The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-07-23
FROM THE RALEIGH REGISTER.
20 the People % North Carolina,

tIC k'cUEBsc o. NOElH SdFOIffas
FELLOW CITIZENS: The reckless pari.
sans of Mr.. Vac Buren, are endeayoring to
fix on Gen. Harrison the charge of having
voted ito sell poor wLite men for debt."-
We unhesitatlugly pronounce II an INFA.
NOUS FAIsEnooD, and shall endeavour to
explain the meaning and OBJECT Of the laws,
to which he gave hls support, and on which
are founded his shameless calUmny. The
first vas law signed by Gen. Harrison
when Goyctuor Of Indiana IN 1901; the
other bill introduced into the Ohio Legs
laiure in tue year 1921, under neither Of
which was il intended to sell or hire rooR
MEN FOR DEBT but CRIMINALS, FELoNs, or
THIEl Is, for the "liues aud costs incur.
red, as a penalty fer THEIR TURrlTUDE -
Nor could such persons be sold or hired IN
der either Of SAID Laws, except under pecu
liar circumstances. The ludla1a law left
Il discretionary vih he Court, aud they
were not expected to execute It except 10
those cases where the couyct had become
hardened ia crime and the facts of his case
required lis most rlgd enforcement. But
Sheuce this s. upaihy for crime which the
leaders Of the Van Buren, Party exhibit
Is there an honest poor man 10 the Country
Sho is rtlltng TO BE TAXED to support
CRIMINALS -men who PILFER and DO VIC
LENCEl Is il jua that the peaceabe and
honest portion Of the People should be CON.
PEELED 10 take tho bread out Of the mouths
Of their children to feed Tie lazy, worthless,
base cuiprl,s who crowd our county prisons,
running the community to enormous eX
pense MUST INDUSTRY AND HONESTY
LABoUR 10 SUPPORT CRIME? Must the
hard working poor men Of the Country,
who obey the laws, be required TO sell their
liNe possessions to pay taxes to feed vice
No II would be UNJUST. Let those work
for themselves who counit crime
The Oaio law, only par, OF which the
reylers Of Gen. Harrison have ever pub.
l.hed, has been grossly mlsrepresen,ed.-
|, vas introduced under the following ext
goucIes, the existence Of which the most VIC.
lent partlsans have never denied:
IL the year $40, Ohio vas suffering severely
under the pecuniary embarrassment which spread
itself through tie nation. Thieves and pick poe
kets appeared 10 increase, while the pecuniary
distress prevailed. Ifamzn stole less sum than
twenty i've dollars or committed any other minor
offence, his only punishment was a fine and lu-
prisonment in tho county j4il The expense of
experimenting, keeping and trying offenders con.
sttuted no small item in the public expenditures.
But when an idle yagAbond had stolen the sheep
or picked the pocket Of the honest, industrious
citizen, and was convicted Of il, be was general.
~ found destitute Of property and unable 10 pay
TIE costs Of his conviction: or, If he had prop
eriy, he usually found means to secure it from
the officers Of justice. The consequence was,
that the expenses was paid .oy out of the county
funds. Thur the honest and industrious citizen,
after losing his property ay yaglbond thief Fas
compelled to contribute his money TO pay the eN.
pcnse Of convictiug the offender. This WIS con.
sidcred hardship, and law was introduced pro.
yidiua that such offender should pay the expen-
ses arising from his own turpiude, by aboring
for such persons as would pay the highest price
for his work."
But still there was incorporated into the
Bill, provision By which one who was
Honestly irsoirent, aud unable TO pay the
fine and costs, could have been discharged.
We call attention to the proYiso, as publish
ed b. the Van Buren, leaders themselves,
VIZ:
Nothing herein contained shall be construed
10 prevent persons from being discharged from
Imprisonment, according 10 the provisions of the
31h section Of the Act to which this is supple
nrntarr, If it shall be considered eXpediaut to
grant such discharge"
What were the provisions Of the 37th
section Of the Act referred to! We give
them entire:
Section 37h. This, when any person shall be
confined in jail for the payment Of any tino and
costs, that may be inflicted agreeable to the pro.
visions Of this Act, tile County Commissioners
may il it be made TO appear 10 their satisfaction,
such persons cannot pay such tnc and costs, or
der the Sheriff or J,ilor of such county to dis
charge such person from Imprisonment; and the
sheriff or Jaior. upon receiving such order III
writing, shall discharge such person accordingly:
Provided, that the Commissioners may, at any
time thereafter, order and cause to be issued an
execution against the body lands, goods or chat
tells Of the person so discharged from lmprson-
mcnt for the amount of such fine and costs
Under this section then, one who was
truly and honestly nsolvcnt could be dis,
charged, and none but those who added to
their crimes a fraudulent coacedlmem Of
their property, came under the penalty oil
the law. Ii they had a suflicency to pay
q part of the fine and costs they could have
been discharged from Imprisonment under
the section for the residue. This 31th sec
ton the Van Buren Party have always sup.
pressed in publishing the bill. why was
this, except to deceive
But Fellow Citizens, this very bill which
is used against Gen. II. passed the House
of Representatives Of Ohio by a UNANIMOUS
VOTE Democrats and all potcd for il
1t was introduced by MIR. Morris, a Van
Ruren Senator IN Congress short time
since. 1t was supported by Mr. Baldwin,
once run as the Van Buren, candidate for
Governor of OHIO! Agaln-Fhc delamers
Of Gen. Harrison seem Mortified at the idea
that under the Indiana law a ipoman could
be whipped Whence this sudden sympa
thy Why have THEY not taken steps to
repeal or alter ihe criminal laws of this
State under which the same punishment
| ooull ha inNictad nm n fnn,aIn MN did