Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-03-27
BURLINGTON
FRIDAY MORNING. MARCH n, 20:
"WHITE

Of Gen. Harrison's vote in the Ohio Leg
stature in 1921, that he had ever been
,alted out on this subject. But such is
The fact. 1t seems that he was assailed
for it., at the time, and came out with a
public explanation in one of the Cmcin-
natl papers, which we copy below. More
reccntlp, he has written a letter in answer
to some inquiries on this subject, from
Richmond, Virginia, in which, we observe
he takes substantially the ground assumed
by us. He says-'As the law stood, they
" were liable under the sentence TO con-
" inement in the common Jail, where Of
-" tenders of various degrees of profigacy
"-of different ages, Sex and color, wero
" crowded together. Under such circum-
/" stances, it is obvious that the bad must
" become worse, whilst reformation could
" hardly be expected in respect to any.
"Thc youthful offender, it might be hoped,
" would be reclaimed under the operation
/" of the proposed system; but there was
"great reason tQiear his still greater cor
&c ruption amid the contagion ola common
receptacle of vice. Besides, the pro-
I" posed amendments of the law pre-sup-
/" posed that the delinquent was in con-
/" finement for the non-payment of a fine
" and costs of prosecution-(the payment
" of which was a part of the sentence,) it
" seemed, therefore, humane, in respect
" to the offender, to relieve him from con-
" finement, which deprived him of the
"means of discharging the penalty, and
ito place him in a situation in which he
" might work out his deliverance, ever at
|" the loss for a time of his personal
/" liberty"
But the following communication, it
will be seen was published in 1921, when
probably Gen. H. little dreamed Of ever
being a candidate for the Presidency, and
when he could have no other motive than
that of having simple justice done to tho
best of motives.
LETTER TO CINCINNATI EDITOR, 1921.
SIR In your paper Of the 18th inst, | observed
a most violent attack upon eleven other members
Of the late Senate and myself for a supposed vote
given at the last session, for the passage Of a law
to "seH debtors, in certain cases" If such had
been our conduct, | acknowledge that we should
not only deserve the censure which the writer has
bestowed upon us, but the execrarion Of every
honest man in society. An act of that kind; is
not only opposed 10 the principles Of justice and
| humanity, but wonld lie a palpable violation ofthe
Constitution Of the State, which every legislator is
sworn TO support; and sanctioned by a House Of
Representatives and twelve Senators, II would IN
dicaie a state of depravity which would fill every
patriotic bosom with the most alarming anticipa-
tons. But the fact is, that no such proposition
was ever made III the legislature, or even thought
Of The act 10 which the writer allude>, has no
more relation to the collection of "debts" than il
has 10 the discovery Of longitude. Ii was an act
for the PUNISHMENT of offences" aeainst the state;
and that part OF which has so deeply wounded tho
feelings OF your correspondent, was passed by tho
House Representatives and voted for ly the twelve
Senators, under the impression that it was the
most mild and humane mode Of dealing with the
Offenders for whose cases it was intended. II was
adopted by the House Of Repre-. entatlves as a part
Of he general system Of the criminal law, which
was then undergoing a complete revision and
amendment; the necessity of this is evinced by
the following facts: For several years past it has
become apparent that the peni,entiary system was
becoming more and more burdensome al every
session a large Appropriation was called for 10
meet the he excess of expenditure above the re-
ceipts Of the establishment. In the commence
e ment Of the session Of 1920, the deficit amounted
to near $4,000
This growing evil required the immediate inter.
E position of some vigorous legislative measure.
{ Two were As being likely to produce
e the effect: first, placing the institution under better
management; secondly, lessening the number Of
convicts who were sentenced for short periods, and
[ whose labor was found 10 lie most unproluctive.
In pursuance of the latter principle, thetls, to the
. amount of $50 dollars or upwards, were subjected
. to punishment IN the penltentlary, instead of $40
3 which was the former minimum sum this was
& easily done. But the great difficulty remained TO
# determine what should lie the punishment of those
numerous larcenies below the sum of $50. By
some, whipping was proposed; by others, punish
II ment by hard labor in the county Jail and by
h others il was thought hest 10 make them labor on
:, the hie hways. To all these there appeared insu-
perable objections fine and Imprisonment were
- adopted by the House of Representatives as tho
. only alternative and as II is well KNOWN these
= vexatious pilierngs We're generally perpe'rated by
the more worthless vagabond> IN society, 1t was
added that when they could not pay the fines and
! costs which were always a part OF the sentence
and punishment, their services, should be sold out
D to any person who would pay their fine and costs
{ for them. This was the clause that was passed,
e as believe, by a unanimous vote of The House,
E and stricken out in the Senate, in opposition to the
twelve who have been denounced. A little further
trouble IN examining the Journals would have
? shown your correspondent that this was considered
|, as a substitute for whipping, which was lost by a
{ single vote in the Senate, and in the House by a
} small! majority after being once passed.
, think, Mr.. Editor, | have said enough to show
9 that this obnoxious law would not have applied TO
unfortunate debtors of s~ixty-fonr years." but 10
infamous offenders who depredate upon the prop
|, erty other fellow citizens, and who, by the constl-
= tuition ofthe State, as well as the principle of exist.
ing laws, were subject 10 involuntary servitnde.