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VOL. 1. ______________________________________________ AUBURN, JUjfe 15 , 1839. NO. 3. T O T H E P U B E I C . State Prison a t •tSu'burn* T H E E X C I T E M E N T . T h e affairs o f t h i s prison have be eri b r o u g h t into a c o n d i t i o n w h i c h d e m a n d s so m e d e c i d e d action. A n ex c i t e m e n t e x i s t s in the public mind r e s p e c t i n g it, w h i c h h a s a l r e a d y very perceptibly affected its in t e r n a l o r d e r and prosperity, and w h i c h serio u s l y m e n a c e s i t s utter subversion, upon a n y n e w p r e t e x t for agitation— even to t h e prostration o f i t s w a l l s . Considered i n ail its c i r c u m s t a n c e s , it is in my view, and w i ll be, s o o n e r or laler, in the view o f the whole com m u n ity, an ex c i t e m e n t without a parallel. I m e a s u r e th e s e w o r d s , and s h a l l j u s t i f y th e m — an excitem e n t w i t h ou t a p a r a l l e l . I t h a s had few eq u a l s in degree. T h e public m i n d h a s b e e n w r o u g h t up to a p i t c h of i r e n z y a n d d e s p e r a t i o n , at tim e s truly appalling. I t h a s d e e n d a n g e r o u s f o r s o m e o f the prison officers to a p p e a r i n o u r streets. The A g e n t , t h o u g h not a m a n - t o sh r i n k from danger in the disch a r g e o f duty, h a s , a t som e periods o f t h e ex c i t e m e n i , d e e m e d it p r u d e n t to k eep h i m s e l f w i t h in the priso n w a l l s ; and when called out, by m a n d a t e oflavv, to give lestimony before a coroner’s in q u e s t , h a s been followed h o m e w a r d by an incited and shouting rabble, and p e l t e d with r o t t e n eg g s . The private dw e l l i n g s o f p e r s o n s c o n n e c t e d with the p r is o n , and o f o t h e r s w h o c a r e d to speak in its defence, h a y e b e e n assa i l e d , under cover o f night. U p c n re t u r n i n g f r o m the prison in t h e e v e n i n g , I h a v e frequently found my ow n family ia a sla t e o f painful anxiety and trepidation, for fear I had been waylaid by a mob. A n am i a b l e a n d unoffending young l a d y has b e e n d r a g g e d b e fore the public in t h e n e w s p a p e r s , and a b u s e d with s a v a g e in d e c e n c y . A s soon as it b e came publicly know n t h a t sh e w a s ab o u t to rotnm from S i n g S i n g t o A u b u r n , it w a s g i v en out that a emit o f tar-an d - f e a t h e r s w a s ready for her, and I w a s w a r n e d not to take her to my house, l e s t it should be assa i l e d . — The front o f tire .prison h a s b e e n b e s m e a r e d with rotten e g g s and t a r - a n d - f e a t h e r s - E v e n the horse b e longing to t h e prison h a s not e s cape I a b u se, v. lu e sta n d i n g in the’s t r e e t . — Inspectors o f t h e prison have boen m e n a c e d tvuh fu-an d - f e a t h e r e d rails, and an o n y m o u s threatening [ette-s. T w o o f th e m , from* a p prehensions o f i n jury to p e i s o n or p r o p e r t y , have resigned th n r p l a c e s in t h e board. O n the occasion o f a late alarm i n g fire i n the prison, a gentlem a n , w h o w a s a f t e r w a r d s on the imprest in t h e c a s e o f Von E c k , e x p r e s s ed his wish t h a t t h e prison m i g h t b u r n do w n , with Capt. L y n d s i n it. O n th e s a m e o c c a sion, another, w h o s e vocation it is to d i r e c t ihe public mind, e x p r e s s e d a sim i l a r w i s h . — At the fire alluded to, the hose of a n engine was cut, and for t h e t i m e bein g re n d e r e d u s e less. A private m e e t i n g o f c l e r g y m e n h a s been r e q u e s t e d , to listen to rev e l a t i o n s o f prison c r u e l ti e s , t h a t t h e i r i n f l u e n c e m i g h t be put in r e q u is ition, and properly directed. A public meeting of our citizens h a s b e e n call ed, and held, to tak e into con s i d e - a t i o n the inhuman batb a r i t i e s p r a c t i s e d in t h e prison. The incendiary handbill, calling t h a t m e e t i n g , was thrown into th e prison yard, w i t h i n the reach o f c o n v i c t s , w i t h t h e m a n i f e s t d e s i g n o f apprizing t h e m o f the “ sy m p a t h y ” o f the citizens, and inciting th e m to revolt. So unequivocal have b e e n th e d e m o n s t r a t i o n s o f this s o n , l h a t som e o f t h e officers h a v e been fearful of a g e n e r a l in s u r r e c t i o n . A s