The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-07-07
CHARGE AGAINST eEN. HARRISON FOR vUT
ING re SELL WHITE MEN FOR DEBT.
SPEECH OF MR.. MASON, or OHIO,
ON THE
GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
House Of Representatives, april "a, 1910.

; Mr. Chairrnan:-In the discussion of the bill
now under consideration, l wish to call the at
ttention of the committee to that clause of the
first section which relates to the charge. SsThat
Gen. Harrison rOted to sell IcIiitc men for debt"
And, sir, if YOU should not, after exanfaat: on
fad the charge specifically provided for in the
bill, YOU may it, VIII all its variations, in
the printed speeches of several gentlemen who
have preceded rue in the debate 1t is however
with a feeling akin to that of humiliation that
i find myself engaged in defending distinguish
ed statesman and virtuous citizen AGAINST an
oit-reiuted and most wanton calumny Nor
would have consented now to notice it. but Toy
the persevering industry with which the enemies
OF the individual continue to urge the charge in
certain quarters of the Union, and especially i'll
Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina
In the manufacture of this story its authors
evidently desired to combine truth and falsehood
in such proportions to secure for it some de-
gree of currency, without, at the same time sub
lecting themselves to the charge of wilful mis-
representation And it must be admitted that
their effort has not proved entirely unsuccessful.
But the inventors and propagators of the fraud,
cannot escape the condemnation that awaits the
guilty. This charge had its origin in a vote
that General Harrison gave, member of the
| Senate of Ohio, in January, 1921 The journal
| of that session is now before me. But, before
proceeding further, allow to say that this
charge was fabricated and thrown into circula-
candidate for the Presidency 1t emanated from
the friends of Mr.. Van Buren, i'll that State and
from men, too, who had doubtless searched the
journal with patient diligence in the patriotic
hope that its dusty pages might furnish them with
materials for accusation against OF. of the purest
men of the age. And what did they find to re,
ward their industry They did not find what
they said they did-a vote authorising the sale
of white men for debt; but they found a vote
that was susceptible of misrepresentation, and,
therefore, well suited TO their purpose. Now,
sir, what opinion did these accusers of General
Harrison entertain in regard TO his vote, as found
recorded on the journalI Did they honestly be-
lieve ii was justified by the circumstances under
which it was given' Did they believe it was
indefensible, and that it would render him Justly
obnoxious TO censure' If such had been their
real conviction, then why, with the journal be-
fore them. did they bring false charger Why,
| if they believed the vote was incontestably
wrong I'D principle, or rnischievous in policy, did
| they not go before the Public with true state
nent of the case, and rely on these objections?
Think you they would have resorted to garbling
and Justification, if they had believed that true
statement could have been made useful to
their cause as a falschood' This supposition
would make them sin without temptation, and
practise wickedness without any motive. Few
men can be found, imagine, depraved enough
to utter deliberate falsehood in where
the truth would answer their purpose Just as
/
brought to this practical conclusion, namely, that
people residing out of the State of Ohio may
well believe that there is nothing very objection
able in the vote of Gen. Harrison, which his OPP
ponents in the State, have admitted, BY their
sorting to acts of misrepresentation, that they
could not successfully assail with any degree Of
| truth.
In regard to the estimation in which this
charge is held by the people of Ohio, consisting
of men OF all parties, and especially by those who
have been most notorious for their zeal in propa
eating it; l shall have something to sey hereaf-
| ter.
Sir, wish now TO call your attention to the
vote Of General Harrison, and the circumstances
under which it was given. The attention of
| the Legislature of Ohio, during its session OF
1S20-21 was anxionsly directed to the consider
alton of some plan for the relief of the people,
then suffering under degree of distress and emf
| barrassment, unexampled in the history OF that
State With currency deprecated and derangcd,
the financial resources of the State crippled, and
treasury exhausted, the people loudly complain
| ed of the almost intolerable burden of taxation
| they demanded retrenchment and reform in the
expenses incident to the administration of the
| criminal laws of the country. In this posture OF
| public affairs, with gradual increasing expen-
diture for the prosecution and punishment OF Of
tenders, and penitentiary crowded with con-
victs, that had become an annual charge on the
tre1suary, the Legislature assembled, and I'M
dertoolS to provide remedy for the grievances
complained of, By instituting revision of the
entire criminal code of the State. The task was
one of great difficulty and labor; but it was ac
complished with as much success as was then
attainable in the then condition of the country
The great object in view to diminish the
e public expenditures, in criminal eases. by re-
: ducing them to the lowest point consistent with
the ends proposed to be secured BY the due and
proper administration of punitive Justice. To
effect this, the House Of Representatives passed
: bill entitled ''in act supplement tary to the act
:, for the punishment of certain offences therein
;, named," and sent it to the Senate for concur
u renee. Several new provisions were introduced
!. into this bill BY it, certain offences which had
!. before been punished by Imprisonment in the
}, pe1itentiary, were made punishable by fine and
> Imprisonment in the county jaiis. Jurisdiction
otassaults and batteries in certain specified cases
;. was conferred justices of the peace with
a power to impose fine if the accused should
plead gulltyj and person; committing assaults
e and batteries were authorised to do, what was
an offer at common law namely s.to agree, COM
promise, OF settle with the party injurcd;" and
then all further proceedings were to cease Also
grand juries were prohibited from finding an in
. dictment Tor an assault and battery ssuriess the
6 party accused had been duly recognised to an
. pear in court and answer such prosecutionn
u And, in restraint Of frivolous or yexatious prose-
: cuhons Tor offences below the grade Of felony,
l the maine of the prosecutor" was required to be
endorsed on the bill of Indictment and he was
: made liable for the costsn in case the accused
should be acquitted :" unless the court should be
+ ofopinisn that there was reasonable ground for
. instituting the prosecution"
In addition TO these various provisions, having
e the same objectin view, the bill from the House
;, contained several sections intended % render
e more eiiectual the means provided bYiexisting
laws for the collection Of fines and the costs OF
conviction, and to relieve the counties from the
onerouS charse oil supporting the ofsndcrs in
desired it; but, if not, by Compelling item to la
: Dor, like the rest OF the Community. Tor their
u own maintenance The 10th and 18th sections Of
the bill, as it passed the Senate, are a follows:
"sec IT, That every person adudgcd or s.ntenced TO
pay fine for any offence specified in fs ACT or the act
to which this Is supplementary may dscIiaree such fine