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About The Democrat. (Columbus, Ga.) 1830-18?? | View Entire Issue (May 21, 1831)
Tin: oi;h(n k at. SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1831. TIIE PENITENTIARY SYSTEM. The late destruction of the Penitent ia ry buildings by lire, will probably bring the question of the entire abandonment of the system, or the introduction of im portant changes in to it, before the next legislature. If it should be determined to continue the system, large appropria tions will be called for, for the purpose of erecting new buildings for the accommo dation of the prisoners. Before this heavy expense is submitted to, the people ought to be satisfied of the beneficial operation of the system. The people ought not to be called on to part with large sums of money, except for a valuable consideration. The system has heretofore proved a very expensive one, and must still be supported by heavy an nual appropriations. AYhat benefit has the public derived from it, or what bene fits may they hope to derive from it, for the future? Has the state of society impro ved since its adoption? Have public mor als improved? Has the amount of crime lessened? Have criminals subjected to its influence been reformed? We think all these questions may be readily answered in the negative. The experiment has been tried by the test of experience, and the result is not at all doubtful. The records of our courts will show that crime of all kinds has increased among us; pub lic morals have deteriorated; and the sys tem seems to hold out to criminals of a foreign growth, an invitation to make this state the theatre of their opera tions. The question then returns, what have the people of this state received in ■exchange for the enormous sums expen ded for the support of this system? Why we have the delusions of dreaming phi lanthropists, who imagine that in the new system, we have got rid of the severities and inhumanities of the old. But this delusion will be dispelled by a moments serious examination. The sys tem of Penitentiary punishment as adop ted in this state, is not more humane than the old, but on the contrary, more barba rous and debasing. Let us look at its op eration. A poor and hungry man is pros ecuted for stealing a few pounds of meat, from the house, worth half a dollar; un der the old system he would be whipped nnd sent about his business. But, says the visionary, corporeal punishment is revolting to public humanity, and degra ding to the individual. So he is condem ned to the penitentiary at hard labor for four years. Let us follow him to his con finement and see the humanity of the present law. He is placed in the power of an under keeper, who “cloathed in a little brief authority” is sure to act the tyrant. If the conduct of the prison oner should not he such as to meet the approbation of the officers of the institu tion, lie is tucked up and flogged at dis cretion; so that the philanthropist, who would hesitate to inflict thirty stripes, for fear of shocking humanity and debasing the culprit, sends him to the penitentiary, where he may be tortured by the lash or other barbarous modes of punishment, every day for forms, at the will and plea sure of an irresponsible tyrant. We were present at the workshop of the in stitution, some few years ago, when a prisoner was tucked up without the form of a trial, and ordered to receive thirty lashes on the bare back for saying “dam nation" in the presence of one of the In spectors. And this under the operation of a law which claims to he purified from the barbarities of the old system. But the humanity or barbarity of a punishment, must depend upon its justice. A punishment may be severe, yet if strict ly graduated to the crime, it should not be called inhuman. Corporal punish ments tnay be graduated to the offence. JBut punishment under our penitentiary system cannot be. In fact they fall with the greatest severity on the comparative ly innocent. There have been instances where individuals have been condemned to the penitentiary for offences, which have been the offspring of misfortune rath er than premeditated or debasing crime; principles of virtue are not yet extinguish ed, their affections are yet warm, and their hopes of the future are high and ar dent. To such, a sentence to the peni tentiary is ten times more dreadful than death. They are doomed to labor in the penitentiary, to increase the public reve nue; while their innocent wives, their children, are left to perish