staid and dauntless a g e n t l e m a n a s t h e v e n e t a b l o Judge R i c h a r d s o n , w h o h a s presid e d in our county c o u rt, w i t h eq u a l firm n e s s a n d in t e g rity, for tw e l v e or f if teen y e a r s , c a m e t o tho prison in evident trepidation, to re c o m m e n d , as an Inspector, ex t r a o r d i n a r y p r e c a u t i o n s , lest the com m o t i o n w i t h o u t s h o u l d o c c a s i o n arising within. T h r e a t s t h a t t h e p r i s o n w a l l s would be d e m o l i s h e d , h a v e b e e n frequent. A Sing Sing paper, w h i c h s e e m s to h a v e an attentive c o r r e s p o n d e n t h e r e , ex c l a i m s , — “ Would to C o d w e h a d the sp irit o f the Auburn people am o n g u s — t h e w a l l s o f M o u n t Pleasant prison w o u l d lie a s lo w a s th e i r foundation, i n l e s s t h a n tw e n t y - f o u r ho u r s . ” This complim ent to the “ spirit o f t h e A u b u r n people,” is so far ju s t , th a t it h a s b e e n p r o posed to m a k e up a p u r s e to m e e t t h e e x pense o f b r e a k i n g d o w n the g a t e , i n a c e r tain c o n ti n g e n c y , a n d t a k i n g f o r c i b l e p o s s e s s ion of t h e prison ; a n d a p r o m i n e n t citizen pledged h i m s e l f for fifty dollars o f t h e r e q u i site sum. T h i s “ spirit” h a s b e e n contagious. The virus h a s b e e n diffused from m i n d to mind, till a l m o s t t h e entire m a s s h a s ap p e a r e d to be seized w i t h the fren z y , and ripe for such an outbreak o f p o p u l a r fury a s the S i n g Sing editor m a d l y in v o k e s . It h a s befen apparent to all, that a t certain tim e s a single word, or w a v e o f t h e h a n d , from so m e o n e of the i n s a n e m u l t i t u d e m o r e d a r i n g t h a n the rest, would have b e e n t h e sig n a l for s u c h a general and d e s p e r a t e a s s a u l t upon the p r i s on walls, as could h a v e b e e n re p e l l e d , only by the formidable m e a n s w h i c h the A g e n t has t h o u g h t it n e c e s s a r y to k e e p in p r e p a r a tion to m e e t it. These aieafevv of the many facts which m i g h t be n a m e d , t o s h o w th e d e g r e e of t h i s e x c i t e m e n t . I have b e e n carefu l to sta t e no n e , o f w h i c h I h a v e n o t either p e r s o n a l k n o w l e d g e , o r t e s t i m o n y u p o n w h i c h I entire ly rely. M o s t g l a d l y , — for t h e c r e d i t o f t h i s com m u n i t y , for t h e hon o u r o f m y s p e c i e s , — would I ra t h e r h a s t e n th e m all i n t o . a n obliv i o u s grave, th a n c o n t r i b u t e to diffuse and p e r p e t u a t e th e i r vile odour. W h a t sta t e o f things in t h e p r i s o n could ju s t i f y th e m ? S u p p o s e the w o r s t , a n d i t h e y re m a i n the opprobrium o f A u b u r n . In no c i r c u m s t a n c e s could th e y exist, e x c e p t a s the re s u l t o f so m e su d d e n and l a w l e s s i m p u l s e , w i t h o u t im p l y i n g a d e prav e d s t a t e o f p u b l i c m o r a l s . 1 group t h e m h e r e for g e n e r a l in s p e c t i o n , o n l y b e c a u s e it is e s s e n t i a l to a p u r p o s e w h i c h I co n c e i v e to be m o r e im p o r t a n t th a n the c o n c e a l m e n t o f them . T h a t p u r p o s e is, to disabuse the public m ind, by a p la in exposition o f the true causes a n d occasions o f th is exc item e n t ,— w i t h o u t u n d u e reg a r d for t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s , as th e y m a y affect either m y s e l f or others, friends or foes. S u c h a r e th e in t e r e s t s j e o p a r d e d , and ' so in s t a n t i s t h e peril, t h a t , in l o n g defau l t o f a m o r e effective interposition, I h a v e resolv ed to t h r o w m y s e l f into w h a t m a y , w i t h o u t an y e x a g g e r a t i o n o f th e h a z a r d 'to me, be term e d t h e “ i m m i n e n t , dead l y b r e a c h , ” — a n d m a k e one effort to t u r n a w a y the violence o f this blin d e s t o f all c r u s a d e s . T h i s I have done, not i n c o n s i d e r a t e l y . I am fully a w a r e of the d e s p c t r a t e n e s s o f t h e case. N o d e m on s t r a t i o n o f p e r s o n a l re s e n t m e n t , or popu lar rage, c a n tak e m e by surprise. C A U S E S A N D O C C A S I O N S O P T H E E X C I T E M E N T . T h e first r e m a r k s w h i c h I m a k e in t h i s d i vision, re s p e c t t