Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-12-26

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the Speaker.
Mr.. BELL moved il be not received on the
ground, upon which a similar petition was
refused last year, viz: that il. was from other
than citizens Of the State.
Mr.. FLiSN explained, that the society from
which the petition emanated, was composed
Of citizens Of Ohio, as we'll as Indiana, and
that these societies uniformly acted as a so
cicty, in their yearly meetings.
After some conversation, the petition was
received by 4 vote of - TO 30.
We find the following in the State Jour
nal: the resolution was introduced by Mr..
Gallagher.
UheredS, TIL employment Of c~onvicts, Ia
the Ohio Penitentiary at various branches of
mechanical labor, has seriously affected the
interests of a large portion Of the citizens of
Ohio, engaged in mechanical pursuits, by
giving to the State Government a monopoly
of all the branches of mechanical industry,
in which the %convicts in said Penitentiary
are employed, as also, tending to degrade tho
mechanic arts, working great wrong to the
productive laborer; that portion of our citizens
to whom more than to any other, our State is
indebted for its past prosperity and present
wealth and greatness; it being no sufficient
argument in support Of the Penitentiary sys-
TEN of labor, that it results in immediate pc
cuniary benefit to the State; for admitting the
fact, ii cannot also, be denied that its effect
upon the mechanics of the Stateis unjust and
unequal, and in this, directly antagonistic 10
the right spirit Of repnblicanism: in view Of
these facts, and with the desire and intention
that the tax and burthen of government shall
fall alike upon all the citizens of Ohio, and
that the honor and dignity Of labor, may not
be sullied or affettel by a forced and legali-
- - il
Resolved, That the committee on the Peni-
Tertiary be instructed to inquire into the ex-
pediency Of reporting a bill, at as early a day
as possible, abolishing the system of labor
and contracting,now pursued under the rules
and laws regulating the Ohio Penitentiary,
having at the same time, care 10 violate no
previous contract, nor in any way to interfere
with individual rights.
Mr.. GALLAGHER supported his resolution
at length.
Mr.. SUMMERS said he was ready to meet
this question at once, by a direct vote. He
could not understand the propriety or ~ju.tics
OF the proposition of the gentleman from Ham,
l'ton. If lie had a correct understanding Of
the matter, 1t amounted to this, that the con-
victs should be left without labor, and as a
consequences, that instead OF an income Of
100000 to case us, in a small degree, of tho
burthens of taxation, we shall be compelled
to pay some $4,000 more to support these
%convlcts. Now four ffths orithereabouts, Of
the taxes of the State are paid by the agricul-
al class, and a small proportion only by the
mechanics. Shall we levy this additional
buTthen on the already burthened agricuItur-
ist! Standing here a farmer himself, and re-
presenting a large farming district, he could
not consent. The gentleman from III, ss-
sulnes that convict labor degrades free labor.
Wise Legislators in all the other States, and
In this State, have taken a different view of
this subject. 1t has always been thought
proper to employ convictS at hard labor. He
had never felt it dishonorable to labor,-and
did not believe others have felt so, for the
reason that labor is still considered honorable
in our State, although conci;ts have been en-.
gagged in that business. Would it disprace
the farmer II %convicts We're made to raise
their own breadl The gentleman threatens
US with a continual agitation of this ques-
ton. tie may possibly learn, that after this
House has Passel directly on this question,
IL may be prudent If not wise, to let the mo-
ticn rest, till this hall is filled with wiser
men than the present occupants. Very littl.
would be gained probably, by a repetition Of
the subject, should it not succeed at the pre-
sent time.
Mr.. RIDGwAY replied with much force 10
the remarks of the gentleman from Hamilton
county. lie said that he was a practical mo
chanlc himself, and probably felt as much
tor their honor, as did the professional gen.
tleman from Hamilton county, but never felt
degraded because ~convicts worked at tho
same business. He took a survey of the pro-
gress made in this State to prevent injurious
, competitions. He showed that the mechan-
=, les dld not object to c~onvicts being employed
r on public work, for the erection of public
buildings, and that all was done, and on pro-
gross that the mechanics had a right to ex-
peot at the present time. He adverted to the
operation of the Pennsylvania law, that OF
: solitary confinement. Ho pointed out tho
q fact, that If all these branches were excluded
. our State would be flooded from other States;
' from the labor Of c~onvicts, and inferred, tina,
. II would be equally degrading to the mechan,
| ic and impolitic for the State. He alluded also
to the subject Of saddlery and hardware, which
was very properly carried on and did not in
o teTfere with the business Of others. He men.
TONED the manufacture of locks and doc,
latches not made of malable iron, how GU
h shops were filled by such articles manufac
d tured in the State of Connecticut. He tool
a survey Of certain Establishments in Cinciu
natl and the unjust competition attempte,
some years since by tho Directors of I'll,
State Prison against that experiment at Gin
oinnati.
But tho gentleman from Hamilton put hi
wish of change in the law, on the disprac
that attached to the free mechanic, hence nj
If own remarks beyond that point were not ab
solutely necessary, and as had already bee
shown, that this gentlemau's o.