Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-06-02

pan II he senicpcc md punishment, their
services should llc sold cot 30 any person who
would paw ihcif fines and COSTS for them. 49,
THIS wss the olsusc that was passed. a. be-
htsc hy . unanimous vote al tho lIou ", and
stricken cot ia tho Senate, In opposi,ion 10 the
,u riso Who have been denounced. little
E rther troullo ~ cxamioing the journals would
havo shown your correspondent thai this was
cons. icrci as = substitute for whipping. which
was host only by a single vote in the Senate,
and Va the House by a small majority, allcr
being once passed.
! think, Mr.. Editor. have said enough 10
show that this obnoxious law would not have
applied 90 unfortunate debtors OF sisty-iour
years. la, 30 infamous offenders who depre-
date upon the properly Of their iellow-cli'zens,
aud who, 10y the Constitution OF the state, as
well rs the principle Of existing laws, were
sahjeci 20 involuntary scriindc. ] must COLI
Tess I had no very sanguinc expectations Of
beneficial effect from this measure, rs il would
apply 10 con,icis who had attained the age Of
maturity; bot had supposed tina, a woman or
a yonth who, convinced OF an offence, remain
cd 10 jail for the payment of The fine and cos;
im ,0seI, might with grea, advantage be trans
ferrcd 10 the residence Of some decent, sirtuous
private family, whose prccept and example
would gcEily lead them back 10 tie paths of
rociitudc
would appeal to the candor Of your cores
pendent TO say whether, II there were an in.
diyidual confined under the circumstances ]
have mentioned, for whose fate he was inter
os,ed, he would not gladly see him transferred
from The filthy enclosure OF Jail, and the still
more ff,liy inhabitants, to the comfortable
mansion of some yir,uous citizen, whose adj
moniions would check his vicious propens,ies-
and who's, authority over him would be no
more than is exercised over thousands of APP
preniiccs IN Our country and those bound ser
wants which are tolerated in our own as well
IN every other State in the Union. Far
from advocating the abomnable principles at
iributed to me by your correspondent, think
that imprisonment for debt, under any circum.
stances but those where fraud is alleged: is at
war with the best principles of our Consti,u-
ton, and ought to be abolished. am, sir
your humble servant,
w. II. HARRISON.
North Bend, Dec. 81, 1921.
Richmond, Sept. Is, 1896.
Dear Sir acknowledge the receipt of your
favor of this date. have before heard OF the
accusation TO which it refers. On nv way
hither, met yesterday a young gentleman
from Maryland, who informed me that a vote
lshed in favor of law TO sell persons impris-
oncd under a judgment for debt for term of
years, IL unable TO discharge the execution.
did not for a moment hesitate TO declare that
] had never given any such vote, and that if a
vote of that description had been published and
ascTibed to me, it was an infamous forgery.
Such an act would have been repuqnant TO my
feelings, and in direct conflict with my own
opinions, public and private, through the whole
course of my life. No such proposition was
ever submitted to the Legislature of Ohio
none such would FOR moment have been en-
terained-nor would any son OF hers have
dared TO propose it.
SO far from being willing TO sell men for
debts which they are unable to discharge, am,
and ever have been opposed to all imprison-
ment for debt. Fortunately, have in power
10 show that such has becn my established
opinion; and that IN a public capacity, l avow
ed and acted upon it, Will those who have
preferred the uRfounded and malicious accusa-
ton refer TO the journals of the Senate of the
United States, ID Session, 10Th Congress,
page235-it will there be seen that I was one
OF The Committee which reported bill to abol-
ish Imprisonment for debt. When the bill
was before the Senate advocated its adoption,
and on its passage voted in its favor [See
Senate jouinul, LIST Session, Goth Congress-
pages l0I and 1921
II is not little remarkable, { al if the effort
! am accused of having made, to subject men
to sale for the non-payment Of their debts, had
been successful, might, from the state of my
pecuniary circumstances at the time have been
the first victim repeat the charge is a vile
calumny. At no period of my life, would
have consented to subject the poor and unfor-
,unaie To such a degradation, nor have omitted
to exert myself in their behalf, against such an
attempt TO Cypress them.
! am dear sir, with great respect,
Your humble servant,
WIN. III. HARRISON.
]. H. Peasants, ESQ.