in helpless un pitied poverty; they are cut off from the sympathies of tlie world; the mark of infamy is indelibly 6tnni|>ed on the brow; nil their hopes of the future are crushed; nnd every virtuous principle, every kind ly emotion, everv social ntl'ci'llnn is stifled by the discipline to which they arc sub jected. They are degraded in the eyes of the world; they are degraded in their own eyes; and at the end of their term of confinement, they are turned again upon society, hardened and abandoned wretch es, with every avenue to a virtuous course closed against them, every motive for well doing destroyed, and every incen tive to evil excited and exasperated. Up on such, penitentiary punishment falls like a blighting curse, destroying at once and forever. But to the old offender, whose crimes deserve the weightiest penalties of the law, the penitentiary presents no terrors. He looks upon it rather as a temporary retirement, where he may withdraw him self tor a while from the scenes of more active guilt; recruit his exhausted consti tution at the public expt plan new schemes of mischief, and from which he may emerge with renewed powers to exe cute them, lie has no affections to be blighted; no feelings of honor to be morti fied, no hopes to be crushed. To him the penitentiary is merely a bug-a-boo, which neither deters from crime, nor pun ishes it w hen perpetrated. From this it appears that the peniten tiary system does not graduate the pun ishment to the offence; but falls the heav iest upon the least guilty. And therefore without being of any utility, it burthens the people with an e normous expense. Its expense to be sure we consider but the least argument against the system. Did its operation prevent crime, or reform the criminal, its expense ought not to constitute any objection a gainst it. But wdiile experience shows that it encourages crime, confirms and hardens the offender, the cost of its sup port increases the weight of the argument against it; and in itself it is an argument which should be insisted on, because it is easier understood than most others. The public treasury is a sacred depos it, which ought not to be squandered in wild and visionary schemes. Judicious ly managed money affords the means of scattering innumerable blessings over the face of a country; in the hands of profli gate politicians it is a curse. How ma ny splendid works of internal improve ment, w ould the vast sums expended in penitentiary experiments, have enabled the state to prosecute. How many colle ges might have been endow ed, how ma ny academies have flourished, through the means which these sums would have furnished! The free school system, which would carry the rudiments of education to every man’s door, could we doubt not, be supported at one half the expense of the penitentiary! And this system by stri king at the root of the evil, by casting out ignorance, the great nurse of crime, would do more in the cause of virtue and morali ty, than a thousand penitentiaries! The one would offer but an imperfect punish ment of crime, the other would prevent it. From the Correspondence of the Charleston Courier Washington May 6. “Mr. Livingston arrived in this city yesterday, to assume the duties of the office of Secretary of State. It is sup posed that he will go into the Depart ment immediately, and that Mr. Van Buren will leave the city in a few days, to prepare himself for his departure to England, which it is generally under stood is his destination. The closest intimacy still continues between the President and the ex-Secretary. They take their morning rides together about the country bordering on the city, and are observed to be always in earnest conversation—their horses ears as well as their own in close contact. That Mr. Van Buren has obtained an ascendancy over Den. Jackson, which no one else possesses, if we may except Major Lewis, who is said to be his room mate, is well known here, and the universal impression is, that the recent dissolu tion of the Cabinet is part of a scheme planned by Mr. Van Buren, and the consummation of which be dates as far forward as 1834. when he hopes to be come the incumbent of the Executive Chair, in consequence of the disabling influence of age on Den. Jackson. He will then have time to perfect his grand plan of party discipline previous to the next Presidential campaign. This idea of getting hold of the highest office without encountering the risk of an ap peal to the people in Ilie first instance, is a hold one: hilt it