Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1840-06-18
From the Macon (Geo.) Messenger.
"SELLTNG POOR WHITE MEN"

| "SEDblNG GOOR VIII u MEN,
As this has been a lavorate theme for discus
sion and misrepresentation by the Van Buren,
Presses, we have copied the annexed letter a
Gen, Harrison, written while the subject was
fresh in the recollection of every one, or per
haps before it even had time to be generally
disseminated and understood. II will be seen
that the law refers only to TEIlEVES-that il
could not effect any but such as were very pSO1
in moral principle as well as purse-but moi
those who were poor in purse alone. If the
Van Buren, presses choose to lavish their sym
pa,hies on individuals, guilty Of larceny, lei
them have their way--we cannot account for
II, unless the practice has become respectable
in theIreyes from the speudour Of the achieve
menls OF several Of their party, such as Price
Swartout and others. The only thing surprs
ing about it is, that such mean, pitiful rogues
os steal less than fifty dollars, should make So
large draft on their sympalhcs.
1t has generally been represented that poor
white men, who had sub jecled themselves 10 a
| fine by court, who had committed no moral
error, were to be made subject TO this law
This appears not to be the fact, and this
change in the law was even more favorable c
terminals than the former law, or the other
amendments offered; such as labour on the
roads, whipping, cropping &c.-But we would
ask, how lar should our sympathies extend
TO THlEVES-and how far should their feel.
ngs be regarded in the punishment for their
Icrimes? So long as it does not stigmatize The
community by It's barbarism, the more severe,
Ior Illuminating it is to the Cuprit, the better the
Example, and the greater the safeguard thrown
around the honest portion Of the community
And we would ask, who is there among US, who
would willingly pay his portion Of the expen-
SEES of maintaining such criminals in our jas,
when remedy offered? Would he not rather
eXcIaim at once, put them TO work and let them
support themseyes-ifthey have the deprav.
~ to steal, they can bear the shame Of the
punishment.
But our sympathetic Van Buren, men, have
a great horror Tor unequal punishment: between
rich and poor men, particularly when the OBJ
ect is at a distance. hen the subject came
home to them, no longer ago Than the years
1881 and 9, when it was iavorite measure
with their party, to abolish the Pententiary
md revive the old criminal code, we find this
among the unequal atonementS TO be dealt out
o offenders. 10 hunt deer by fire light,
inc OF fifty dollars was The penalty, and if the
offender was unable to pay ii, he was to receive
hrty-nine laShes, on his naked back, "ceH
aid on."-A rich man, with the price of IA bale
If Coton,, could relieve himself from all Difficult.
y, while his poor neghbor would be led out on
he public square, to the whipping post, and
his offence. be atoned by the loss OF his hide
The Standard of Union is one of the most clam.
1rous about the enormty Of Gen. ilarrison's
offence, while it was one of the most active in
-eviving this law at home. IL never commented
hen about the inequality Of punishment, or the
Door while man taking a SkinniMg-or the
Of a mans being hung "wthoul
he benefit of clergy las was then the case
or stealing horse, mule or ackass Perhaps {
Is sympathies did not run so much towards t
hicves and rogues at that time as it does now. q
t may be considered IA strange freak in them, I
nd their party. by some; but we think our )
uggestlon near the commence OF this article q
will account for it. We can say for Gen. a
harrison that it is well that he had nothing to '
10 with the Legislature of Georgia at that time, c
,r we should have heard Of more barbarous
crimes laid TO his charge, than voting for sell
ny out the services Of a poor thief to pay fines {
md costs. I