The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-06-09
SELLING WHITE MEN FOR DEBT.
MIR. RITCHIE'S OPINION UPON
THAT SUBJECT.


The most malicious, false and deceptive charge
which the administration presses have maze
against General Harrison, is, that while he was
a member of the Senate of Ohio, he voted ior
law to sell debtors for a certain PeT'oa, ana tiu'
nIace them in a state of servitude until, by their
services, they had liquidated the debt Tor when
thew were responsible. We assert that the ale
CATION is false, as we viii show that no such law
was everproposed, and could, consequently never
have been advocated by General Harrison. but
the worst and most rcprehensible feature about
the charge, and one which must strike every
honest man who understands the nature of crime
and the purport of language, is the deception
which is practised by every administration jour
nal in bringing the subject before the communi-
ty 1t never was proposed TO the Senate OF O'ho,
to sell debtors for the period for which they were
;ncarcerated II is as absurd as it IS false; for
every man at all acquainted with the most ordi-
nary proceedings Of courts OF justice IN the adj
ministration of the law of debt, will perceive at
once, that no specified time of confinement can
be allotted to prisoner in a suit of debt lie is
committed to prison until such time as he can be
relieved by the humane provisions of the law in
such cases. until he is discharged by the credi-
tor, or by the payment of the debt
The preceding remarks have been suggested
by communication which we find in a late mum
Der of the Richmond Wing, in which the vener-
able editor of the Enquirer (Nfr. Ritchic) is
proved by respectable and indisputable testimony,
to have stated, "that the charge against General
Harrison of having voted to sell white men for
debt traS untrue; that he should not use such
charge hinSe!f, and hoped the party could not"
The communication alluded to, is in the form of
a letter to the editor of the Wing, signed by II.
Chandler, in which it is stated that Doctor Jno
n. Powell, prominent and Jealous friend OF the
administration had alleged that he had received
letter from MIR. Richie, in which he (Ritchie'
had repudiated the charge preferred against Gen
erai Harrison, Of having voted to sell white mer
for debt, and in which he also remarked that th
administration party ought not 70 urge it any fur
ther against the General Mr.. Chandler had
called upon Doctor Powell to produce the letter
but for causes which may now be sufficiently I'M
derstood, 1t was not forthcoming The Doctor
did not deny having had such letter, but replied
to Mr.. Chandler, that it was unfortunately o,t
Of placc, and could not be found at the time.
This was not satisfactory, and it was therefore
necessary, as the documentary testimony against
Mr. Ritchie could not be reached, to resort to
that which is allowed by the rules of evidence,
and prove by secondary testimony, the contents
of tine written statement In this, MIR. Chandler
has been eminently successful, and MIR. Richie
stands before the public convicted of having re
pudiated, as false and calumnious and unworth,
the attention of the administration party, 4
charge which he has denied in letter to poiit
ical friend, but which he has not had the mora
courage to deny in the columns OF his paper, anl
which IS blazoned forth by every hireling pres
of the country, as a prominent of opposi
tio3 70 the election of General Harrison.
The following is the testimony produced b,
MIR. Chandler:
IpestBsoreiand C. Fl. Nay &c, 1870
Dear Sir-You will please say, in reply e
this note, whether not you ever heard DIR
J. n. Powell say, that he had received lette
from Mr.. Richie, in which he CMr. Ritchie)
stated that the charge of having voted to sell
white men for debt was untrue; that he was sd
tsiisd OF its falsity, and that the Administration
party ought not TO use it against Gen. Harrison!
An Immediate answer is requested by
Your obedient servant,
II. CHANDLER.