is to lie supposed, that the people, warned in time, will not be accessary to a plot which looks to their own virtual disfranchisement, un til the magician has obtained his object. Mr. Woodbury was to have reached the city this week, hut as yet I have heard nothing of his arrival. It is sup posed by some that Judge White will reluctantly accept, if he accept at all, the invitation to take the siiperintend ance of the Indian Department. He has been called to this office in conse quence of the personal regard in which Den. Jackson holds him. The Presi dent requires a very trustworthy and eonfidential officer in the station which involves all his proceedings past, and his future intercourse with the Indians. “AH speculation on the result of the late movements is at present vain. We must xvutch the cofirse of events for a short time before we can arrive at any conclusions which can satisfy our own minds, or those of others. The Cal houn correspondence broke up the cab inet: and the breaking up of the cabinet has dissolved the cement which held the elements of the party in union. Should tfie new Cabinet be unable to perform any thing which will have the effect of rallying the public feeling in favor of Den. Jacksen, lie will scarcely permit himself to be run as a candidate, notwithstanding all that is past. M.. Van Buren may then step iuto his shoes, and get the friends of Den. Jackson to take him up. This step, however, would not prevent the defeat of that par ty. It is probable that the President may take anew tack, and come out in favor of Internal Improvement and the Tariff, in order to draw hack the wan dering affections <ff his former support ers in the West and North. But if he should do this, whal dependance can a ny section of country thereafter place on his firmness, disinterestedness and consistency? Norfolk, May 6. Arrival of the Fairfield —The 11. 8. ship Fairfield, Foxhall A. Parker, Esq. Com mander, from the Mediterranean, via Cape de Verde Islands, anchored in Hampton Hoads yesterday morning: officers and crew al in good health nnd ship in fine order. She left at Port .Ma hon 13th Feb. U. Si Ships Brandywine, Constellation, Concord and Boston, all well. The F. sai ed froir Malaga 7th, Gib raltar 16th March, aid Porto Praya sth April. We have been politely favored with the following list of her officers & passengers, and particulars of her voy age. It will be pleating intelligence to our countrymen generally, to learn, (as we do bv private letters,) that the utmost har mony prevailed in the squadron among all classes of the officers, and that Com. Biddle was highly respected and beloved. The squadron was kept in high order, and at all times ready ior sea. The U. S. ship Boston, Capt. Storei, sailed from Malaga sth March, to join the squadron in the Mediterranean. The Ontario was in the Archipelago. The Fairfield touched at Porto Praya, to take on board certain American sea men, accused of mutiny, but they had left there in the frigate Java, previous to her arrival. The F. has made a very ex tensive cruise—she has visited all the ports of the Mediterranean, the Archipelago, and up the Adriatic as far as Trieste.— She has spent two winters at Smyrna, and one at Mahon, Marseilles and Malaga, and it is gratifying to learn has lost only four men by sickness during her absence. She has on hoard some sugar Cane from Malaga, and a number of curiosities in the animal w orld. Baltimore , May G. From Lima.— The brig James Bea chatn, Andrews, arrived at this port yes terday from Callao, whence she sailed on rhe3lst January. The editors of the A merican have received from a friend in Li ma, a file of the Mercurio Peruano, to the 29th January, inclusive. The con tents are not interesting, Capt. Andrews, reports, that considerable preparations for war had been made by the govern ments of Peru and Bolivia. The Peru vian army, headed by President Gamar ra in person, had marched to the fron tiers. The Bolivian army was comman ded bv the President of that republic, General Santa Cruz. An interview was said to have taken place between the two Presidents, which ended in mutual re criminations, in consequence of which the general opinion prevailed at Lima that war would ensue. A few days previous to the sailing of the James Beacham, news reached Luna of the occurrence of a destructive fire at Guayaquil, the loss estimated at three million dollars. The house and stores occupied by Mr. Swett, an American merchant, had been burned; but, by the exertions of his friends, nearly all h>s goods and furniture were saved. His loss was consequently inconsiderable. One of the papers, in mentioning the fire, states that fifty-one houses bad been consumed. PORT OF COLUMBUS. ARRIVED. May 19.