h e A g e n t , Mr. L y n d s . H e has his f a u l t s . It is not o n e o f th e m , th a t h e h a s t h e m a g n a n i m i t y to h e a r them pointed o u t a n d rep r e h e n d e d , in a suitable m a n n e r , w i t h o u t tak i n g offence. It m a y b e one of them , th a t h e e n U r e d upon the duties o f Iris p r e s e n t appointm e n t , witii the re p u t a t i o n , . in this co m m u n i t y , o f being a severe p r is o n keeper. H e had held the s a m e office hero before. H i s had been the t a s k o f e n t e r i n g the old cells and shops, arid th r o w i n g the n o o s e o v e r so m e h u n d r e d s o f co n v i c t s , a s i m p a t i e n t o f control as “ the bullock u n a c c u s t o m e d to the y o k e , ’’ and b r e a k i n g th e m into a sy s t e m o f discipline w h i c h im p o s e s silen c e upon ev e r y to n g u e an d r e s t i a i n t upon ev e r y m o ti o n , in the ex e c u t i o n o f t h is h e r c u l e a n task, he u n q u e s tionably a c q u i r e d a reputation for undue s e v e r i t y — w h e t h e r ju s t l y or. riot, 1 do n o t de cide, nor is it n e c e s s a r y to inquire. T h e fa c t is all th a t is e s s e n t i a l h e r e ; and o f t h a t th e r e can be no d o u b t . I t is notorious lhat h e c a m e into t h e prison, t h i s t im e , w i t h a bad n a m e in this te s p e c t , and u n d e r the cry of “ m a d d o g ! ” I t is his f a u lt , in m y view , th a t h e ra t h e r s e e k s to gain, th a n tries to avoid, su c h a reputation. • I t is av o w e d l y a p a r t o f his p rl- icy, in the m a n a g e m e n t o f a prison, to sc a r e m e n from t h e w a y s w h i c h lead to it, by pro ducin g t h e im p r e s s i o n abroad, that the c o n dition o f a convict in his h a n d s , is the las t on earth t o be coveted. S u c h a r e his v i e w s in this resp e c t , t h a t I believe h e w o u l d be l i k e ly to p u n i s h a convict m o r e sev e r e l y , if a citizen stood by, t h a n if h e w e r e alone.— . H i s c o n s t a n t effort is, to (oster in t h e public m i n d a n e x a g g e r a t e d notion o f t h e m i s e r i e s of a p r i s o n ; and th o s e w h o k n o w him , n e e d n o t b e t o l d h o w m u c h a natu r a l l y hyp e r b o l ical t u r n aids his effort. 1 a m no t p r e p a r e d to sa y th a t s u c h a policy has, in no re s p e c t or d e g r e e , a good te n d e n c y : b u t if i t- b e liable to be m a d e to contribute in o t h e r c a s e s , a s in the p r e s e n t , no t so m u c h to d e t e r m e n from crim e a s to a r o u s e public sy m p a t h y and in dignation in favor of the crim i n a l , th e n i t m u s t be s e t d o w n as ex t r e m e l y questionable. It is hisi m isfortune, it no t hi3 fault, t h a t ho h a s retained, for a q u a r t e r o f a century, t h e h a b i t s and b e a r i n g o f a soldier. I do not m e a n , w i t h re s p e c t to the infliction o f c o r po r a l p u n i s h m e n t ; for o u r re c e p t a c l e s o f feions have n e v e r y e t b e e n disg r a c e d by s u c h s p e c t a c l e s o f flogging a s are often exhibited in the cam p , o r on ship board ; and I pray th e y n e v e r m a y . H e very w e l l know s , as does every o t h e r intelligent citizen, th a t a tithe o f t h e sev e r i t y lh a t is practiced in the pub l i c service, an d o f a l m o s t daily recu r re n c e w i t h o u t exeiting_ a w h i m p e r o f sy m p a thy f o r the d e f e n d e r s o f t h e i t country, w o u l d not be t o l e r a t e d \in t h i s p-ison, upon convicts, for an h o u r ! I allude to his decision and en e r g y i n com m a n d , and i n t o l e r a n c e o f d e m u r or re l u c t a n c e on t h e p a r t o f s u b o r d i n a t e s . I t is a qualification in d i s p e n s a b l e , and, w e l l - t e m p e r e d , adm i r a b l e , i n the p r o p e r g o v e r n m e n t o f e i t h e r so l d i e r s or con v i c t s : but, t e m p e r e d a s it m a y be, it sav o u r s too m u c h o f a r b i t r a rin e s s to be exem p l i f i e d , a m o n g citizen s o v - reigns, w i t h o u t so m e t i m e s aro u s i n g feelings o f r e s e n t m e n t and resistan c e . M r . L y n d s h a s an o t h e r fault,— o f a kind, h o w e v e r , so v e r y ra r e , t h a t one feels a l m o s t d i s p o s e d t o forgive it. H e h a s too m u c h in d e p e n d e n c e ! I t am o u n t s almost t o 'contem p t o f public opinion. H e neve; J n q a i r