The pilot. [volume] (Baltimore [Md.]) 1840-1840, 1840-04-09

ed the feelings of your correspondent, was pass
ed by the House of Representatives and voted
Cor hv the twelve Senator's under the impress
sion that il was the most mild and humane
mode or dealing with the offenders Tor WhoSe
cases il was intended. 1t was adopted oy
the House of Representatives as part OF the
general system of the criminal law winch was
then undergoing complete revision and a
mendment. The necessity OF this is evlnced by
The following facts: For several years past 1t
had become apparent that the Pententlary
system was becoming more ana more puFdeh-
some at every session; large appropriation
was called for TO meet the excess oil eXpehdl-
tire above The receipts OF the establishments
In the commencement of the session OF lo2U,
fine deficit amounted to near S2O,OOO'
This growing evil required the immediate
;nternosi,ion of some vigorous legislative mea-
snre Two were recommended as being like
" 10 produce the effect: first, placing the In
stitution under better management; ana sec
ondIv. IpssenInG the number of convcts who
were sentenced for short periods, and whose
labor was found OF course 10 be most unpro-
ductive. In pursuance of the latter principle,
tbe(is 70 the amount Of $50 or upwards, were
Subjected TO punishment in the Penltentary,
instead of $40. which was the former minimum
snm this was easily done. But the great
diff;cultv remained to determine what should
he the punishment of those numerous larceheS
below the sum of $50. By some, whipping
was nroposed: by others, punishment by hard
labor in the county jas; by others, 1t was
thoucht best to make them work on the high
ways' To all these there appeared lnsupera-
bic objections: fine and imprisonment were a.
donted bv the House of Representatives as the
only alternatives: and as it is well known these
vexatious offerings were generally perPetrateu
hv The more worthless vagabonds IN society,
Il was added that when they could not pay
the fines and costs which are always part OF the
sentence and punishment, their services should
he sold out TO any person who would pay their
fines and costs for them. This was the clause
that passed, as believe, by unanimous vote
ofthe House, and stricken out in the Senate,
in onnositon to the twelve who have been de-
nounced. A further trouble in eXamlng the
journals would have shown your correspondent
that this was considered as substitute Tor
whining. which was lost only by single vote
in he Senate, and in the House, by small
majority, after being once passed.
/ think, Mr.. Editor, have said enough To
show that this obnoxious law would not have
annlied to "unlortunate debtors OF slxty-lour
Years s. but to infamous offenders, who depre-
date upon the property of their fellow cltlzenS;
and who, by the Constitution Of the State, as
well as the principle of existing laws, were
subject TO involuntary servltude.
Unjust confess, had no very sangune ex
nectations of beneficial effect from this mea-
sure, as it would apply to conWcts VINO mad
obteined the age OF maturity; but had sup,
nosed that woman or youth, who, convicted
of am offence, remained in Jail for the payment
of the fine and costs imposed, might with great
advantage be transferred to the residence oil
some decent, virtuous private family, whose
precept and example would gently lead them
back to the paths of rectltude.
would appeal to the candor OF your cor
respondent to say whether, if there were an
Individual confined under the circumstance |
have mentioned, for whose fate he was inter-
ested. he would not gladly see him transferred
from the filthy enclosure of jail, and the still
more filthy inhabitants, TO the comfortable
mansion of some virtuous citizen, whose ad-
mentions would check his vicious propensites,
and whose authority over him would be NO
more than is exercised over thousands OF APP
prentices in our country, and those bound ser
wants which are tolerated in our, as well as in
eyery other State in the Union. Far from adj
uocat;ng the a5ominable principles attributed 10
me by vour correspondent, think that impri-
son,nent for debt, under any circumstances 6us
that yhere fraud is alleged, IS at ,car Nth the
best principles of our Constitution ind ought 10
be abolished.
am. sir, vonr humble servant,
VIM. H. HARRISON.
North Bend, Dec. 81, 1921.