The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-08-19
A CHAIN GANG.

Senators and Delegates elect. s.
A CHAIN GANG
The Common Council of the City of Rich
mond, Virginia, recently passed an act di-
recting that persons who shall hereafter
be committed to the Jail of that city, for of
fences not punishable under the criminal
laws of the State, shall have chains and balls
attached to their legs, and compelled to
work on the public streets, under the whip
and lash of an overseer. This is harsh
measure, which will, we predict, when view
ed under its practical operation, receive
the condemnation of all liberal minded cit
liens of Virginia. We judge by our own
feelings. Is it not cruel to bring disgrace
upon whole families, by placing husband,
a father, son, or brother, in this chain
gang, under the eyes not only of his imme-
date kindred, but of the whole community,
for the crime of drunkenness, mere breach
of the peace, or some other similar petty
offence? 1t is a punishment not suitable
to the offence-a position more humiliating
and degrading than confinement in the pen
itentiary, shut out from the view of the
woodland a disgrace which may be cast
at innocent families for ages to come
Even the murderer might regard such
public punishment and degradation as Sc
we're. Many, we doubt not, who will
come under the operation of this law, have
been useful and respectable citizens, in days
of prosperity, and now may have wives,
children, connexions, and friends to witness
a father, connexion, or friend, consigned
to the chain gang, in the public streets of a
crowded city, for the mere land commonly
crime of getting drunk-an offence which,
for reasons ueLL understood, two thirds of
the criminals will go UNPUBLISHED. Laws
are made to reform as well as to punish
A man may wipe out the disgrace of con-
fnement in Jail or even a private work
house. for drunkenness, breaches of the
peace, &C., and reform, and again become
a respectable member of society but all
incentive to reformation will be cut off by
the lasting disgrace of wearing ball and
chain, with an overseer over him, and COM
PEELED to work, IN the public streets, under
the eyes Of a croaoded city. His best friends
would no longer have hope of reforming
one who had thus been degraded. Such
harsh measure might be dealt out to the
worthless free negroes of city, but surely
and strangers too, will look upon
such a sight as chain gang of white men,
in the public streets of that city,
for no crime (or if it be a crime, one for
which nine -tanths of the criminals will 60
with adherence and disgust.
We are no apologists of drunkenness and
oaferism; but, charity and humanity are
rodly attributes which should not be out
ragged as in the case before us. Poor, frail
human nature might present strong extern
lating causes for the wreck of fortune, cha
.acter, and love of the DO tie, in many cases,
f the hidden secrets of private history
could be read. And certain it is, chain
gang for offenders of the class of unfortu-
rates upon whom it is to bear, violates the
pirit if not the letter of the laws of Vir-
,inia, which are designed to be just and not
rueL. If such law be carried out impair
idly and without facoritism, by the Mayor
f Richmond (and his oath binds him to do
y it will not be long, we predict, before its
ruelty and hideousness are seen, and ge-
eral petition go up to the Council for its
epeal. 1t will be well for those who adyo
ated and passed such a law, if the time ne
er arrives when their own experience or
nat of some of their immediate friends,
hall convince them of the truth of what
e say. Of one thing we are certain,
UGH law, with its degrading practical
'orkings constantly before the eyes of Ii
eral and humane Virginians. will not be
ing tolerated in the Capital of that great
tate. Even the rogues and the murderers
ut of the penitentiary of the State, are al
,wed to work in the public grounds of that
ity, without heavy chains and balls attach
to their bodies.