Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1840-04-02

RIcnnorp. Sept ioih, 1856


which probably bed no inconsidefsbls
effect in the recent elections in tia; State
and whiehis evidently much relied upon
to Influence the approaching elections
throughout the United States. I enclose
you . paper (thc Baltimore Republican,
containing the charge in full. and beg
Of you. as an act Of justice 10 yourself and
your friends. 10 enable me TO refu.e the
charge against the uniform tenor o. your
life. which I am well aware, has been
replete with instances Of disiin guished
private libersiity aud public sacrifice.
With high respect. have the honor 10
he, your frllow-citizen.
JOHN II. pLEAsANTs.
GEx. wn. II. HAksisos.
RICHMOND, Sept. 18th, 1896.
Dear Sir-i acknowledge the receipt
OF your favor ofthis date. I have before
heard OF the accusation 10 which IL refers.
On my way hither, met yesterday with
. young gentle man Of Maryland. who in
formed me that vote Of mine in The Sc
nate OF Ohio. had been Published, in IA
vor Of law 10 cell persons imprisoned
under judgment for debt for term Of
yesrs. Il unable TO discharge the execu-
tion. did not for . moment hesitate 10
declare that | bad never given any such
vote. and that i: . vote Of that description
bad been Published and sseribed 10 me,
Il was an infan Gus forgery. Such an act
would have been repugnsnt 10 my feel
iugs. and in direct conflict With my own
opinions, public and private. through the
whole course Of my life. No such pro-
position was ever submitted 10 the Legis-
lature Of Ohio-nons such would for q
moment have been entertained--nor
would any son Of hers have dared TO
propose IL.
So far from being willing 10 sell men
Tor debts which they are unable 10 dis
charge, am. md ever have been, on
posed TO all imprisonment for debt
Fortunately, have Il in my power 10
show that such has been my established
opinion; add that in public capacity, I
avowed and acted upon il. Will those
who have preferred the uniounded and
malicious accusation refer 10 the journal
Of the Senate os the United States, I'd
session. 10Th Congress. page 23o-it will
there be seen that I was one Of a CON.
miitee which reported q bill 10 abolish
imprisonment for debt. When the bill
was before the Senate, I advocated its
adoption, and on its passage voted in lis
favor. See Senate journal. Let session
10th Congress. pages lOl and IOa.
IL 10 not 4 little remarkable, thae Il
the effort | am accused Of hSvinR made,
to subject men 10 sale for The non.paV.
ment Of their debts had been successful, I
might. from the state Of my pecuniary
circumstances At the time, have been the
hrst victim. ] repeat. the charge 10 .
vile calumny. At no period Of nv life,
would have consented to subject The
poor unfortunate TO such degradation !;
NOT have omitted TO exert myself in their
behalf. against such an attempt 20 Cypress
them.
II is sought to support the charge by
means Of garbled extracts from the Jour.
malls OF The Senate OF Ohio. The section
OF The bill which Is employed for thai
purpose bad no manner OF reference 10
the relation OF creditor and debtor TO the
control Of his creditor. None knos bet.
ter than the authors Of the calusnpy. that
the alleged section is utterly al vsrianes
with che charge which IL is attempted to
found upon IL. and that 30 far from 4 pro.
position 20 invest Q creditor with power
over the liberty Of his debtor. IL had "a.
Speet only 10 the mode q aisposia4 e
public offenders. who he'd been
guilty by jury Of their fellow eitias ns.
OF some crime against the laws Of their
State. That vas exclusively the import
and design Of the section Of the bin upou
the motion 70 strike out which voted In
the negative. So you perceive that h
place Of voting TO enlarge the power 81
creditors. the vote which gave concerns
cd alone the treatment for malelaetors.
convicted Of crimes sgsinsl the pubic.
Il would extend this letter 10 ca iaeoa.
veniSat length. 20 go fully into the Tea-
sons which led me si The time 10 en- opia-
zoo 10 favor Of the proposed srsasmeni Of
lhat class OF ohsodeFs. Who would have
fallen within its OPeFsiion. DOR l. sueh an
expose called for. The measure was
by no mesns . novelty 10 other parts Of
the cousiry. In the State Of Delaware
issre - % act nov IN force, In similar
so'ds with The section az the biil befoss
ths Ohio Senate, which has beea mede 81
late the pFetsxs 81 eseh insidnous invec.
tive. Laws viii Souasehal sinilar psovi-
sions msy probably Be found 10 maov
other ofthe States. IN practice she mes.
sore Would hare smeliosaied sha Ioa az
thOse who were nadeF the eOadsmuatioa.
As the Law stood. they wsss Liable under
The sentencs 70 eonensaeai Ia the com.
moo jail. where offenders ofvasious deeFees
OF PFOhissey, Of diaeFeat agas, ssx ssd
eoioF-WeFe crowded together. UndSF
sheh circumstances, II - obvious thst the
bad mus. become worse. Whilst rsEsfme-
hoa could hardly BE- expected IN rsspset "a
coy. The yoUthfsI oaeadeF, L MIA, 81
hoped. you'd Be reclaimed, undef the
operation Of the proposed system; bot
aheTs was great reason 10 fear his st;ll
greater corruption and the eoaiagioa Of
. eommoa receptacle o. vice. Rs.
sides, the proposed smesdnsnt a a.
isw PresuPPo'sd that the delinquent wus
- eonhnsmehi tos the nOo-psyneni 81
Aas sd costs ofPrcsoeutiea (t6s esymssi
o. which vas part q the ssntsnsel--ill
seemed. therefore. humane. IN rs.Dsei A.