. In 1844, the Inspectors again urge the necessity of granting a sufficient sum to discharged convicts, to relieve present wants; and add, that, " they are brought to the Penitentiary but poorly clad, generally without money or funds; and by the time their sentence has expired, their clothes, such as they had, though preserved with as much care as possible, are ready to fall to pieces oi" their own weight, and they are turned out into the street, almost naked, without money, and certainly not having received any moral or religious instruction to restrain them, and are in a fit condition to fall back into their old habits. Indeed it would be surprising if they did not do so." See Reports, 1844. The Inspectors of the jiresent year remark, that, " for humanity's sake, a small amount in money should be provided by law, to be paid to discharg- ed prisoners, as well as a suit of common clothes. It seems, (say they,) hard .to confine a man three years lor theft, and then turn him upon the world without covering, or means even for a meal's victuals; thereby forcing him, by the opera- tions of law, to steal again." For cash paid out to 105 prisoners, between June 22, 1842, and March 5, 1845, $201 62. The legal allowance to discharged convicts, in most of the Penitentiaries of the United States, is a suit of gooc^ clothes, and a sum of money varying from $3 to $5; in some cases $10. I have belbre me the reports of many States, and find this rule established by law; and it seems so clearly obligatory upon Govern- ment to render these supplies, that all argument to enforce this truth is superilu- ous. In New York, and elsewhere, it is thought by many, connected olKcially and otherwise with the prisons, that even this is inadequate to meet just require- ments. I have heard that the want of a prison for women convicts, who are sentenced to a Penitentiary life, has been repeatedly expressed. At present, there are no women convicts in the prison at Alton j not probably because there are none whose olfences subject them to being sent there, but because there is not the smallest provision for their reception. Moreover, no deceut mid approved ar- ranf^ements could, under any circurnstances^ be made there, for that class of trans- gressors. The objections are so obvious, that all exposition is needless. I would sucrgest that some one of the most populous counties in the State, should cause to be established a County house of Correction — Cook county, for example — where idlers, vagrants and pettv ofienders, should be sentenced for a term of months; when, for men, the nature of the offence does not subject them to the State prison. But let all women State criminals be sent thither, and such mutual arrangements agreed on between the County and State, lor the expenses, employment, and control of the same, as shall be satisfactory and just. 11 The Hospital, so called, is reached by descending a flight of stairs or steps, from without, into a cellar, situated immediately beneath the lamily apartments of the resident Lessee. The dimensions of this dismal place, are thirteen leet fy tuentyte^ and ei.ht feet high. On the 9th of May last, I ^mn^ -. t us wretched den, uncleansed, unventilated, utterly comlortless, several sick con- victs, one very low of contagious erysipelas. Since then, three have died here of this disease; .nd though, as the Lessee writes to me 'it has been he most unhealthy season ever known in the prison, we have got along mucli better than we have any righi to expect, with the poor conveniences we have for taking care oj ihe sick:' In rainy weather the water finds way irom without, flooding the floor of this dreary room, increasing the unhealthiness of" a place always damp, arid one would suppose, while examining it, inevitably to be fatal to all f .""fortunate occupants. These occupants are prisoners, convicted of crimes which ha^^ or a time banished them from society; but it was made no part of their sentence, this cruel condemnation to such a dungeon during the days and weeks ot pain- ful sickness. To charge the Lessee with intentional neglect of the sick, would be unjust; for if he were not a humane man, as 1 believe him to be, his pecuniary interest is involved in employing every means he can command lor restoring and preserving the health of the convicts, and rendering their situa- tion as lUtle irksome outwardly as possible. Men rarely become spin ua lly bet- ter by being made subject; through Aum«n discipline, to extreme bodily discom- forts; these convicts are not made morally better by such treatment as they are subjected to here in ttie days of bodily weakness and pain. mt I do not express any exaggerated opinions of this Hospital department, is easily shown by a few extracts from reports, rendered at various periods to the Legislature. _ , io.. . i. ii * a. -a ^,.4 The Inspectors, in their biennial Report, December, 1844 state that, '/?