State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-11-08

session, for the passage OF law "tO sell I
debtors az certain cases" If such has been
our conduct, acknowledge that we should
not only deserve the censurc which the
writer has bestowed upon us, but tho exc
Grafton ufevery honest man in society AM
act Of that kind is not only opposed to the
principles OF Justice and humanity; but
would be II palpablc violation of the const-
tuition of the State, which every legislator |
is sworn TO support; and sanctioned by a !
House of Representatives, aud twelve sell !
utors, it would indicate II state Of depravity
which would fill every patriotic bosom
with the most alarming antlcipaons. But
the fact is that no such proposition was ever
made in the Legislature, or even thought Of
/ The act to which the writer alludcs has no
more relation to tho collection Of "debts,"
than it has to the discovery of longitude
1t was an act for TIC punishment Of oilcn-
ces against the Sta c > and that part Of it
which has so deeply wounded the feelings
OF your correspondent, was passed Ivy the
! House OF Representatives., and voted for by
twelve senators under the impression that
| it was the most mild aud humane mode Of
} dealing with the offenders Tor whose cases
J it was intended! 1t was adopted 10y the
| House Of Representatives rs Il part Of the
general system of criminal law, which was
I then undergoing complete revision and
amcndmuut; the necessity Ut tins Is evinc-
/ ed hy the following facts. For several
years past, it had become apparent that the
/ peniteutiary system was becoming more
and moe burdensomc at every session. Il
/ large appropriation was called for 10 meet
the excess OF expenditure above the receipts
Of the establishment. III the commence
ment of 1870, the deficit amounted TO near
$4,000.
This growing evil required the immedi-
ate interposlion Of some vigorous lcgSla-
tive measure; two were recommended as
being likely TO produce the desired effect (;
first placing the institution under better
management, and secondly lesscnlng the
number of contlcts who were sentenced for
short periods, aud whose labor was found
Of course to be the most reproductive. in
pursuance of the latter principle, thetls to
the amount OF fifty dollars and upwards
were subjected to punishment in the peni-
Tertiary, instead Of ten dollars, which was
the former minimum suln-this was easily
done But the great difficulty remained
to determine what should be the punish
ment OF the Numerous urcenies below the
sum of fifty dollars. BY some, whipping
was proposed, by others punishment 10y
! hard labor in the county jas, and by 9th
crs, it was thought best to make them work
. on the highways. To all these, there APP
pcared uperablo objections; fine and i'm
! prisonmcnt was adopted by the House OF
! Representatives us the only alternative, and
as it was we'll known, their yeAatou5 phi
fcrings were generally perpetrated 10y The
! most worthless yagabonds IN society, it wa,
= added that when they could not pay the
fines and COSTS which were always part o
the sentence and punishment, that lhel
services should be sold out TO amy person
/ who would pay thclr fines and costs To-
them. This WAS the clause which wa
passed, as believe, by unanimous vote o
the House, and stricken out in the SENATE
! in opposition of the twelve who have beer
, denounced. a little further trouble III eX
aiming the journals would have shown
> your correspondents that this was consider
o ed as IA substitute for whipping, which wa
o lost only by single vote Ia ihe Scnnte, an
. in the House by small majority, after be
= ing once passed.
think, Mr. Editor / have SAID cnous
:, to show that this obnoxious aW would ne
If have been applied 10 uniorlunato debtor
of GA years" but to infamous QDtHderS, VII
delredate upon the property OF Their tclIo'
citizens, and who, by the constitution OF III
Y State as well as the principal existing laws
: were subject 10 involuntary servtude.
must confess ! had no very sanSulno e.
= pectu,lons OF beneficial effect from In
n measure, as it would apply 10 cohrlcls VIII
G had attained the age OF maturity. But
hud suuiDspl lh3t Il woman OF a You'll