Sentence:  Are crimes more frequent in that country than in the other States ? Are there more executions ? I believe there have been as few as in any part of the Continent, and those which have token place have been generally of emigrant convicts, or fugitive •<WSD>wheel-barrow men</WSD> ;  he would be bold to assert that in no State on the Continent is there more order, sobriety, and obedience to good government; more industry and frugality; nor is there any trace of the influence of slavery on the character of her citizens. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A convict sentenced to hard labor in the 1800s, especially one sentenced to work maintaining the roads.