The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-05-21

Ntit WHICH Is 0ETtloNSO 4Nt N.idt Fo' FSSO H"o
90 manner Of reference 10 the relation OF
creditor and debtor, and could not by posi-.
bility subject the debtor to the control Of his
creditor. None know better than the au.
lhors Of the calumny, that the alleged sec,
tion Is utterly al variance with the charge
which is attemp,eddo be founded upon it,
and that, so far from proposition 10 invest
creditor with power over the liberty Of his
debtor, il has respect only TO the mode OF
disposiug of public offenders, who had been
found guilty BY jury Of their ieIlow.ciii,
ztHs Of some crime against the laws Of their
State. That was exclusively the import
and design of the section of the bill, upon
,ae notion 10 strike out which ] voted IN the
negative. So you perceive that in place Of
voting to enlarge the power Of creditors, the
vote which gave concerned only the treat.
uent Of maletactors, convicted Of crimes
sgaiusl the Public.
IiwouId extend this letter to an incOnve.
rieu, length to 90 fully into the reasons
which led me al the time to an opinion IN
favor Of the proposed treatment Of tina; class
Of offenders who would have fallen within
Its operations, nor is such an expose called
for. The measure was by no means nov.
city in other parts Of the country. In the
State Of Deidirdre, there is an act in force
IN similar words trith the section Of the
bin before the Ohio Senate, irhica has
been made Of late he Preie-rt Of such tnrid.
sous irrectire. Laws with somewhat slmi.
lar provisions may be found IN many Of the
States Ia practice, the measure would
have ameliorated the condition Of those who
were under consideration. As the law
stood, they were liable under the sentence
10 confinement 10 the common Jail, where
offenders Of various degrees of prohlsacy
of different ages, sex and color, were
crowded together. Under such clrcum
stances, il is obvious that the bad must be
come worse, whilst reformation could hard.
ly be expected 10 respect 10 any. The
youthful offender, il might be hoped, would
be reclaimed under tie operation Of the
proposed system bot there was great rea.
son 10 fear his still greater corruption amid
vice. Besides, the proposed amendments Of
the law pre- supposed that the delinquent
was 10 confinement for the moi. payment ola
fine and costs Of prosecution the payment
Of which was part Of the sentence It
seemed, therefore, humane, in respect to
the offender, TO relieve him from confinement
which deprived him Of the means Of dis
charging the penalty, and to place him in a
situation in which be might work out his
delyeranee, even al the loss for 4 time Of ais
personal liberty.
But lorbear to 20 further into the rea.
sens which led me, sixteen years ago, as a
member Of the Ohio Senate, 10 entertain a
favorable opinion Of an alteration which was
proposed in the criminal police Of the State.
1t Is certain, that neither in respect TO my.
self, or those who concurred with me, was
The oploioa, at the time, considered as the
result OF uufrleudly bias towards the poor
or unfortunate. Nay, TIE last object which
canid have anticipated ever from tho
ger and restless desire to assal me, was
charge Of uLfnendliness 10 the humble and
poor Of the Community.
am. ny dear sir, with great respect,
your humble servant,
WI. HARRISON.
II. PLEtzASTz, Esq.
Le,icr 20 Z Cincinnati Editor. 1921.
Sin: 10 your paper Of tie 18th inst.
Observed most yio!en. attack upon eleven
Other members Of The late Senate and my
sell, ior saT7osea votc given at the last
session, for the passage Of law TO 4" sell
GeGtr5 in certain cases" If such had
been our couduci, acknowledge that we
should lot ouly deserve the ceusure Which
The writer has bestowed upon Us, but the
eAecraiIoH q every honest man 10 society.
An oct c! that kind IS not ouly opposed to
iae principles Of justice and humanity but
Souh BE Palpab.e violation Of the Con.
5iiiuuon d tae State, winch every legislator
IS sworn to support; and sanctioned by
House ct Representatives aud twelve Sena
tors, Il would Indicate d state Of deprauty
which would I'll every patriotic bosom with
TIE most alarming auiicipailons. But the |
TACT is, that no such proposition was ever
made in the Legislature, or even thought
Of The act 10 which the writer alludes, |
has 10 more relation 10 the collection Of !
" debt than II has to the discovery Of long. /
.ude. 1t was an act ior the punishment
ofoffences against the State and that part
Of II which has 50 deeply wounded the feel.
Ings Of your correspondent, vas passed b.
the House Of Representatives and voted for
by the twelve Senators, under the lnpres
sion that It was the most mid and humane !.
mode Of dealing with The offenders for = hose |
cases il was INTENDED. f was adop,ed by /
TIE House Of Representatives as a par! oil
tue general system Of the criminal law.
which was then undergoing complete re.
vision and amendment: the necessity Of thus
- evinoed by the following fact, For seye.
raj years past IT had become apparent that
The PenItentiary system was becoming more
and more burdensome, at every session
large appropriation was called for to meet
The excess Of expenditure above the receipts
81 the establishment. IN the commence
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