e s h o w a n y g i v e n c o u r s e o f proceeding w i l l take ; and, h a v i n g satisfied him s e l f of t h e i n t r i n s i c p r o p r i e t y of t h e c o u r s e , h o w e v e r odious i t m a y be to o t h e r s , h e p u r s u e s it w i t h a* inflexi bility o f p u r p o s e w h i c h t a k e s t h e ap p t a r a n c e o f obstinacy. I t h i n k it a fault i n ths p r e s e n t c a s e , b e c a u s e il h a s help e d to increase an ex c i t e m e n t which a l i t t le c o n c e s s i o n trould h a v e ten d e d t o allay. T h e r i g i d n e s s w i t h w h i c h h e h a s enfoiced th e r u l e t h a t l i m i t s th e adm i s s i o n o f citiztns to t h e priso n for b u s i n e s s pu r p o s e s , h a s giv en offence to m a n y , w h o could no t estim a t e its i m p o r t a n c e , and provoked them to j o i n ir. the g e n e r a l h u e and cry a g a i n s t him. H e is no t a C h r i s t i a n . S u c h being t h e fact, h e does not, as m i g h t be supposed, give th a t pro m i n e n c e to m o r a l m e a n s , i n h i s v i e w s o f pen i t e n t i a r y discipline, w h i c h m o s t ptofess..d C h r i s t i a n s w o u l d ; and h a s t h u s p r e d i s p o s e d this c l a s s o f p e r s o n s to beli'cVS' o t h e r evil things o f him. T h i s defect is t o b e l a m e n t e d ; both as disqualifying him for the h i g h e s t d e g r e e of u s e f u l n e s s in s u c h a station, and as ten d i n g t o footer u n j u s t prejudices a g a i n s t him and the institution. Hut even this l ias b e e n the o c c a s i o n o f i n c i d e n t a l good— it h a s no t only s h o w n , in a stro n g light, t h e p e o p l e ’s jea l o u s y o f i n n o v a t i o n s upon this part of t h e sy s t e m , but h a s dev e l o p e d a p p e a r a n c e s o f a m o s t ex e m p l a r y z e a l for the religious in t e r e s t s o f t h e institution, in m a n y p e r s o n s w h o w o u l d probably o t h e r w i s e n e v e r have been su s p e c t e d of any v e r y sp e c i a l regard for them , and, it is to be hoped, h a s so com m i t ted them in favor o f th e s e high in t e r e s t s , th a t they w i l l never ag a i n be found in oppo sition t o t h e m . T h e change in tiie government of the i n s t i t u tion, a year since, was a t r i u m p h o f t h a t section o f t h e t h e n dom i n a n t party which has got tire elegant designation o f “ l o c o f o c o , ” over lhat which is know n as the “ conservative.'’*— T h e antipathy between these two f r a c t ions of the parly, lias been extremely vehem e n t and bitter. T h e ejection of “ conservative” princi pal officers, to make room for “ loco Cocos,” — excepting one o f the i n s p e c t o r s , (hlr. Loans- b u r y ,) w h o is understood to have “ conserva tive” partialities,t and to have been appointed as a m a t t e r o f policy,— was t h erefore t h e m o tive ol rancorous and implacable hostility to the new governm e n t . W h e n Mr. L y n d s came to t h e prison, it was with a determination to retrieve its financial condition— which, il is certain, had by some m e a n s become depressed ; but w h e t h e r in a m a n n e r censurable or i n evitable, 1 do n o t feel myscli w a r r a n t e d to decide. H e determined to retrench all its expenses to Die utm o s t , and to avail himself o f e v e r y possible means ofincreas- in g i t s income. It may be doubled w h e t h e r he has not pushed this policy to an impolitic Ex trem e . T h a t lie lias carried it to an extent offensive to many, is certain. T h e rigid exaction o f twenty-fire cents for every admission o f every visiter (conducted through by men employed for tiro purpose,) w h e t h e r s t r a n g e r or neighbour, was an indis cretion which a man of Iris acquaintance with hum a n nature seldom faffs into. “ Golden opinions,” in almost any case, had better be purchased, than sold, at t w o s h illings a p iece. I t was in p u r s u a n c e o f this economical policy, th a t he early, and, it may he, abruptly, fold several of the subordinate officers t h a t , adopt ing a different method o f feeding t h e convicts, he could dispense w i t h iheir services. These were mostly persons whose plan3 for lire m a i n tenance o f their families were to be seriously deranged by lire change. T h e announcem e n t , therefore, was as t r y i n g and vexatious as i t was unexpected. It was an extrem e l y hard case ; and 1 k h o w o f no one who did not regret t h e i r misfortune