Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1840-04-09

We have olweys looked with such utter contempt
upon the assertion by the demagrgues OF the day. that
Gen Harrison voted. while in the Senate of Ohio 10
sell poor men for debt. that have never conlradc.
ted the assertion We thought that the intelligence of
the people would correct and that the SANDER like
curses and chickens, word 60 home to roosi but
they have 50 long persisted in the story they have re-
pcaied II so often. they fully determined TO dwell
upon II in all their speeches. and all their writings
hat we fear 'hey begin believe it themselves. and
We would mach regret tina, they should live year
n such state of ignorance and self deception. Mr.
Newman has known. kennon has known. and the par.
iy clique have all known. that they lied when they
asserted that Gen Harrison voted TO sell ponr white
| men for dest. What it then which he did, that
formed the nest egg for such host Of falsehoods .
IL wss this: When he in the Senate Of Ohio. the
criminal law came up for emendation. The penitcn-
iiary system had been found defective II had during
the year preceding. involved the state in debt of
SsoO0O. One course proposed 10 remedy the evil
was to decrease the number Of convc;s for q short pc.
rod, by limiting imprsonments in the peneniiary TO
thehs Of sums amounts exceeding fifty dollars. II
} then became necessary to provide punishment
for persons committing ihefis of less amount than
h.ly dollars. Various expedien,s were proposed: all
Of which had insuporable objections Fine and i'm.
prisonment in The common ails were proposed in The
house and carried. Where fine is imposed upon o
criminal and he cannot pay il. il has been customary
ani legal in most states impr;ssn until the fne is
paid. OF at the discretion Of the court This would
involve great evil both in public expense and fur
ther injury to the morals Of the culprit The house
then added to The section that any criminal senten-
eel 10 fin, and Imprisonment and who could not paw
the ine. should be sold out a servant TO any man
who would pay the most for his labor-ihat is pay
the amount of the Gne for the shortest term oflahos-
N This law passed the house by large maj Jriiy and
x went TO the Senate. There proposition was made
to strike out the clause for selling This prupo-
is 'iIon was carried but voted against by twelve
j. senators. among whom Gen. Harrison. This wa.
&c all Was that vote To sell whe men as slaves .
: TWAS vote against endless Imprisonment of Grim
aal' and IN favor Of placing them in the bosom Of
d yiruOus family where their morals might be improved
u instead Il in a filthy dungeon. al the bid and beck
Jaor hardened against all compassion and calloui
with the sight of CRIME. Was j, not humanity thai
dictated this sysiem' Go TO The Ohio peniisniiary
Eow, and look the five hundred criminals there
from morning until night under the lash and at hars
Dor. Who plies them No one, but who would
not far ra.her be servant than any of these Who
woI!l not prefer being where he could feel The .fcsh
mr. and sec TIE sun and sky nnd trees and than
one o. these What one among HAT crowd would not
Father DC The slave off southern planter than he is
In Massachusetts. in many Of the towns, they sell out
their PauPers in the same way. They are sold for a
car 10 iAe man who will take them for the smallest
sum- and get ali The labor be can. Yet no man finds
) This Law oppressive.