— Steamer Baltimore, Jen kins, master, from Appalaehicola, with merchandise and groceries Sic. to J. A. Hudson, G. W. Diilingham, Stewart St Fontain, Jas Kivlin, R. P. Guyard, and J. G. Prinee —Passkngers -mr. Pea body and J. G- Prince. DEPARTED. May 19.—Steamer Baltimore, Jenkins, Appalaehicola. COLUMBUS' II IT STOKE. IYJ OITRSF CLARK have removed to the -Lv new brick building next south of Smith V Morgan’s store in Broad Street, where they of fer for sale on the most accommodating terms, a general assortment ot Hats of their own man nlucture, among which are While, Drab, and Black Beaver, Otter ami fine Korun Hats. N. K C. will he constantly receiving fresh supplies from their factory, and of the latest fashions. ALSO—Gentlemen's ready made clothing consisting of elegant Dress and Frock Coats, Pantaloons, and Vesta. ColvmltuSf May 14,1331. MERCERS CLUSTER, AND METHODIST HYMNS. Principally from the collection of the Rev. JOHN WESLEY, M. A. —AI. O A selection of approved Sciicol iJcoUs. Youffg’e Assistant, Easy Lessons, Popular do. National Reader, Latin Header, Scientific Class Book, Toney's Botany, Woodbridgc Geography and Atlas. Pickett’s class Books, 'V ebster .and Walkpr’s Dictionary, English Reader, Webster’s Spelling Bonks, Bibles and Testaments, Blank Books and Stationary, A few pieces faslrionoblc Music. Fi r sale by GEO. W DILLINGHAM. May 21, 1831. THIRD VOLUME of Tin: fISISIIJIAN AND SOUTHERN DEMOCRAT. We would respectfully inform our patrons and the public that we conteinplato sundiy new ar rangements, and improvements, in the forth coming volume of 'the Irishman;” and while we gralefnlly acknowledge our obligations for past encouragement, we trust that an augmen ted liberaliu will enable us to carry those pro jects into execution. 1 1 deed the political as pect of things,’ and the relative position iu which we have voluntarily placed ourselves, would seem to demand a corresponding energy and enterprise on our part;—for we cannot con ceal from ourselves that a crisis is approaching very rapidly—if it has not already arrived— when every advocate for good order, and the “ integrity of this Uni in, must he bold in avowing, and zealous in propagating the tiue doctrines of the Constitution. The enemy is rallying his forces and augmenting his means of annoyance—the most powerful engines that talent, ingenuity, or low cunning can bring to bear, are, or will peedily be levelled at the ven erable fabric of our institutions—and however feeble our efforts, they must not be wanting to “resist the foe.” With this view, we piopose enlarging our sheet, and giving to it the “form and piossure” of the ordinary vehicles of infor mation. The circle of our exchanges too, has be, n considerably extended, nod assistance has been secured in ihe Editorial department. We promise our readers a large accession of origin al and an immediate transfer of such selected matter, as may bear on the gteat inteiests of which we profess ourselves the advocates; —in short, we are desirous of establishing anew ®ra in the his ory of the “Irishman dy Democrat " and respectfully solicit the co-operation ot our friends. A renewal of out political professions may be considered a.- somewhat gratuitcu- al this peri od of our career; but such is the general brute rersement of parties, such the open tergiversa lion, or content ilible trimmi .g , which cltaiac tenzo and disgrace the period in which we live, that tlie honest Journalist owes it to himself, no less than to his patrons, to recur frequently to first principles. In accotdance wito this con viction, we now avow our full determination to abide the issue of those principles which actua ted us i-i the outset— lrish Disenth raiment, and he Integrity or the American Union! F.vory thing hostile to the first, we stand sol emnly and irrevocably pledged to encounter, whenever contempt or a lesß excuseable feeling •till permit us to do so; whatever militates a gainit the last—no matter whence it p-ocecd, or under what specious exterior it may bo dis gutsed, he it open suggestion, Nullification, or Hartford, or any other Convention—as Atneri oan-citizens, as men, as the reverers of Wash ington and his last prectou legacy, we sltaii lilt up.our voces, “truiupet-tongued, against its deep damnation!” Opposed as we are and have