and disappointm e n t . N o w if any one imagine t h e r e was n o t h i n g in the act of their removal, in such circumstances, t o excite their griefs at t h e lapsed s t a te o f the i n s t i t u t i o n , and arouse t h e i r sym p a t h i e s for the poor con victs, he has been a dull s t u d e n t of t h e s u s c e p tibilities and propen-ions o f the hum a n mind. T h e rem a i n i n g officers were n o t without their grievances. T h o u g h reduced com i d e r a b l v , — too m u c h — in number, still t h e y were required to perform, no t only the s a me duties which had been done by t h e full number, hut still m o r e . — T o c o mpensate t h e loss of time in locking up for meals, it became necessary t h a t the daily peri od of l a b o u r should be lengthened, which re quired them to be upon their posts earlier and later. W h e n t h e number o f assistant keepers was nineteen, they were relieved o f the greater part o f t h e i r irksome a n d enervating night duty by a guard employed for the purpose : the re duced number, o f s i x t e e n , had all t h a t duly' to perform, w i t h o u t assistance. W h o could fail to see, in such a change, an alarming declen sion o f the institution 1 T h e new method of dealing out t h e r a tions, too, requiring as it did, in t h e short days, the uctive duly of several officers before daylight, was an aSditional bur den, and one which fell with onerous w e i g h t particularly upon t h e stew a rd, whose labours and perplexities, in timing ami adapting t h e i n tricate affairs o f his departm e n t to the now order o f things, have been extreme, and loo much to endure. As their offices had never been sinecures, sucli a change m i g h t well be expected to excite feelings o f restiveness and repugnance. Dis- ♦Since the n a ture o f my s u b jert will require me, in con sequence of the accursed connexion between the prison anil politics, to m a k e some allusions to j loliliral p a r t i n ', I think il proper to stare here, Ic-t I should be sup posed to w rite under an improper bias, that, i f I have had any. it lias ill general been in favour o f w iiat is called the whig party—though I have watched the iporcroenis o f ail par ties till t have confidence in n o n e. I cnuki not be induei d to vote for a n y , in their present condition; and consider that n eutrality, whir!] js so odious to partisans, as the only state of mind cninpatible w ith s trict integrity. ■J-o W e are frequently asked, will the senate o f this state go into the choice o f a U. S. .Senator 7” (M r. T a lhnad“e .| o O u r uniform answ e r lias been, Y e s , liecaure the law re quires it, and wo donot believe that o ur law -m a k c rs will disregard the law . a n d show, by iheir example, th a t laws have no binding torce.” — C a y w r - \a trio t , J a n . 23. affection did appear, and become genera!— Som e resigned i n dudgeon,' w i t h the avowed determ i n a t i o n of r e s t less war upon t h e A g e n t while he r e mained. O t h e r s , unwilling to aban don their places so, w e n t on to discharge t h e duties required o f t h e m , but w i t h s u c h manifest reluctance as was deemed, in m a n y cases, i n compatible w i t h th a t perfect order and subor dination which m u s t be m a i n t a i n e d , — a n d t h e y were, one ofler another, removed. O t h e r s still were discharged for misdemeanors. A few on ly have remained through the year— some o f whom in t h e quiet performance o f t h e i r a r d u ous tasks, others with ill disguised s y m p a t h y in the clamor w i t h o u t . T h e removals and resig nations, within t h i s period, num b e r more t h a n tw e n t y . A l m o s t all these officers w e n t out w i t h feelings o f disappointm e n t and chagrin, and m o s t o f them w i t h those of determined, relentless hostility. Soon the com m u n i t y be gan t o be agitated by r u m o u r s o f various cruel lies in t h e prison — o f which, more hereafter. At this ju n c t u r e it happened, th a t the In spector already named, began to be d istressed at “ m a n 's inhum a n ity to m a n ” — n o t on the m o a n ing plantations o f t h e S o u t h — n o t in the Hay ings and privations o f t h e cam p —-not in the miseries o f our public r e c e p t a c k s ot the unfor tunate poor— n o r y e t i n the clandestine stabs at his neighbour's reputation in the “ C h r o n i cles’’— ilft, in g iving convicts their rations is t h e c e l l s , instead o f the mess-room ! T