Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-07-10

IfoiB obic idi reports to both bran.
ches OF the Legislature of the State
of Louisiana, at its late session, it ap.
pears that Imprisonment for debt is
their taxed with horrors which. we
trust, it has never experienced in any
other country of the earth. A Com
mlttee OF the Senate, for example. at
the last session, reports to the Leeisla-
ture as follows:
''Your Committee would betray their dutv. .
did they not denounce to you the confirm.
ance OF the same abuses and denounce to you
The continuance OF the same abuses and in
conveniences, which have been made knowr
to you at the last session the unfortunate shat-
ing The couch ofthe assassin or pirate, condemn
ed to the most ignominious death he slave and
The zchite man had died together, as are also
numbers OF every complexion the insane are
rae laughing stock and wockery Of the other pri-
eo'ers. This is summary ofthe affecting scenes
that have struck your committee. 1t is the
province OF the Legislature to remedy, ais
speedy, as possible, ills that degrade the vir-
tuous man, and which ought to caIl up blush
on the cheek OF those whose duty it is to
remove these evils, and who have not done
their duty"
And well might they call up the
blush of shame on the cheeks of all
concerned in such inconceivable a.
buses ! Much more, on the checks of
those who themselves denounce these
abuses without applying the remedy
within their power.
u Committee of The House of Re-
representatives. also reports upon the
same subject as follows:
at is painful duty of your committee
to report the Continuance OF the same evils and
Inconvenience which were made known to
you at your last session Prisoners Of every
class are mingled and The insane are exposed 10
7ockerg and de'7ston for these most helpless
and wretched beings your committee pray the
interference Of this honorable house," &c.
These reports were both unani-
n1ously adopted, it appears, and and
there the matter ended, The same
"abuses and Inconvenience and
"evils and inconyeniences"-Gt is e.
vident, by the way, that both the re.
ports are the fruit of one mind)-the
same atrocities, we will call them,
continue to exist. The Legislature
adjourned without acting further on
the sal jet. How shall we recon.
CHE this Indifference to misery, and to
the rights of their fellow beings, with
the general character of the State for
llberaIty and nice notions on honor
and eproprietvs2 Have the ends of
justice been deieated.haye the cries Of
humanity been stihed, in the conflict
OF contendine factions in the Legisla.
tive Bodies ? We cannot imagine
any other way of explaining the cause
of this reproach TO the State. Whate-
yer may be the cause of it, there can
not be the least doubt that the first
act ofthe succeeding Legislature win
be to remedy this crying evil. 1t
would nc gross injustice to the People
of the State, to suppose that they,
now apprizcd of the abuse, would
suffer their Representatives longer to
tolerate it.
The abolition of imprisonment for
debt will be perhaps the most impor-
tant subject presented to Congress at
the next session. 1t is to be hopcd
the Members will come prepared TO
act upon it, as well by the instructions
OF theiE constituents, as by their own
reflections.
american Calicoes.-The Editor
has received some very "neat and
strong" specimens of American
eallcoes and chintzes. The colors are
as bnIllent as the imported, the price
nearly as moderate, and the Ualue IN
inc consumer, we should suppose to
be twice as great as you may Tear
two or three thicknesses of British
cloths, OF the same apparent quality,
with less effort than is REQUIRED to
tear one of these Niles Reg.
Now, this is the true way of cor.
behring's things" MOTTO force people
to buy your calicoes and other goods.
by driving articles from. cur markets.
by heavy tariff. but, by making them
hofcc as Oaluable, induce the consu.
mer TO buy them in preference to the
ioreign manufacture. These Amcri.
can calico markers deserve credit az
wei as encouragement. That they
VIII get, 1t, is certain, if Mr.. Ni!es's
statement be correct.
LRichmond Compiler. |