The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-05-22
From the ColumliaR Register
THE WHITE SLAVES.


I'D for the non payment of small suns Of none,
for fines or costs, should be sold at the post a.
slaves, at beat of drum, to serve master Ill The
money WAS earned"
Til, statement the Palladium has the impudcnct
to call an sod SANDER" lut it is nevertheless
i.ac, in every particular, TO the very letter Al
cod SANDER" is it, We have copy of the law
low before US, certified by the Secretary Of tn
g,ute Of Chic, and the name Of iliiam Herr,
Harrison Il recorded among those who voted io
it, But let the act speak for ilse'f, and then The
reader can then see how exactly the above articles
describes it. The most material part of the Sec
ton referred TO is as follows:
"Bc IL further Caqcicl, that when any person
shall be Imprisoned either Gu crecr'ioa or Gihcr-
wise, for the non plyment If fine or costs, OF
both, it shall be lawful for The sheriff of the conn
~ 10 sell ont such person as n servant to any per
son within the State, who will ply The whole IL
ponnt due for the shortest period Of sesyi'c Ct
vhi,h sale pubic notice shall be given at least
ton days md upon such sale being effected, The
rherf shall give to the purchaser II certificate
,hrcot, aud deliver over the prisoner To hin, fon
which time the relation between such Purchaser
and the prisoner shall be tha, Of master Gnl ser
cant, mill the time Of s"rNude expires"
Tn, i'ederaii's say, however, tina, these white
i, nm npudant f,lshood- Thieves, robbers, for
rnrs, and TINT class, were treated much mort
] indy by tn, laws Of Ohio, than the poor pecp!C
whom General Harrison voted 10 sell rs saves
me thieves ana robbers were sent to the Stat,
prison, whore they were well housed, comfortably
clothed and Itd--,,ugl.ta lis FIJI trade and uhog'
all, we're pat under q good keeper o! excellent
moral character. known 10 be humane. though
s:ri'', appointed by the State, not b"rnuSn he made
the boa, bid. but h7cnUsr the pam had every con-
fdcurc in his INTEGRITY. cnpary, exam par, morals
Ru, hi, Harrison law had nothing TO do with such
persons. It applied to ,rng matters, generally
Lot involving any moral guilt. and not punishable by
IMPRISONMENT. but for which snail mcney fines arc
Imposed such as assult- irving over toll bridge
in n faster gait than 4 Withdrawing loiter,
tcket--not turning ou, to work Oh the highway,
when Misunderstanding to acrcp, some petty
town olice--reiaiIirg without u lircnsn-p' ddIma
lin ware without pernit-p0ying at nine pms,
end the Ike, All persons lrar>gre 'slng IN these
particulars, il too poor 10 pay the fine, or costs,
On conyiction, might be sold lie cattle IN the
shamblcs. An Old revolutionary soldier, when
i.IuItcd by n tory I'LL he could stand il 10 longer,
il he permitted the spirit Of '76 to 81 far get the
better Of him ~ 10 return the Insult by some Tn
fling. assault might be ki.ochcd oil TO any person
ration Of the law. is npparen, from the debates
TINT took pace ut the time. General Lucas, WHO
was then u member Of the Senate, and was alIcr-
wards the Democratic Governor Of Chic, opposed
it, and the following Is an extract Ct the speech
mnde BY him on that occasion;
"What will be the operation olthis section, said
Mr. Lucas. We will Suppose cusc--srpposr one
,f he patriots Of lha Revolution should be insult
,ed by an enemy Of hi. country, ora tory, who
bud fought NJ Inst him in the struggle for liberty,
ind hA s.Ou'd be provoked 10 commit i'm assault IN
defending the honor Of hs Go,crnmcnt-by our
hw- he may be prosecuted and fired. lie is pear
tnd rhuhle to 10 Pm his .fse What would fol-
iow under the provisions cf this section lie IS
runIIcLY ADVERTISED FOF SAi.H-hc il
dragged By the cricr u'ong the srec's--thn man
who provoked the assault Ills he cmormi Of he
Jire aai cost for he Moried term o. srrri'e say
roFTY YEArs--Ti'EOLDrh PATRIOT IGSDLD
30 Ills rERSECUTERS, aud driven in triumph
into BONDAGE. ANY unfortunate citizen, who,
il an unsurlcd mOmen, might be thus Subjected 10
the payment If fine, would be liable 10 be SOLD,
trdcr tbs section, and DRiEFN IN TO SLAVE
RY BY 4 FREE NEGRO, Should such negro
choose 10 become the purchaser. This would be
revolving 10 every principe Of hruony, AID a
,lisgrarc 10 The age IL Which we i've"
Ofse even liiin UH'-tl!e law llNhts 10 Cii-
ference whether The person sod lie min, or Il
wouan. "hny person. might be- sod, and any
person might become the purchaser. Suppose the
daugl,lcr ola poor mtn should drive II wrgon
ever a toll bridge AT . faster gait than waIh--
Che i prosecuted rnd frded and if too poor to
pry the ine rad expenses. s!,a uizlt be sold rs a
" Sc md" 10 n'g.o, i he choose TO becomc
Ire purchaser, Of to the keeper eta house of in
faYy! Th' ,crng. lie inexperienced, ind the
,ruors, might in this way become the sure 81
the most abandoned and Infamous. twill be- seen
merely, might. il too poor IT, pay, be disposed cfas
l,.v2- under this ha.,uro.s ahd re,olling act.