h e particular time o f t h is gentlem a n ’s d e fection ought t o be noted. I t happened at a convenient m o m e n t , after' it had become evL d e n t t h a t the efforts of the disailected officers •w e r e likely to arouse public indignation against llte prison, and when th a t “ t ide” had begun to rise, which, t a k e n opportunely, m i g h t lead on to a trium p h over t h e “political h a r p iis,” as lie termed t h e m , who had got the control o f the prison. T h i s was an opportunity o f too much promise, r.ot to be seized as the means o f re lieving himself from t h e em b a r r a s s m e n t o f a c t ing as the organ of one division of the parly, with w h i c h he had no s y m p a t h y , and o f playing i n to the hands and conciliating t h e patronage o f the other. After witnessing Die p r a c tical operation o f the now arrangem e n t lor about two m o n t h s , not only w i t h o u t betraying a n y signs o f d is a p p r o b a tion, but m Die mean time expressing the opin ion, on examining t h e r a ti o n s , that the “ q u a n tity oi food for each convict was sufficient,” he became suddenly and greatly afflicted at Iheir famishing condition ! H e ascertained that, though t h e aggregate o f r a t i o n s was confessed ly abundant,'it was a t h i n g impossible to make such an apportionm e n t of t h e m, by placing u n equal quantities in different kits, ant! al lowing the convicts to take tlioir c h o ice, th a t the health o f some o f t h e m would not sulfer from iiunger ; lh a t i t was perfectly i mpractica ble f o r a convict to get into his s t o mach a suffi cient quantity oi btead, soup, potatoes, and prime beef, in t h e course o f an hour, with the help ol a spoon only, to sustain his strength; th a t “ the position in which t h e y are compelled to cut,” standing, sitting, or lying, as t h e y please, is e minently “ bad f o r d i g e s t i o n ; ” and that t h e cells arc so icamn that t h e i r w a t e r s o o n becomes unfit to drink, and so cool as to be “ very injurious to their health.” Such an inhum a n mode o f feeding convicts he th o u g h t intolerable— t h o u g h tolerated, n o t only, but chosen,ana t h a t w i t h o u t producing a c o mplaint, in several of the best penitentiaries in IheUnited Slates. T h e subject he regarded as o n e “ o f a high m o r a l nature, altogether above ih e p o liti cal,quesuons of Die day!” l i e had conferred w i t h tiie disuffecled officers, some o f whom “ had the independence to express themselves without h esitation , ’’ and, having probably sought Die path of duly by a devout r e -perusul ol Ids bible, he had gravely come to the conclusion th a t he was under a high m o r a l obligation to join them in a c rusade for Die conservation o f the interests o f the prison. A s one would naturally expect from such sternness of principle, lie entered upon the du ty o f d isclosing the abominations o f l l e in s t i tution, in t h e spirit of a m a r t y r ; no t to he “ d e terred, hy any con:-:deralion o f fear or i n terest, from a faithful discharge of that d u t y ” - and, as will appear in t h e sequel, n o t particularly scrupulous about a d o p ti n g the maxim of some other moral heroes, Dial “ the end justifies t h e m e a n s . ” IIis first dem o n s t r a t i o n was a s t a r t ling flourish o f ills resignation o f the office of Inspector, appropriately addressed to “ his ex cellency William L. M a r c y , governor oT tiie State o f N e w Y o r k , ” accompanied with all due reasons, and introduced into the P a t r i o t by a weeping j e r e miad, with th e portentous m o tt o at its head, “ A lan's inhum a n ity tom a n , makes countless thousands m o u rn I ” H i s subsequent performances have been in commendable keeping with this debul. Aided by a body-guard o f willing coadjutors, ready “ to e x p ress t h e mselves without hesitation,” he has well s u s tained his part, hy dint of m i s r e p resenting, distorting and fabricating facts, and repeating t h e catchw o r d s ‘ s e v e r i t y , ’ ‘ c r u e l t y , ’ ‘ e n o r mities,’ ‘ a tr o c it i e s shocking to hum a n i ty , ’ & c . — in t h e desperate and despicable farce of so imposing upon the credulity of t h e neople as to persuade them that som e t h i n g w o u ld yet appear to m a k e his m o t t o appropriate as well as portentous. I t i ll u s t r a tes both t h e arduousnnss o f his u n dertaking, and the recklessness o f p u r p o s e with which he determined to