The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-10-18
'UEsDAY MoRNINf, OCTOBER Is, 1891.

have esiended the preventive SYSTEM
ESQ well anown to our laws)-irom felony
20 t'u9d--from greater to lesser Of
tence--rscognisiDg no right to arrest, ex-
cePt on dtegdiion of fraud or apprehend-
ed ifaut and giving the party arrested
Tor intshted fraud, the same means of de-
fence ard the same rules of law as in the
case Of intended felony. This places
the quetion in its true light. The ciril
and criminal proceedings are separate
and do not necessarily belong togeth-
er. CCI is confined to the original
inter a,d meaning of the term, to wit,
Tie ss1tsting differences between indi-
viduglsin which the peace or safety ef
the community is not at all Interested
and tae criminal 70 all sorts of crime or
offence. The difficulty in the practice
Of our Courts has grown out of the pro-
miscuous use Of the civil and criminal
process, as will be seen by the report
1t is but reasonable, therefore, that we
should resort to the cause in order TO re:
move the effect.
There is no great difficulty in getting
general expression OF opinion in favor of
the principle, the difficulty lies in pro-
yidiDg the proper remedy. 10 1880,
had the honor of offering resolution in
the house of Assembly in this State,
in these words "Resoired, That i'm
prisoDment for debt ought to be abol-
ished''-whch passed with only ten dis
senting voices but bill could not be
agreed upon--At the last session, the
great difficulty lay in fixing the attention
ofmembers to the provisions Of the bill
Those who closely and critically exam
ined the principles of the bill, (among
them the best legal talents in the house
uniformly became It's advocates and
the act at last became law with only
twelve dissenting voices.
That il is important to prerem fraud all
are ready to admit-for by that means
honest men are more surely protected
than by the punishment of it after convic-
tion. In the room then, Of an underlined
cause Of arrest, which is now practised
under the law of Imprisonment for debt,
we have given to the party who may be
aggrieved, right to apply preren-
tire remedy, provided the magistrate shall
be satisfied that justice demands it.
could dwell on this subject through TWEEN.
ty such sheets as this, bat the length o.
this letter already admonishes mo to
bring it to close. This is subject
near my heart. 1t is question OF far
greater magnitude, and general impor-
IN fhan
which now agitates the political world,
and those who, laying aside the party
prejudices Of the day, can unite in the
causes of philanthropy and the rights of
man-may with propriety declare to the
world the often repeated and msapplied
adage-"prineipIes not men"
am, &c. S. NJ. STlLWELL.
After reading the letter, the Chairman
said, that from the account therein given,
it appeared that the efforts made in the
great State of New Y ork to remedy the
abuse of Imprisonment for Debt had
been attended with signal success. This
encouraging fact ought to inspire us with
additional zeal in the same benevolent
work. Massachusetts had ever been re-
garded as the head quarters Of good
principles, and although she had not
actually taken the lead on this subject,
would doubtless be among the first States
to follow the praiseworthy examples of
New York, Ohio and Kentucky.
The resolutions which were introduced
by Major Lobdell, at the former meeting,
and were published in the report of the
proceedings, were then taken up for dis
cussion.
The Rev. DIR. BEEcHER then address
sed the meeting.-He began by saying
that it was favorite opinion of the old
world that men were incapable of self
government This opinion, fostered and
cherished by antiquity extended both to
church and state. 1t was considered
absolutely necessary to have king to
take care of both. Mankind were una
bic to govern themselves, ,and the govern
ments of Europe viewed us when we set
up for ourselves, with pity and contempt.
We were considered semi-barbarians.
When however they found that we could
raise corn and bread to support ourselves,
and some to spare, they had come in
crowds to visit us and VIC were glad to
see them. Here there were no chains
nor manacles, no dungeons. While we
are hailing these emigrants and giving
them welcome to our shores, we learn
tidings that the European world is heav-
ing with political convuIsions. The ma
tions are bursting their fetters, and prov
ing that mankind are capable of govern
ing themselves. In despotic govern
ments force was the ruling principle but
in ours, intellect, principle aud conscI-
ence were equally effective. The rights
Of individuals Of course were the good OF
the whole community. In obtaining the
riuhts &C indiuiduals or Of q cnmmunity