«/, they would strongly recommend a Hospital Department lor the sick. 1 houf2;n, say thev, "the mortalit^ has not at any lime been very great, yet it is the opin- ion of the phvsicians who have been in attendance, that lives are somdime^ tost that might have been saved, if they had been provided with the ordmary comjcrts thai humanity calls for. The sick are now obliged to be confined in their eel s, which are scarcely three feet six-twelfths, by six and a half or seven, and badJy ventilated, or in Abasement story, (the cellar so called at the prison,) where the nir is bad at best, and when there are several on the sick list, at times almost insupportable." "The convicts, when sick, especially, seem entitled at least to common comforts and conveniencies, not only from motives of humanity, but from the fact that they not only defray their own expenses, but pay a considera- ble sum into the Treasury;" and it might have been added, yield a liberal income to the Lessees. , . , . , . .i r n The newly appointed Inspectors for 1845, refer to this subject in the follow- in- terras: - We proceeded to visit the prison"—" and found the sick better than could be supposed by any one acquainted with the location of \}ie hospttal, under ground as it is, without air or light, and wet every time v rams! A memt)er of the Penitentiary Committee, makes the following Report in February, b4D. " The necessity for the erection of a Warden's house, is of no small importance to the State, when, by having the hospital of the Penitentiary restored to its original purpose, instead of being used as a dwelling house for the UardeD, the'rebv transferring the sick from an under gr' undroom, which is at present Irom necessity used for that purpose, and which, from the report of the attending phy- sician, " is well calculated to terminate the life of any one who may be compeUtd to remain there for any considerable length of time, rather than to rest.^re tlicm to health." To me it does not appear that the building, in which tiie Lessee re- sides, is suitably situated for a Hospital;^ neither is it properly constructed so as to answer the purposes of an infirmary in a prison. 12 But it seems supcrlluous lo aJd arguments to statements so explicit and urgent as the preceding', and I leave this subject with those who are fully authorized to redres.-i, and thut speedily, sinli au injurious and negligent course of treatment on the part of the State towards the helpless convicts. Submission is their du- ttj; obedience their neccssiiij; while merciful and humane treatment is their un- tfUrstionable right. I\Ioral and religious instruction for the convicts at Alton, has, with slight ex- ceptions, been singiilarly overlooked by successive Legislatures; and of course usually disreg-arded by the Inspectors, and still less appreciated by Wardens and Lessees. An honorable exception, during the adrr!ini>tration of prison aflairs 1)y Mr. J. K. AVoods, is on record: and it was at this time that the attention ol" the Legislature was so far awakened, that we find in "the Laws of Illinois, 183.S-'39 — Act on page 278; sec. 10, the following passage : the Inspectors are autho- rized lo furnish, at the expense of the State, a copy of the Eible to each convict who is able and willing to read the same." In the Revis-ed Statutes, 18-15, chap. Lxxxi — pe. 406 — sec. 12, the same is recorded. Kxcept in ihe lines above quoted, 1 can discover no record, nor can I ascertain through verbal inquiry, that this subject has ever received the slightest cjnsidtration in the asseniLHes of the Legislature, Very few Bibles have ever, at any period, been supjiliedat the cost of the State or otherwise. The committee, directed by the Lcgi.--lature, January, 1S39, to visit the Penitentiary, and report its condition, state that ihey found tiie convicts very inddferently supplied with Bibles and other books ne- cessary for their moral instruction: there have been no means employed to in- sure regular preaching on ihe Sabbath, &c. (See Reports, 1838-'.'i9 — Pnge 18. The Inspectors report, December, 1840, an expenditure of " .';;4l 75 cts. for 75 Bibles." Some few of these, it is believed, were distributed; a part were stor- ed away, and forgotten until recently. All reasoning minds, whether religiously disposed or not, will admit the fact, thit convicts are not sentenced to the Penitentiarj- through a spirit of revenge, on the part of society, nor yet for punishment merel)'. If this were the case, one would say that imprisonment should reach through the term of their natural lives; since, if Reformation is not the paramount object, public security is great- ly more endangered by the discharge of these bad men from prison, than it would have been before they were subjects of the indurating influences of association for years, with the assembled criminals