Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1849-06-14
John A. MaisOn An favor Of Isnprison-
rtseuf for Dcbi.

During the session of 1889, of which the wing
candidate for Governor was member, bill was IN
PRODUCED proposing 10 abolish imprisonment for debt
On the question of its final passage. Mr.. MATSON
VOTED AGAINST IT! See page Ala, House
Journal. 1888 6. Let the people remember this.
MIR. Matson is rich,--so say his wing friends.-he
considers himself far removed from The possibility of
want misfortune and this vote shows that he
not for those may be less favored the possess
sion of this worlds goods, no matter how gifted
how good. With him. poverty is crime, to be
punished; not u misfortune, calling for sympathy aud
aid So we have right to infer from his vote. We
might give many instances, within our own recolec
ton, of the misery and disgrace entacd by this bar
barOus law; such are doubtless fresh also in
the memory of every reader Our blood bOils with
indignation when we remember the outrages in
licted upon poor but honest men under the sanction
of this most inhuman law 1t stood unrepealed upon
our statute books until within few years. and would
have remained there forever had such men as Matson
continued to control the Legislation of the State.
Many were the ways in which close-fsted creditors
rascaly attorneys collectors and agents. took adyan
nge of this law to Cypress the poor man. 1t was not
unfrequent that farmer. compelled by his necessities,
contracted a small debt with the village merchant
sickness accident rendered him unable to pay his
body torn from his weeping family and buried in
oathsome Jail, there TO lay and month after month";
while his little crop went to waste for the want of
his labor; and his family pinned in hunger and sorrow,
mourning for husband and father as worse than dead
Released at last, smartng under keen sense of the
wrong inflicted upon him, regarded as criminal
when he knew he not. dsgraced in the eyes of his
fellow-men pointed at jail-bird, his children
looked upon suspicious characters,--is it wonder
fu that such should be desperate that he should
commit violence! Is it wonderful that lie is not a
good citizen! Not at all. 1t is almost impossible
that he should be. 8.
The various forms of ndignity which might be, and
frequently were committed against the person, under
the sanction of this law against the repeal of which
Mr.. Matson voted il is not necessary specify in
detail. Suffice it to say that were dragged from
the marriage altar, from the funeral procession and
from their homes at the hour of mdnight--the cred
itor well knowing that in most cases if the debtor
could not pay, under such distressing circumstances
some friend could be found to pay the debt for him,
rather than the victim go to Jail.
A striking instance of the infamy of Imprisonment
for debt is to be found in the of Robert Morris
a signer of the declaration of Independence He
spent princely fortune, and of his blood freely to ac
qure the freedom Of this country from the British
yoke; but neither the memory Of this, nor his splen
did talents his many virtues, could save him from
dying in prison, for debt!
And yet, after nearly every State in the Union, and
every civilized country in the world, had wiped the
foul blot from their statute books, MIR. Matson DELHI
erately voted to retain it on ours!
Mr.. Matson has progressed some. in profession a
least, since this vote was given. He even now pre-
tends to be in favor of legal reform We hope he i,
sincere. The people, however, will prefer man fol
their Governor who is in favor of progressive meas
ures from principle, to one who, like Mr.. Matson, ii
driven to their advocacy by the irresistible force
public opinion.