The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1848-08-11

overwhelming majority. VOX.
From The Ticksburg Wing
The Difference.-Keep it Before the
People.
Some democratic editors are asserting and
some wing editors Inadvertently admitting
that a certain law signed by Gen. Cass, when
be was Governor Of the Territory of Mich.
gan. is but little different from one signed by
Gen. Harrison in a capacity somewhat SINH
lar, which was made the theme of Locofoco
indignation during the canvass of l84O-It is
a very easy matter to show an essential differ
enCe-a difference which makes Gen Harri-
sons law, severe as it wss, entirely unexcep-
tionOble, and ~lenient beyond possibility Of
reasonable complaint. First we give the oh
noxious section Of the bill passed by the In
MANA Legislature and signed by Gen. Harrison F:
From The aw approved By w, III Harrison,
Sept. N, 1907.
when any person o rapersons shall, on con-
viction Of any crimes or breach Of the penal
law, be sentenced to pay a fine or fines, with
or without the costs Of prosecution, it shall
be made lawful for the Court before whom
such convictions shall be had to order the sher-
if to sell or hire the person SO convicted to
any person or persons, who will pay the said
fine and costs for such term Of time as the
Court will think reasonable.n
Now, here is portion Of law passed By a
Legislature and approved by General Harrison,
as Governor providing for the hiring Of per-
sons convicted Of high crime and sentenced
to pay a fine for its commission. This is Sc
we're enough, but scarcely too much so, not
withslandiUg the holy horror which it created
N the hosoms Of LocoGocos a few wears ago.
They went into @fts" of desperate malignity
over it and applied the worst epithets they
could find, steal or coin to Gen. Harrison for
h%onoring it with his signature.
To show the difference between This law
and the one signed by Cuss we repubiish The
latter in full.
IAN ACT for the punishment Of idle and dis.
orderly persons"
Section l.. Bel enacted by the Governor
and judges Of the Territory of Michigan, that
any justice of the peace, on conviction, nav
sentence any vagrant, lewd, idle or disorderly
person, stubborn servat, common drunkards.
common night-walkors, pilferers, or any persons
wanton or h%centious in speech, indecent beha-
vlor, common r~ailers and brawlers. such Ms
neglect their calling and employment, mis-.
spend what they earn and do not provide for
themselves or families, to be whipped not CO.
eeeding Ten stripes, or TO be delivered over 10 any
constable, to be employed lin labor not exceed
ing three months, by such constable to be hired
ovtJor The best wages that can he procured; the
proceeds of which to the use of the moor Of
the country,
Made, adopted, and published at Deroit, the
9th day of July l848
LEWIS CAss
Governor Of the Territory of Michigan.
A. B. WOODWARD.
lIes'dIng Judge, Territory Of Michigan
J. WATERFALL.
JOHN GRIFFIN.
Judge Of the Territory Of Michigan.
Let tue people read that act carefully and
see whether it is not a burning disgrace to a
republican age and couniry-and whether il
should not cover its pensioned concoctors and
slgners with the deepest shame. TWAS passed
by no Legislature, and is, therefore. in all
Its odlOusness justly chargeable upon its sign
ers, the first Of whom is Gen, Cass. It does
not merely provide punishment for persons con-
yIcted OF crime-but for those who choose TO
beldle,o OF TO get intoxicated, or to appear stub
born, or to use indecent language and so forth.
to the end Of the chapter. Ifsuch a law were
IN iorce in Mississippi or any other State in the
Union, how many persons would escape The
penalty! Who is never ldle--ho W MANY men
OF excellent feelings and noble intellect fire.
quently become intoxicated-and who NAV
not at some time or other be betrayed into un-
becoming language? Well, what is the penal.
tyE 10 De '0hiRped ten stripes or to be hired out
for three months! Do we not say well in char
acierizlng such an "aet" as disgusting beyond
and its makers as unworthy the res.
pee' OF a people who boast of thtir capabilitv
Tor seli-government, and who scorn with hon.
Indignation, anything like tyranny on the
parlofthose blessed in a little brief authority .,
Had Gen. Cass held his office as a gift direct
rom the people, he would never have dared 10
insult them by approving such a law. But he
vas appointed by the President, and owed no
hanks to the peoples hence he assumed ana
acts which might well be scorued
" a decent autocrst.