of the land, indulged in vicious conver- sations, and cut oif from all the aids wliich are employed to strengthen the weak roinled, and restore the fallen. It is due to Mr. ^Voods to refer explicitly to exertions on his part for the ben- efit of the prisoners at Alton. I quote at length from his report: — See "Reports of session 1838-'39." "Believing it to have been the paramount object of those benefactors of our race who Ibunded the penitentiary system, to punnish the criminal by a mere deprivation of liberty alone, and to reform him by the in- fluence of means that could be used with advantage in such a situation only, I have deemed it a duty to afford the convicts every facility which lay in my pow- er, to receive moral and religious instruction, and accordingly solicited the ser- vices of a number of the clergy in this neighborl.ood, and which I am happy to say have been cheerfully rendered, and so far as I have been able to judge, bene- ficial to the prisoners generally. A sabbath school was also commenced in the autumn of 1837, and with some few intermissions, has been regularly su^tained; and the result has been, that, of seven w-ho wereignorant of the alpha- bet, four were tolerable readers when I discharged them, and the remaining three real in (he spelling-book. "The Methodist Book concern," in Alton, have made a donation of twelve Bibles, and the clergy of that denoinination have manifested a very laudable interest in behalf of the prisoners. The other books and pa- 13 pers used by the convicts, with the exception of the Temperance Herald, ten copies of which are circulated monthly amongst them, have been taken from my own library. If a variety of moral and religious books were kept lor the use of the convicts, it would evidently add to their comfort, and contribute greatly towards preparing them lor usefulness in society when discharged. Further, Mr. Woods remarks: — "Of the fifteen discharged since I have had chariic of the prison, one is in business with his father in Kentucky, four arc at work in the vicinity of this city; and these live maintain a correct moral deport- ment. The others I have not heard from. In Dr. Hart's report, it is sliown that Mr. Woods' discipline has been thorough and effective; and this is satisiac- torily shown by the quiet, industrious, and obedient demeanor of the convicts." The Inspectors, iu their report for 1844-'45, suggest that "some provision should be made for tlie moral and religious instruction of the convicts. The very object and intent of peniteniiarjj punishment, as the term implies, is refor- mation; and yet nothing is done to bring about so desirable a result. This has been attended to, we believe, in almost, if not every penitentiary in the Union, and its neglect is matter of reproach against that of Illinois. The convicts work during the week, and are shut up on Saturday night, where they remain till Monday mon ing, without a single word of encouragement irom any one who seems to take an interest in their welfare, to induce them to change the course of life which has brought tiiem into their present condition. A building might be erected at a moderate expense, which would answer the purpose of a shop, with a second story which might be fitted for a chapel, and a chaplain ap- pointed with a sufficient compensation, whose duty it should be to have reli- gious services, at least once on every Sabbath, and to administer to the sick and dying the consolations appropriate to their condition.-' I regret that the sen- timents embodied in the paragraph I must next quote, are not in harmony with the just and manly as well as excellent suggestions above quoted. The Inspectors, in their concise report to the Legislature the present session, express themselves as follows. I forbear comment upon the propriety or obvi- ous interpretation of the same, only observing that, however the Inspectors are adverse to convict instruction, the citizens at large are not indifferent on this subject: "We have received some communications relative to the establishment of a chapel, with requests that we make tjie mention of them a part of this report. If it should be thought proper by the Legislature to erect a chapel, and establish the institution of preaching on the Sabbath, or any other day in the week, we would recommend that thetime be left entirely to the Warden, as he would be the only person competent to judge in case of insurrection or any other distur- bances, whether it would be sale to release the prisoners from their cells. But our opinion is, that if those people's efforts had the desired effect in the covwiu- niiy at large, there would not be any, at least not so many, to preach to in the penitentiary. And no man except an officer of the prison, or some other person well known, should be permitted to have private conversations with the con- victs. It is much