The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-05-14


the Souih-of opposition to Aboli,icnists--
of careful guardianship Of our peculiar in
siituiions. 1t the affection Of the Sports.
man for his game-it is the guardianship
of the wolf over the sheep fold. Yet, bis
supporters denouuce as an abolltonis,, Geo.
Harrison, who has, 10 the presence of a
non. asehoiding people, openly, on two pub
lie occasions, asserted our rights TO the
fullest extent, and rebuked our adversaries
for their interference, IN terms as decisive
as any Southern man could use-who has
acted and voted with us at all times, and
actually, at one time, nobly sacrificed his
own popularity 10 the cause Of truth and
/ the South
SELLING POOR MEN FOR THEIR
DEBTS.
The next charge | shall notice, is, that
Gen. Harrison voted in the Senate Of Ohlo
for law, auihorlsng the sale of poor men
/ for their debts. Is this truel Ii it is, |
say not only discard Gen. Harrison frcm all
favour as candidate for office, but let him
be banshed from the society Of American
ireemeu. But is it true! 1t is UNANIMOUSLY
false, as shall presently show. But sup.
pose, for a moment, the charge was left up.
on the assertions of a hirelIng press, on the
one hand, and the character and past con.
duct Of General Harrison, TO repel il ON the
other, is there in the world, one fair and
honorable mind, that would yield it credit
Harrison vote to sell men for their debts
making porerfy crime, he who has lived
and acted all his life with, and for the poor
who led them TO battle and TO victory
who was himself accustomed TO share all
their labours, dangers and sut!erings, re.
fusiDg 10 take for blmself a luxury or even
comfort which was mol within the reach Of
lie common solder-he whose FIRST care
when he came into Congress, was 10 pro.
cure law to open the land Office for poor
men, and 10 relieve them from the eXtor
items Of capitais;s-he whose wise foresight
and considerate humanity peopled tho wes,
with free and hardy race of poor men,
whom be governed with paterual care-he
whose whole life had been one long expe
renee OF the sturdy Of integrity, the patri
otism and valour Of poor men--that he, for
getting all thls-yes, forgetting his own
nature, should, without any hope Of benefit
TO himself, basely vote TO treat these gallant
men as slaves, and put them up TO sale, be
cause they were poor Surely this we're in
the highest degree improbable, and consid.
eriDg that he himself was poor, and that he
owed the station he then held TO the voices
of poor men, II is not TOO much TO col! II i'm
possible.
And SO, indeed, il was impossible, and,
therefore, the charge is false. What are
the facts The Penlteniary system is
adopted IN OHIO. 10 1920, Il was found
that ii was bringing the State IN debt, the
income yearly falling short, by consider
able sum, of the expenses-ln that year
delici, was ascer,aIned Of 100000 OF
course, no community could long sustain
such losses, and the whole system Of pun.
lshmeuts was subjected to a thorough ex.
animation, With view to make such re.
form as should make the peniteniiary at
least support itself The great difficulty
was believed to arise from the petty offend
ers who were confined for short periods. =
Persons, who follow the trade O. stealing,
rarely understand any other well-but IN
the Ptungutlary, the small offenders OF this
I class being put TO learn a trade, by their
awkwafdness, spoiled more materials than
their work vas worth in the few months OF
their detention. Ii was, therefore, con.
cluded to conine 10 the Penieuliary only
the greater offenders, who, beng detained
for term Of years, had time TO learn a
trade and then pursue II, to remunerate the
pubic for the expenses Of their apprentice.
ship. The enquiry then, arose, what should
be done with the small pilicrers-those who
stole small sums, who committed petty iel
ONES. Toconfine them in the PcnitentIary
was rul9ous, and the question was between
WhtppiRG and hiring them out. Wherever
the Penrentlary system obtains, the public
[ become ayerse TO corporal punishment, and
hence, the House of Representatives d
Ohio UNANIMOUSLY agreed TO impose fines,
aGd hire them out, or dispose OF their time
for the fine and costs. This was substi.
tute for the Penitenliary. In that, the con.
Wet worked under keeper at tEade--ir
tbs, the convict was hired out to one who
became, uader the operation Of tho law, bis
keeper, to make bin work at the hoe OF
the plough, and learn 10 get his living by his
own labour, instead OF ptllering and defraud-
ing his neighbors. Instead Of being law
TO sell poor ,ehite men for debt, It is law
for hirtng out c0ncicis for their crimes
Why then Is It represented as being what
II IS not! Because the propagators Of this
SANDER know that selling poor white men
for their debts is an enormltY, at which a
! generous heart Will take firc-aud the true
character OF the transaction is kept OUT Of
view, because they know you are not likely
10 feel much sympathy with there's. can
very well understand why the Swartwouts
aud Prices, aud leg treasurers, and other
plllerers upon The public should indeed ba
horror struck 1.-THE idea Of selling or hiring
out thieves. Those who have long lived
IN ease and spleudor, upon the gains which
they have plundered from the people, NAV