Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-09-26

JOHN II. PLEASANTS.
GIN. WV. H. HARRISON.

RrcuMoNp, Sept. l., 1896.
Dear Sri acknowledge tlIc receipt OF your
favor of this date have before heard Of the ac-
CESSATION II which il refer On my way hlther,
met yesterday with Young gentleman oil Mary
land, who informed me- that a vote of NINE in the
Senate of Ohio had been published, ~ iasos Vi IA
law to sell persons imprisoned under Judgment
Tor debt for term of years. il unable otherwise
to discharge the execution. | did not for mo-
mcnl hesitate to declare that ! had neverg ven any
such vote, ana that If vote OF that description mad
been published and ascrlbcd TO me- II was an IN
famous forgery. Such an act would have been
repugnani feelings, and in direct conflict with
my opinions, public and private, throughout the
" hole course OF my life. No such proposition @as
EYER submitted 10 the Legislature of Ohlo-none
such would fora moment have been entertained
nor would any son OF hel's lave dared 10 pro-
pose II.
So far from being wiling TO sell men for debts
which they are unable 10 discharge, am, and ev-
or have been opposed Ia all imprisonment Tor debt
Fortunately hive il in my power 10 show that
such has been my established opinion and that
in my public capacity, avowcd and acted up TO IT.
VIII those who have preferred the unfounded
and malicious accusation refer to the journals
If the Senate of the United States. 2nd session,
lolh Congress page 325--t viii there BIO seen
that was one OF tie committee which reported
bill 10 abolish imprisonment for debit When the
bill WAS before the Senate, | advocated its adop-
ton, and on lis passage voted in lis favor See
Senate Journal lst session, ooh Congress, pages
lOl and l02.
1t is mol little rem rkalle, that if the effort
am accused 10 have made, 10 subject men 10 sale
for the non paymcn, of their debts, had been sue
ccssful, might, from the state of my pecunary
circumstances, at the tune, have been the first VIC
tim | repeat, the charge is vile calumny. At nor
period Of my life, would have consented TO subject
the poor and unfortunate 10 such degradation;
nor have omitted TO exert myself in their behalf,
against such an attempt TO Cypress them.
II is sought 10 support the charge by means of
garbltd extracts from the journals of the Senate
of Ohio. The section of the bill which is employ
ed for that purpose had manner OF reference
to the relation Of creditor and debtor and could
not by pos billy subject the debtor 10 the contsoe
of his creditor Nome know better than the a9-
thorS Of the calumny, that the alleged section Is
utterly at variance With the charge which II IS al
tempted to found upon it, and ttlt 50 lar from
proposition to invest creditor with power over
the liberty OF his debtor, II had respect only TO the
mode of disposins of public offenders, Nhohad been
found guilty by jury OF their fellow citizens, OF
some crime against the laws OF their State. That
was exclusively the import and design OF the sec
ton OF the bill upon the motion 10 strike which
voted in the negative. SO you perceive, that
in place Of voting to enlarge the power Of credi-
tors. tie vote which gave concerned alone tho
tream ent OF maleftetors, convicted OF crimes a.
gainat the public.
1t would extend tins letter 10 an iaconvenient
length, to 90 fully into the reasons wlll' led me at
the time to an opinion in favor OF tie inoposrh
treatment of that class oi offenders, who would
have fallen within IFS operation, 'iof IS sch an
| expose called for, The measure was by no n'eaas