accomplish it, that, af ter doing all that he dared to do openly, he crept i n to ambush, and enacted the cowardly savage. H a v i n g charged his lionc-t “ organ” v itli s u c h missiles as lie c ould venture by day light, he retired at night into his inner sanctum , with a few rare and mingled speci m e n s o f “ liberalism , ” and “prim itive chiisiian” - ily and pastoral simplicity, supported hy the requisite ex-officios, a n d made it the s e c ret lab oratory o f “ internal machines” for the assas sination o f tiiose whose panoply was an over match for him in t h e field. W illcl Loitnshury, Esquire, the E d itor o f the Cayuga P a tr iot,a c o n servator q f the p u b lic m o rals, and, the g rave and. virtuous quondam-inspcclor o f an institution f o r the reform a tion o f the vicious, rro.s the principal publisher o f the Chronicles !” —a thing, the in famy o f which m u s t be e x pressed by i ts name, The Chronicles, w i t h o u t an epithet, as an en raged man called his mischievous hog, a hog .— An idea o f the strength of his c o n s c ientious r e gard for t h e r i g h ts of his fellow-tnen, is s u g g e s t ed by t h e number of t h e publication, distributed far a n d n e a r —said to be s i x or eight t h o u s a n d s . W h e n brought u p to give a n account of his pious labors, before a m i n i s t l f of justice, lie could n o t testify as to m a n y facts. “ W h y ? ” “B*- cavsc it w o u ld crim inate m y s e lf.” A n d i f h a h a d been so incautious as to have already l e t slip any t h iu g t h a t Would, th e hopeful lim b o f th e law “ w ished to take t h a t b ack ! ” T h e nam e s o f some o f the gentlem en .proved (others a re know n ) to have been c o n c e r n e d in this business, are, W illet Lounsbury, (editor ot t h e P a t r i o t , ) F r e d e r i c 1 . C l u t e , Leander-B . B ig e low, (late physician of the prison,) Oramel B liss, (non-descript,) S ila s Shepard, (late edi tor o f the “ Ptitnitive C h r i s t i a n , ” ) Theron Green and Joseph Bowkcr, (late assistant kee p ers o f the prison,) and Charles W . Pom e roy .— I t is due to t h e l a t t e r gentlem a n to say, t h a t it is n o t in p r o q f lh a t he was concerned in the business except on S u n d a y evening. L o u n s bury, sw o r n , s a y s — “ D o n ’t know th a t any o f them were printed at our office.” Bliss, sw o r n , says— “ L o u n s b u r y was in and see w i t n e s s set ty p e . D o n ’t k n o w th a t he had any r e a s o n to suppose t h e y would be p r i n t e d any where but a t his office.” T'o show t h e general character o f f h i s publi- ■ c a t i o n , which is, from beginning to e n d , a mur> derous libei upon m a n y respectable citizens, one example m u s t suffice— a n d t h a t rela.tijig.tO myself. In order to \break dow n the chaplain, whose position, at least, gave him some influ- , cnee in resisting the crusade, he was charged, ' am o n g other Dungs equally false, and know n to be so hy t h e slanderers, with being so gree d y of money, t h a t he had on a c e r tain occasion w r u n g several dollars from a poor necessitous convict. It was a fiction founded upon fact, obtained, like m a n y others, through ex-officio sym p a t h i s e r s in the sufferings o f c o n v i c t s , who were acquainted w i t h all the circumstances. T h e following is t h e true vision ol t h e affair, and was thus introduced i n to t h e Auburn Jo u r nal, by i ts editors, before they t o o k up t h e cry of t h e i r veracious neighbor—for which they still have my t h a n k s : “ >Ye m o s t cheerfully comply (say they) with the r e q u e s t of the w r i t e r o f the following — only rem a r k ing, th a t for ourselves, we have never before heard of Lite r u m o u r to which it alludes. H a d we heard o f i t , our know l e d g e of Mr. Sm i th would have satisfied us o f i ts en tire w a n t o f t r u t h . ” “ M e s s r s E d i t o r s —F o r the sake o f some friends who feel more c o n c e r n for my r e p u t a t i o n in Die ease t h a n 1 do myself, I wish to tell others, through your paper, (if you will be so kind,) how m u c h t r u t h there is in a story, w h i c h is said to be in circulation, o f m y taking advan tage o f the necessities oi a poor convict, t o ex tort from him, for five dollars, a claim w o r t h eleven. “ vVhen Clark N o r t o n ’s t e r m o f s e n t e n c e ex pired, in S e p l . ’37, he was so r e d u c e d hy disease th a t lie could n o t walk. T h e prison