easier to make bad worse than good better." ROBERT DUNLAP, THOMAS CLIFFORD, JOHN A. MAX FA', Penitentiary Inspectors, State of Illinois. See House Document^ referred, DecemLer 14th, 184G, and 300 cojnes ordered to be printed. . The above paragraphs, gentlemen, embrace the whole evidence I have been able, after diligent investigation, to search out respecting the slightest official in- terest or provision for the instruction of the State prisoners of Illinois. Remotely 14 fro:n time to time, clergymen have volunteered a service, and though not always refused, they liave received but little encouragement to repeat tlieir benevolent labors. Latterly, bibles and tracts have been distributed: especially has this been done through the agency of Rev. Mr. Williams, of Alton. A visitor of prisons purchased the last summer, for the use of the convicts, a quantity and variety of books as a foundation for a permanent library, which it is hoped and believed that the Legislature in the exercise of their rights, in fulfilling the ob- vious and just obligations, of all the citizens, will, from session to session, make sufficient appropriations to sustain and enlarge. The books supplied the last summer, are called for with interest and used with manifest advantage, according to the testimony of Mr. Pierson, the Clerk, and other jjcrsons who interest themselves in the distribution of the books. I ibund these on my last visit used witli as much care, and as well kept by the prisoners, as their circumstances, and situation seemed to permit. I have heard casually and recently, that a gift of books from a distant prison has been made through Mr. Williams, and also that a set of "the Children's Sunday School Library has been sent by an agent of the Sunday School Society." — Books are important aids, when suitably chosen, in awakening the higher faculties, and kindling desires for that which is wiser and better in life than has heretofore been attained and practised; but these helps are insulficient. The counsels of a benevolent and religious man, who, to heart- felt interest in the work, joins that aid and skill in conveying instruction, at right times, and in the right way; one who possesses both discrimination and firmness, gentleness and sympathy; who day by day should pass among the prisoners, urging by "line upon line, and precept upon precept," the duty and happiness of a good life; such a man should be sovight after and established at the prison, supported in his vocation by the State, and allowed all facilities for conveying needed instruction both on Sunday and every day in the week. To him should the prisoner look as his spiritual guide and hel])er: — to him the sick look for the counsels and consolations their deplorable condition claims; through this teacher should the convict learn to experience that the State, that society, do not abandon him to misery and perdition; but that they aim, through all the discipline to which he is made subject, to restore hira to liberty, a wiser, happi- er, and better man. I urge the appointment of a moral and religious instructor, not because most other States offer the example, led earlier to a sense of duty to the recreant, but because it is right. I cannot better conclude this subject, upon which I earnest- ly hope you will take early action, and so direct your deliberations that substan- stial benefits shall reach the convicts, than by referring to a communication laid before your honorable body early in the session, and which, in a manly and christian spirit, advocates the claims of the prisoner. "The Synod of Illinois, composed of one branch of the Presbyterian church, convened in Springfield, on the Sth of October, 1846, feeling their responsibility as ministers of religion and advocates ofgood morals in the community, would present to your honora- ble body, the condition of the convicts in the Penitentiary of our State. "It has seemed to us an unfortunate oversight, that an institution denominated a"Pen/7cn/w.rv," should be entirely destitute of the means of repentance and re- formation. We, therefore, request you to take the subject under consideration, and by legislative enactments provide accommodations, by which the convicts may be assembled for christian instruction, especially on the Sabbath, and such oi/ur arrangements as may be necessary to afTord opportunity and facility to va- rious denominations of christians who may be willing to give that instruction. And for your prosperity and that of our common country, we feel bound ever to pray." In conclusion, permit me briefly to recapitulate the most prominent defects, wants and usages of the Penitentiary: 15 1st. The inclosed area, one acre ami five sixths, covering the declivity of a hill is too confined: the walls of the Michigan penitentiary, inclose an area of 66b* feet by 524, and the Kentucky prison, at present embraces more than three acres and a half, 2d. The wails are defective, and require rebuilding rather than repairing. 