Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-04-10
(Fro,a ne Ca1mLian ( c. Hcgisfcr
u,uE MIllTE SIiNES.

lature voted that white men, when imprisoned tor the
non pa yment of small of money for fines or costs,
should be sold at the post slaves at heat OF dru to
serve master till the money was earned
This statement the Palladium has the mpudence 10
call an sold SANDER But it is nevertheless true, in
every particular to the very letter An sold SANDER
is it, We have copy OF the law now before Us, GER
tilted by the Secretary OF State of Ohio, and The name
of William Henry Harrison is recorded among those
who voted for It. But let the act speak for itself and
the reader can then how exactly the above article
describes it. The most material part OF the section
referred TO is rs follows
Beu further enacted Tina, when person shall he mpson-
ed either on erution oa, for the nonn.ncnt of inc
or costs BOTH shall be lawful for the sheriff Of the county to
, no M nav the Whole amount due Tor the socs, period
vice which public notice Shall he given al least ten days:
sa upon fa s sS % S @ @ S h
which time the relation between such purchaser and The p
soneI shall b" That oil MASTER AHD UNA w "0 " scr
The Federasts 7.say however, that these white
slaves were "thrss, robjers, &c This again, is an
irputlent fa!schood Thieves, robbers torgers, and
tha, class were treated much kindly by the laws
of Ohio thai. The poor people whcm General HorrIson
voted to sell slaves. The thieves and robbers were
sent to the State prison, where they were well housed
comfortably clothed and ed-taug ht useful trade, and
above ALL were put under keeper Of excellent moral
character known to be humane though strict appointed
BY the State because lie made the best bid but be-
cause the public had every confidence in his integrity,
capacity and exemplary morals. But this Harrison law
trhing matters, generally not involving any moral
guilt, and not punishable by imprisonment, but for
which small money fines are imposed; such es assaults
driving toll BRIDGE in faster gait than walk
buying lottery ticket-not turning out 10 work on
the HIGHWAYS when Misunderstanding to accept some
petty town offce-reailing without license-ped-
ding tin without peTmit-playing al nine pins,
and TIE like All persons ransgressing IN these parti
culars if TOO poor 10 pay the hne or COSTS Oil convc.
ton might be sold Ike cattle in the shan5cs An old
- liz
could stand it no longer if he permitted the spirit Of
76 far get the better Of him as to return the m
suit By some triaing assault, might he knocked of to
any person who made the best bid That this was the
operation Of The law, apparent from the debates that
took place at the time. General Lucas, who was then
member Of the Senate, and afterwards the De-
mocra,ic Governor of Ohio opposed it, and the fol-
lowing is extract OF the speech made BY him on that
OCCASION
stWhat viii be the operation of this section, said
Mr.. Lucas We viii suppose case--suppose one OF
the patriots OF the Revolution should be nsued by an
enemy Of his country, tory, who had fought
against him in the struggle for liberty, md he should
he provoked to commit assault in defending the
honor OF his Govcrnment-by laws he may be pro-
secuted and fined He is poor and unable 10 pay his
fine What would follow under the provisions Of this
section He Is PUBLICLY ADVERTISED FOR
SALEhe is dragged by the crer along the streets
the who provoked the assault bids the amount o.
the fine and costs The shortest term scrrce, say FOR
TT rEAss-THE OLD PATRIOT is SOLD TO HIS
PROSECUTORS, and driven in triumph into BOND
AGE ANY unfortunate citizen, who, in unguarded
moment, might be thus subjected TO the payment OF
inc would be liable to be SOLD, under this section,
and DRIVEN INTO SLAVERY BY FREE Ne
GRO, should such a negro choose to become the pur
chaser This would be revolving to every principle of
humanity and disgrace to the age in which we live.
Worse even than this-the law makes no difference
whether the person sold be man or a woman. "Any
person might be sold, and any person might become
The purchaser. Suppose the daughter OF poor mnn
should drive wagon over toll bridge at faster gait
than walk. She is prosecuted and fined: and If too
poor 10 pay the fine and the expenses, she might be
sold 'sSERvANT" TO negro if he choose to be-
the purchaser, to the keeper OF house OF IN
fanny. The young, the inexperienced, and the virtu
ons might in this way become the SLAVE of the most
abandoned and infamous. 1t will be that persons
committed upon execution for costs merely, might, II
too poor pay be disposed of as slaves under this bar
barous and revolving act 1t is not true as stated in
some of the Fedora! papers, that Thomas Morris, the
late Democratic Senator from Ohio voted with Gen.
Harrison ir ti;s law But it is true that Eli Baldwin,
who Was some years afterwards for Governor, be-
inc at the time member ofthe Ohio Senate, voted
for it, aud is further true, that such the strong
feeling aaans: him for this vote throughout the State
that he was defeated By the people Al the polls.
An attempt is made to excuse this plan of selling
poor white persons into slavery at public auction, BY
saving that similar law was passedby the Legislature
of Maine, nearly twenty years ago That would be no
excuse if it was So any than the law of ancient
Federalism in this State which authorized the selling
Of poor debtor. But the Maine law very differ
emitting from the Harrison aw though we think them
both wrong In Maine the county court had the super
intendence of the proceedings, and if they saw fit to
put prisoner out to service they might dot But not
at public aucton-no cry of going, gong-gone! to
ssany person." black white, infamous or not, who
should wish become the purchaser, but to such per-
the sheriff, under the direction of The court,
might sec fit to contract with, and deemed worthy Of
the trust