The Rodney telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1838-1840, 1840-07-09

| Senators, under the impression that it was
the most mild and humane mode of dealing
with the offenders for whose cases il was
intended. : 1t was adopted by the House of
| Representatives as a part Of the general
system Of the criminal law, which was then
undergoing complete revision and amend
ment; the necessity of this was evinced by
the following facts: For several years past
it had become apparent that the penitentia-
ry system was becoming more and more
burdensome at every session; large APP
preparation was called for to meet the excess
of expenditure above the receipts of the es-
Enlistment. In the commencement of the
session of 1920, the deficit amounted to near
$4,000.
This growing evil required the immediate
Iinterposition Of some vigorous legislative
measure. Two were recommended as be-
ing likely to produce the effect: first, pla-
cling the institution under better manage
ment; and, secondly, lessening the number
of convicts who were sentenced for short
periods, and whose labor was found to be
most unproductive. In pursuance of the
latter principle, thefts, to the amout of $50
or upwards, were subjected to punishment
in the penitentiary, instead of $40, which
was the former minimum sum;--this was
easily done. But The great difficulty re-
NAMED 10 determine what should be the
punishment Of those numerous larcenies be-
low the sum of $50. BY some, whipping
was proposed; by others, punishment by
hard labor in the county Jail; and by others
1t was thought best to make them work on
the highways. To all these there appeal
ed Insuperable objections, fine and impris-
onment were adopted by the House Of Rep
resentatives as the only alternative, and as
1t is well known these vexatious pillerings
were generally perpetrated by the more
worthless vagabonds in society, it was add
ed that when they could not pay the fines
and costs which were always part of the
sentence and punishment, their services
should be sold out to any person who would
pay their fine and costs for them. This
was the clause that was passed, as believe,
| by a unanimous vote of the House, and
stricken out in the Senate, in opposition to
the twelve who have been denounced. A
little further trouble in examining the jour-
nails would have shown your correspondent
that this was considered as substitute for
whipping, which was lost by a single vote of
the Senate, and in the House by small
majority, after being once passed.
think, Mr.. Editor, have said enough TO
1 show that this obnoxious law would not have
applied to Hunfortunate debtors of sixty four
Z years." but to infamous offenders who dep
rebate upon the property of their fellow
citizens, and who, by The constitution of the
State, as well as the principle of existing
laws, were subject to Involuntary servitude.
| must confess had no sanguinc exPecta-
iions of a beneficial effect from the. measure,
as it would apply to convicts who had attain
ed the age of maturity; but had supposed
that woman, or a youth, who; convicted of
an offence, remained in Jail for The payment
of the fine and costs imposed, might with
great advantage be transferred to the resi-
dence of some decent, virtuous private FAM
4 lily, whose precept and example would
gently lead them back to the paths of recti-
tude.
i would appeal to the candor of your cor
respondent to say whether, if there were an
individual confined under the circumstances
II have mentioned, for whose fate he was in
terested, he would not gladly see him trans
ferred from the filthy inclosure Of Jail, and
the still more filthy inhabitants, to the COM
Portable mansion of some virtuous citizen,
whose admonihon would check his vicious
propensites, and whose authority cvcr him
would be no more than is exercised over
thousands of apprentices now in our coun-
!. try. and those bound servants which are toler-
ated in our, as we'll as in every other State
in the Union9 Far from advocating the
dbomina6le principles attributed to me by
E your correspondent, think that imprison-
, ment for debt, under any circumstances but
that aChere fraud is GlIedged, Is at ,cGr 10Th
the best principles Of our Constitution, and
ought to be abolished.
am, sir, your humble servant,
sIVM. III HARRISON.
North Bend, Dec. %, 1921.