Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-05-18

one five cent loaf OF bread daily, from the co,in.
ty, and have each the use oftwo blankets, some
of which are not of sufficient length. 1t is the
design tina, the loaf of bread should weigh one
and a half ponnds--but it is often deficient;
they do not bake it in the debtors apartment
but buy five cent lcaves Of wheat bread from
the bakers. The poorer debtors have nothing,
bg lac, bu, bread and water, and the blankets
"a room and fire. Those in good circnmstan-
ces, or who have friends, are supplied with the
necessaiies OF life, with beds and others, whom
they employ in various other mena Offices
The most decent generally mess together, and
the poorest get the remnants; these last sleep
upon the floors, and pick up what they can find
about tho prison.
! The prisoners cook and wa a. for themselves
or for one another. When they are extremely
wretched and filthy, some rite to assist in en-.
! forcing cleanliness, personal and by clothing,
may be proper, should the present laws for IN
prisonment be continued. SIR, who can read
these disgusting details without revolving at
such monstrous cruelty. In whataged do we live,
or country inhabit, that human misery finds no
sympathy
We read of the horrors Of the slave ship
the middle passage the unfortunate victims
crowded together in the hold of the ship--the
cry of despair ascending TO high heaven--the
stench-the agony--the death struggle. Yet
all this does no, exceed the condition of every
debtors apartment i'll every county in the Com
monweahh.
have no patience TO discuss the subject. I
it is the last vote ever cast, that vote shall b.
recorded against revIv,ng imprisonment fui debt
Sir, It the vote already taken did not plaraly in
dlcate the feelings of The Senate, | would al
tempt an appeal to the better feelings of ou
nature. would attempt TO arouse that sense o
Justice in behalf OF suffering humanity which
tirds an abiding place in almost every heart.
Look, in single case, at the silent though
certain execution OF the law. judgement il
obtained against debtor, execution is ISSUED
and the officer makes his appearance in TIN
{ midst of family. The real estate and valua
BILE personal property is already gone and nov
the household furniture must 90. The mothe
looks on in anguish, and gathers the little one
, around her and presses them 10 her bosom a
the only souce LETT. The mercy of the Law
here interposes and arrests its farther execution
Such articles as are necessary for house keep
ing are exempt from execution with this a.
, surance, the countenance of the mother an
children begin 10 brighten up-hope which ha
fed returns-despalr which sat broodlng owe
all gives wsy-,ha rainbow of peace is about
surround the humble dwelling, whcu the of
Ger again returns, more ruthless than befnr,
and sel2es the body of the father OF this family
The few articles of furniture which are lef
are free from execution, while the body of the
owner is liable to be imprisoned Sir, ict Ser
aturs follow me in their imag gination, and Sc
this fellow being put in prison-the wife
tears and the children in distress, look w
the husband aud father for food and confHr
J. Unblr To provide either. he is compel ed
witness their agony without having tie powt
to relieve them. He leaves his home III con
pany with an oifcer--hs heart heaves HI
= sweils at the thought ot lcaviue those dear
him brhind. without protector or the means
- obtaining bread. AS he recedes from his hon
h" looks bch'nd him and away in distance, I,
- as the eye can reach, he sees his family gazr
at him with most intense interest. A tear star
- from his eye--the recollection of other days
wife and chillren-the happy home--all ru,
upon his mlnd at once, but he is a victim OF It
laws cruelty. He approaches the prison, Il
high walls and batlements frown upon, as Il
keeDers open the ponderous door and he is us
cred in, the gates are swung back again NJ
- he it in prison. a thick wall is raised up b
tween him and the world--thc rays Of the su
- as they reflect into thus miserable abode, mnC
at his calamity, nnl the light Of heaven is inst
- fcicn' TO dspel the darkness and gloom of h
rs narrow apartment. lie trcmhIes at his stu
% tOn-thc deSnlate scene around hlm--hlS mN
deso,ate hearth M home than human nainre &
= .stand-wi,h his eyes turned toward heaven,
Ia exclaims--
II "But what is life ;
'Tis not 70 stalk abroad and draw fresh air
s- From time TO time or gaze upon the sun
nd 'Tis not 10 b. free When liba',y is gone,
Life grows insipad, and has lost lis relish
Is. rIIIc GEAnGIA ,.INis MILITIA