3d. The cooper-shops are defective over head and under foot, and rest against the inclosing wall. 4th. The ojfice is small and inconvenient. 5th. The stable, the tailor, waggon, and smith shops, are temporary frame buildings, exposed to conflagration, and requiring repairs. 6th. The warden or lessee has no suitable house. 7th. Tlie hemp-factory needs to be restored, having recently been partially destroyed by fire.* 8th. The Eafing room, which has never heen floored, is too small, it is said, and has never been furnished with any description of seats for the convicts while taking their meals. 9th. The Lodging prison, is out of repair, and contains less than 55, fewer liaished cells than there were convicts in December. 10th. A new Guurd room will be required, if the Warden's house, as is pro- posed, is built where the guard room now stands, and if the present residence is converted into a Hospital. 11th. The Hospital is a damp, unventilated cellar ! 12th. There is no Chapel, neither any furnished room which might temporari- ly supply the place oi one. 13th. There is no Chaplain, or moral and religious instructor. 14th. The law makes no provision for the destitute discharged convicts. 15th. I cannot learn that there have been in use at anytime any authorized by- laws, emanating from the Legislature, as in all well organized prisons, setting forth, in explicit terms, the duties and obligations of all officers, and other per- sons employed in the prisons, towards the convicts; and also declaring to the convict his duties and obligations, to those 'vho have authority to control his whole outward life while lie is subject to a prison. f 16th. I could not learn that any records of the prison were required to be made and preserved for the use of the State, setting forth its history, discipline, the num- ber of convicts, and all important facts connected with the prison life; the punish- ments to which they are amenable; tlie number of individuals corrected; the kind and amount ot punishment, together with a statement of the offence, and a clear specification of the rules which had been broken. A small waste-book is kept, wherein are entered the names, ages, terms of sentence, &c. 17th. I could find no books of record belonging to the prison, or to the State, showing the number of prisoners disabled by sickness; the number which had •It is to be rpjretted that the manufacture of hemp has ever been introduced, than which for the eyes atid lungs a more injurious employment could not have been adopted; and at the State Penitentiary I am clearly satisfied that it is as unnecessary as it is injurious. t I have a copy of twelve printed rules, on a sheet of paper written by Mr. Buckmaster, referring to minor duties in general, for his own convenience in directing Some mechanical daily movements. They are well devised, and some of them no doubt useful: yet he and his officers admit that the 2d and the lOthiules relating to personal conversations between the convicts in the cells, in the shops, and elsewhere, are constantly trangressed, and with impunity It would be strange enough, with all the various hourly opportunities they pos- sess both day and night, if they did not hold the most unreserved comnjunic.ition. It can be and it is most largely indulged in, in the hospital, the tailor Eh»p, and that of the shoe- makers; in the kitchen, and in the cells; and if they are not always boisterous, profane and vicious in these hours of intercourse, why should they not be with two in many of the cells; cells adjacent, &c.? and who is accountable for this? the lessee? I think not, un- der present circumstances. 16 been prescribed for; Die number which had died, nor the lustory orname of the disease; yet tliis is done in nearly every prison in the Union. I know in fact of but two exceptions, and these by no means lionorable examples. ISlh. No reports are required oi' ihc p/nj^ician to the Leccislature, nor of the lessee, under the system of leasing, which has in Illinois, superseded the more correct and just system of governing through State officers, as wardens, See. There seems no longer to be accountability nor responsibility; the State, through the Legislature, having sold all the convicts which" are, and are to be, for a tenn of years, appears in effect to have abandoned them, regardless only of one thing; the productive rents arising from their labors; whether they have just and hu- mane treatment, live or die, are reformed or lost to all in this world that is cor- rect, and to all in the eteranal world that is hopeful, seems to have been over- looked— /orijo/Zm.' The lessee may do his duty in its broadest extent; the sub- ordinate oliicers imij all be patterns of a correct and exemplary liJe; — the phy- sician 7)i