The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-12-09

should he imprisoned thirty days
What would be thought oftheir human.
ity what ofthcir sanity! Such, how
ever, in substance. is the law CT the
Of Massachusetts,. The
rbsurdity ofsuch a system is as glsring
as It's cruelty.
tits Objectionable on another ground.
10 deprive citizen ofljberty is one Of
the highest infections Of penal justice,
Next to capital punishment, it is the
most Infamous punishment known TO
our law. The power Of yielding this
formidable weapon ought to be lodged
exclusively in the hands Of the magis-
trate. Grave public reasons should a.
lone decide when it should be employ
ed. The present law submits to the
discretion, the caprice, and the pas
sions Of the creditor, whether he will
or will not subject a citizen to this
odious inhiction of penal justice.
Fortunately for the credit Of tha
country at large, though to the discredit
of Massachusetts, our law Oh this SUBJ
ject is behind the legislation Of the ma
ority of the States. Very few States
in the Union deem SO lightly of the
value of the blessings which they Sc.
cure to their citizens, as to allow an
individual to deprive his neighbor Of
his liberty, for thirty days, for debt
of five dollars.
There are several governments call
ed deSpotic, where no such outrage on
reason and humanity is tolerated.
That it is submitted to in this commune
! ty, as Il proof how much practical OPP
lpression people will endure who en-
Joy, in theory, the power of providing
a remedy. The acts of the British
government, which drove our fathers
to arms, were infinitely less grievous
than the laws in question. Nor is
there any question ofnational or party
politics, that now excites the sensibility
of the people of the United States,
which so much concerns them as this
subject, i'll regard to which so great an
apathy prevails.
Harsh, however, as the expression
may sound, if the people, possessing
the means ola perfect and instant REM
edy in their hands, will not apply it,
they ought 10 suffer. Were it not that
/ the unfortunate class who suffer most
1.-The poor and friendless-are unable
efiectually to make their wishes felt,
and their rights respected, nothing
would need to be said. A fortnight's
time devoted, TO the subject by the
General Court, would be amply suffice
lent 10 enact statute which would
bring the law nearer to humanity and
reason; and, if the people wish for
such a statute, it is very easy to make
their wish known and respected.
MARcH OF KNowLEDGE. Mourad,
the hero of DIR. Madden's new ro-
nance, (The Mussulman) after visit
ing a club Of young profiigates, holds
the following conversation with. his
! friend.
~ suppose (said Zadig) you never
saw set Of ycrrier paupers than these
Sufs; and doubtless you imagine they
; are well off in the world, because they
wear good clothes, and smiles on their
faces; but they are all beggars; one
halfof them are bankrupts, the remain-
der are discarded profligates ofvarious
sects who think of nothing on earth,
but wine and love-songs. You have
seen how happy they were tonight,
and yet, | will venture to say, two
thirds of them have not paras in their
pocket, after paying the wine-bill, to
buy bread tomorrow, without troub-
, ling their heads with thought of
where the razkallah is to come from"
"This is wonderful ! (cried Mourad)
f how in the name of Allah, do they find
the means of going onsin their de-
bauchery :" =
easy enough, (replied Zadig:) they
/ live by their wits--they are shrewd
, fellows. In every large city there is
certain proportion of rich fools, who
exist for no other purpose, but to be
| the razkallah of INDECENT knaves."
"Allah is most bountiful!" (cried Mou-
, rad;) Time is truly the Father Of
| knowledge; till this blessed hour, I
= knew not for what purpose fools were
, suffered to grow rich"
SPRcIE.-The New York Journal Of
Commerce says. 1t is estimated, by those
4, who understand such matters, that the
Banks in that city have now on hand sew
! en- millions of dollars in specie, and it con-
(. tnues TO flow in from ,ll quarters. The
| vaults are already ovcrfowing, and some
I of the Banks will soon be compelled to
9 rent larger accommodations in which to
store their redundant barrels Of dollars.
; The legal interest on this msss Of d.e esp.
! ital, would be almos, half million annual
ly.