The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-10-31
The vagrant Act dragged into the Canvass.


GA whip for the horse bride for the ass, and rod fo
the FOOLS back, "-P0uerbs.
There various ways OF Disgusting truth, and adapt
ing fasehood-to phrase OF the ancient bookse-
ers-" to the meanest capacities" Looking, as we are
obliged do from the all parts of the Union,
notice instance of this kind, meant Tor general circu
aon in recent Pittsburg paper, in which the old and
reued Islander of the vagrant act OF the Michigan Ter
rtory is put afoat the debit of Gen Cass, under the
startling words of whipping" selling men," and other
party catch words Now, the principle of the vagrant
old the reign of Edward vi, and has, in
rious FORMS been in vogue in all the States, from the
early colonial days of Virginia. Maryland, and Massa
chusetts In of the States, hoggng and the stocks
are still permitted; but the general progress of morals
and religion throughout the Atlantic States and the
with which even moderate industry and temperance
found the means of an honest living has nearly, if not
completely, banshed vagrancy from older borders
The tendency of wholesome laws has been, this class
were disturbed from their walks the old States, fly
to the woods of the new, where they have been known
sometimes TO hang in pestential manner about the
new towns and incpient villages If there were any
persons who had the OF horse stealing and
petty larceny for which offences they would have et the
halter draw" under British laws, it is ten to but they
would also be found, at the time alluded to in the above
article among the free and easy class of Migrants that
frontier No place, it is known, beset by
these ncorrgibe iders than Michigan during some
few years which interviewed between the close of the
in 1915 and the opening of surveys and land Offices
and the beginning of emigration to that region
Vermont, which seems to have been pestered with a
similar class at tme and whose practical morality
well known, improved upon all the prior English anc
American vagrant acts by enactng that if such
could not pay his 6ne his time, during the customary
hours of labor should be sold such person as would
advance the amount of the fine, till the said vagran
could work it out his farm otherwise. Generally
three days sufficient to repay the bidder; and
the effect was, that sometimes the idler, spendhrt, gam
bier, or debauchee reclaimed to industry and re
stored to society. If not he driven from the neigh
borbood by the knowledge that the local magistrates
would rigdly enforce the law; and if he meant go
drinking, dling away his time, and committing petty
depredatons to keep soul and body together, he must hi
elsewhere; Michigan was not his place.
1t of the features of the government of thu
Northwest territory that in Its FIRST GRADE wide Uni
ted States lawsl there was original Legislative,
power. But the three judges of the supreme court
with the governor of the Territory, authorize,
| to adopt laws from any of the old States. In thi
manner the vagrant act of Vermont was transferre
to Michigan, at a period when good order and SCUM
morals called for it. 1t recommended by of tn
Judges who was a native of Vermont and concurred il
by his colleagues, of whom from Pennsylvania
and the other from Virginia. The governor had no yet
any act in this grade of government nor he oppose
act much, could he prevent its passage-th
board standing three to one. The vagrant was i
force but short time. purified or reformed the place
of its operation; have heard from an homes
or honorable citizen acquainted with the circumstances
that the justices of the peace whose duty to enforc
the act ever exercised their authority in cruel or ur
just manner, but the contrary to the best and hghe
interests of the community. Indeed, there is reason
believe, that if these Migrants had been more thorough
erreted out, and awarded their deserts in the brief
choae period alluded there would not have RENAME
descenden of the stock, have some reason to flea
there is whose back felt for the Just stripes
his ancestry Shame, that such stuff should be Above
to soil the columns of the lowest mendaciou,
So far as respects General uhen Governor) Cass tn
matter repealed and rcfuted by the Hon. A. Felcl
the early part of last SO far regards the fee
ings and democratic principles of that eminent statesman
eminent alike for his humanity, philanthropy apd ia
ens, long exercised in favor of the enjoyment of equ
rights by all, and the extension of the elective franch.
throughout the word--his acts, character and writing
may be fearessly appealed to.