State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-10-04
J. II. Peasants, Esq.

should be received with some grams OF
allowance, inasmuch as it appears on the
eve of Il Presidential election. TO obvatc
any scruples of this sort, it is fortunately
in our power to present the views of Gen.
Harrison on the same subject, freely given
10y him in the following letter, written
sixteen years ago, when lie was not a can
ddate for office. We ask every one to
read it, and then judge for himself:
To tie Editors Of tie ,9d"c,tiser:
Sir In your paper Of the 18th inst,
observed Il most violent attack upon clev-
en- other members OF the late Senate and
myself, for a supposed rote gwen at the last
session, lur the passage Oi law TO 'SeN
debtors IN certain cases. Ii such has been
our conduct acknowledge tliat we should
not only deserve the ccnsurc which the VIII
ter has bestowed on us, but the cNcCratOn
OF every honest man in society. An act
OF that kind is not only opposed to tie
principles Of Justice and humanity; but
would be a palplblc violation Of the con-
sttuti0n of the State, which every lcgsla
tor is sWCn To support; and sanctioned bV
a House OF Representatives and 10 Scna-
tors, it would Indicate state OF dcpravity
which would ill every patriotic bosom with
the most alarming aniicipHlions. But the
fact is, that no such proposition was ever
made in the Legislature. or even thought
OF. The act to which the writer aludcs.
has no more relation 10 the collection OF
debts than it has to the discovery of lon
Qitudc. Ii was an act for the punishment
Of offences against the State; ard that
part OF it which has so deeply wounded
the feelings Of your correspondent, was
passed by the House of Representatives and
voted for by the twelve Senators under the
impression that it was the most mild and
humane mode Of dealing with the offenders
for whose cases it was intended 1t was
adopted by the House Of Representatives
as a part of the general system Of GRIMM
al law, which was then undergoing com
plete revision and amendment: tie nCces-
Sity ofthis is cvinced by the following facts:
For several years past, it had become APP
parent that the Pcnitcntiary system was
becoming more and more burdens0me; at
every session large appropriation was
called for to meet the excess OfcXpenditurc
above the receipts of the Establishments
In the commencement OF the session of
1920, the deficit amounted to near $40 ,OO0.
This growing evil required the immedi-
ate 'htcrposltion OF some vigorous Lcgis-
lanve measure; two were recommended as
being likely to produce the effect; first pla-
cling the institution under better manage
ment, and secondly, lcssening the number
Of cOnv!Cts who were sentenced for short
periods, and whose labor was found to lie
most unproductive. In pursuance of the
latter principle, thcits to the amount 1850
or upwards, were subject to punishment IN
tIle re"l'ehuary' instead OF > O,Wmcll was
'ilc 'oiihvr minimum aolil-lAiS was easily
uoiic Dut t'G great Ii"cuI'y remained
!" ut'ot'I'i''c "'iat stroud De 'I'e PUNISH
liCnt % nr'"' numerous i3IceiiieS below the
SUN VI IW ny some whipping was pro-
:"' ~ ''"I'' P,u,'''''''"t"I ny HG'" "a
W. ~ u'o G"I"ly JallS ana ny others II
M'9 ti'J"4II DcS5 TO H,ahe 'h'm Wof" on
t'i0 n'ss'i"'f1, d" u''7c leFe appear
Ct mo" .'Ol""'c "DcC'Ioh' Hi'G ana I'M lii5-
on'ncn' WIS 'uo'tcu ~ 'nC House Oh itcP-
i ~ 90 ti.c "iy "'tlatiVe' ana us
;. ''' , ,'1'' 1871 t''i VT "''S PHGF-
,i'S" We'I ,,, on0i'"J Pc'Pcuo'eu ny me
,,oao i w. ''',cS' N"Snpo,lu5 III Soclc'y' 1t
T,a G,,, 'I'as " 'ioii my o""Iu NOT pay
~ ,'.''s ',''o' "''o.l arc AWAY" part
''''" PI'''Si''''''' uat I'oT
81 ,,' ,'',''' Do 'oiu o"I u any person
T I'" "' NJ fry u'Iil ll'o ana cost" LOT
49,, TO nc O""9c "n'ci was
l 'c =, "'''lI'' ~ Il unanimous Eo'e
gu 90 'o"o" V"' III ,'Ic ,0cH-
ItI i" "i'i'"'''",' u lhe i"r.Fc VINO nave
- u,,''':''o.u' u niue I'rt''cf t'oUpic
- - cN"lI'''II"S '"c journals would nave
.' '',,.:I wy ,.'"I ','!" was