gave him five dollars, (tw o or t h r e e more t h a n usual,) but th a t was n o t e n o u g h to c a r r y him to his friends, in t h e western part ot'U. Canada. H e had a r e ceipt for an old w a t c h , left with Sheriff H o y t , of S t . L a w r e n c e coM which promised th a t he should have t h e w a t c h again w h e n he called for it, or eleven dollars in i ts s t e a d ; and thinking it to be o f l i t t le value to him, as he could n o t go that way, he begged me to t r y to sell it for him, and lake w h a t e v e r I could get. F i n d i n g no one willing to give any thing for it, I told the deputy keeper t h a t the m a n ought no t to he s e n t aw a y so, and lhat if he would conlris bute one h a l f of five d o llars, I would the other, and share with him t h e r i s k o f losing it. T h u s provided for, I look him, upon a bed, in tiie prison wagon, and carried him to the canal, w h e r e , after w a i l i n g several hours for a boat th a t would take him, I left him in the care o f a kind family, and (a t h i n g which 1 should cer tainly s c o rn to m e n t i o n in other circum s t a n c e s ) gave them w h a t change 1 hail in my pocket, to insure t h e i r attention in providing for h is w a n t s ana’ getting him comfortably aboard o f a boat. “ A few days afterw a r d s the s h e r i f f c a me with the watch, and was i n d u c e d , reluctantly, to keep it. and refund the five dollars—m a k i n g M r , Mills whole, and leaving me m i n u s only about 50 cents, and the trouble o f conveying the poor fellow to the c a n a l. This is t h e whole story o f the extortion. Disce ah hoc ilia .” A l t e r t h is explanation, the same c h a r g e , with others as base, was r e it e r a t e d and insisted upon, by Ibis secret “ chronicler,” secure, as lie imagined, in his dark retreat. Since th a t r e treat has been laid open,a change seems to have “ c o me o’er t h e spirit o f his d r e a m . ” H i s o- pinion o f t h e chaplain is greatly changed. H e thinks tiie tam e n e s s w i l h which he s u b mits to be slabbed, is above all praise. T h e “ c a r d , ” in Avhieh I disclaimed, as a m a t t e r o f fact, any agency in the operation o f ferreting him out, he seized and published, w i l h evident gratifica tion, as i f i t were indicative ol no sym p a t h y on my p a r t in t h a t operation ; and ot so slight a sense o f injury from his attacks, th a t I s h o u ld feet disposed in no circumstances to give him a chance to plead a justification. In a state o f less perturbation, he would not have fallen i n t o such a mistake. I t is o n e t h i u g “ to go t h u s in search o f c landestine assailants,” and quite an other to give them suitable adm o n i t i o n s as t h e y stand confessed before the public. T o use an illustration— t h e m o s t violent incongruily o f which consists in Die unequal num b e r o f legs, — it does not follow, because 1 decline to p u r sue a w o l f i n t o a filthy den, th a t I would no t assist to cage him after he had been dragged out i n to t h e l ight, O ’ i f he was s till inclined to mischief. P a t t i n g t h is r a re s a m p l e of the con scientious and hum a n e , upon his good behav iour, I here t a k e leave o f h i m , and his “ C a y u ga P a t r i o t E x t r a , ” for t h e present. T h e excitem e n t has been f o mented by a n o t h er publication o f the same class, in pam p h l e t form, ostensiv dy by an old convict, who was, however, only a too! in- the hand-* o f ex-officers of high and low degree— o n e o f whom.- o f the former class, employed himself, at one period oi the commotion, in w r i t i n g advertisem e n ts for eggs, offering nine pence a dozen for good, and eighteen pence for r o t t e n ones. Its c h a r a c ter will be sufficiently a p p a r e n t from t h e f o llow in g l e t t e r which I addressed to the Rev. Dr. Rudd, o f U t i c a , w i n had noticed i t in It's pa per, and referred others t o it for information. I i n s e r t the l e t t e r here, however, n o t merely t o ' describe the character o f the pamphlet, but chiefly to s h o w , as a n essential part o f m y d e sign, lh a t the public press has contributed to foster t h e excitement, not only positively, by giving c u r rency to false and i n c e n d i a r y r e p o rt s , but also in a negative and more aggravating way, by r e fusing t h e accused a hearing in t h e i r own defence. O f l h i s 1 have more to say here after. [Continued on f o u r t h page.)
