Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1864-1865, 1865-07-20

: bly,, II may be said) to bring about
Z two results:
First: To cause the disiranchise
/ ment Of the freedman. Whether
we effect this directly, as by provis.
. ion Of law or by n disqualifyinc
clause in proclamation, or whether
We do il by leaving the decision to
his former masters and his old enc
mics, matters nothing except in form
and in words; the result is brought
about with equal cortitu1e in either
way. Passion, prejudice and selfin-
terest conc;T TO produce this result.
Second: It cstablishes-not the
odious three-ffth clause, not even
merely a twelfth clausc-but some
thing much worse than either. It
permits the inyestiiure OF The South
crn white with preponderance of
political power, such IS no class OF
men, in 4 democratic republic, ever
enjoyed since the world began.
/ | Go not-believe me in this. NJ.
Presidcnt-overlook or underrate
the grave cmbarrassments that beset
your path, turn as YOU will l call
TO mind the overbearing influence of
passion and prejudice, and | admit
that when these prevail, in eNagger-
ated form, throughout 4 large por-
ton Of any nation, wise ruler rec
ogniZes the fact of their existence
and regulates his acts accordingly.
But the sway Of passion and preiu-
dice, despotic for a season, has but
limited term Of endurance, and
should he treated as an evanescent
thing 1t is too transient and unsta-
bic TO furnish basis for a compre-
hensive system Of policy. Tenderly
it should be treated, but not falsely
respected or weakly obeyed.
Mercy, God like attribute as 1t is,
may run riot. 1t is very well, by
act of grace, to restore to penitent
Southern insurgents their lega 1an
forfeited rights; let us he frie1
and fellow citizens once more
Christianity and comfy q
But to suffer each Of theSI
rebels, when about to
for President or for
of the people, to
three times as M
possessed by a No
cising a similar rig
a somewhat super
clemency.
Ffon the Iudianapo
STATE REFoI,
Mr. EDITOR: IfI
the use of Your %
like TO make br
the subject Of Stat,
1t would be, l pres
supcrcrogation TO aI
of their humanity,
good, or their nccoS
no longer an cXperiA
pcricncc of other N
Union in establishing and
fully conducting them, is mn
vincing proof Of this. They ~
deed becoming so universal in /
the older States, that fear our OWN
State Of Indiana, who was out ON
her teens some years aeo, is liable 60
for 80 long neglccting 10
provide house OF refuge for iuvcn
lie offenders. This unfortunate
class have heretofore been thrust
into prisons and jails, in company
with adult conyicts OF al grades
and classes, from the fancy horse
thief TO the hardened assassin. Not
10 waste words, let me cite tie facts
IN two cases that have recently come
under ny observation John Stuck,
aged twelve years, was convicted of
in White county. on the
18th of April, 1861. and sentenced
TO the Northern Pcnitentiary for
.wo years lie is described as q ne
bright. intelligent looking
boy, who. with proper training.
would make n useful man and good
citizen; and saying nothing cf thc
lbsurdity Of such a mere Child's
being guilty Of burglary the sending
lim TO the State Prison was a crime.
Joseph Round, aecd thirteen
years, was convicted Of grand lar
.cny in Fountain county, about the
same time. and was also sentenced
to two years imprisonment in tie
same prison This boy is quite
deaf, and is fast losing his speech
The Warden Of the prison writes
that he has endeavorcd TO keep the
two boys together, and out OF the
society Of the other conyicts: bat
any one who has ever visited one Of
our State Prisons. must know that ii
IS next to impossible TO so separate
them. The Warden further says
that the boy Rounds, instead of be-
ing in prison, should be in the
Asylum Tor the Deaf and Dumb.
HE fact is that, had these boys not
been helpless and poor. they would
not have been there at al. \ benev-
olent gentleman in the eastern por-
Ton of our state happened to see,
these boys at the prison. and became
in them, and. after an In
vestigation Of the facts, made appli-
cation TO the Governor for their
pardon. which l am glad to say was
granted, and the boys will, within a
~.