evci been to the Tariff. Internal lmpro emerits, and the whole host ot kindred ao niiii.it tons, we shall never cease to oppose them with eon inu tional weapons; but that policy winch would tear down a magnificent entice, reared at in calculable cost and labor, and sacrifice, be cause its latter tenants may have appiopnalc-d it to other uses than were originally designed is indicative of sucli wanton lolly, or reckless ambition, as to leave us no choice between im plied acquiescence and unqualified rcprobali >n VV til such measures and their authors, wo can hold neither council nor communion. We view them as destructive to the very last degree, of every thing estimable or sacred in our political existence; and comparatively insignilicant as we may seem, if oui friends are nut wanting to themselves and us, we may yet oppose a formi dable barrier to the march of ruin 'To this end, our columns will be open, and we earnes.iy en treat the contributions ol all friends of the U mon. “It must bk preserved,” has aheady been waft< and from a qnarier, whose warning tones are at once tlie summons to exertion, and the haibingcrs of conquest. Let us not be un mindful of the call. As regards the ensuing Presidential election, symptoms by no means equivocal, have already begun to manifest themselves, to the uUtur dis comfiture of every previous prognosis Nor does it require any refined sagacity to discovet their proximate cause— Jackson lias had the firmness and consistency to frown on the mach inations to which we have already adverted «Se hence, some of those that rang tho loudest notes of praise, are beginning to wail their feeble cries, or to fulminate their coarsest anathemas, i’o call this only political detection, were a fee ble phrase: in our opinion it involves a much more serious charge of gross moral delinquen cy, for it must puzzle even nullification sophis try itself to point ou. the vast discrepancies between Jackson the idolized, and Jackson the forsaken! In what lias he fallen short ol the glorious anticipations, of which these very men wore the voueners and ptoclainiors? What du ty has he noglected? What responsibilities has lie evaded? What recent occurrences have cast their darkening shadows over a life of unpmat lelled devotedness, and incalculable public ser vices?—For ourselves as we were among the first to support, we are now confirmed in our confi and nee iu the man, by the very measures that have entailed the displeasure es his opponents; and if any possible contingency could induce us to swerve from our fidelity, it would most assu redly be of a more important character than a personal difference with Mr. Calhoun, with which the public have, properly, nothing at all to do. Andrew Jackson we now proclaim to be our first, our last,our only, and we shall y»t live, we trust, to add, our successful Candidate! Let iiis lnends come forth boldly: tiie season is early, but not too early to counteract the subtle schemes, the Macluavehan artifices of his ene mies; and while we offer every facility which our columns can afford, we pledge ourselves to go hand in hand with them in whatever may promote the glorious cause! Tho proposed alteration in our paper will ne ces-aiily impose additional expenses, to defray which we solicit an increase in our subscription list. The first Lumber of U THE ICI iIIM.I.V AMD S iUTHEKJYDE.)I'iCR.IT,'' in its new form, will be issued ou Saturday the “Ist of May next, at $3 per annum paysblo in Advance, or $3 50, if nut paid within sumonths from the time of subscribing. FORK AND MACKEREL. A FEW barrels in fine order, received by tho Georgian and for sale by GEO. W. DILLINGHAM. | March 4, 1831 21 ts (jEOnini'. iV • .tuiiji.’i Offers ftr .Snlr, B Bolts brown cotton Sheets j * ings and Shirtings, 1 000 do. bleached “ do. 1.000 <k> Plaids Stripes 6l Checks. 100 do. Calicoes, 2ttO do. Nani pens, 100 do. Bearerteens, I CASE Irish Linens, 1 do. N’avarino Bonnets, 1 do. Leghorn do. I do. Thread Laces, I do. Assorted Silks, 1 do. Swis* Muslins, 1 do. t rmbrics, 1 do. Gloves, every description, 1 do. Hosiery, I do. Flags and Bandannas, I do. Snawla and Sca-fs, I do. Umbrellas and Parasols, I do. Oil Cloths, 1 do. Fine Broad Cloths, Satlinetts, and t 'assimeres, 1 do. Vestings, fi do Ready made C'oathing, Sattins, Ribbons, Ginghams, combs assorted, 12 Cases Hood ley’s celebrated Castor Hats, 15 Cases and Trunks Shoes, 1 Case Percussion Guns, 25 Pair Pocket Percussion Pistol?, 60,000 per* cus«ion caps, 1 Case Superior Cutlery assorted, 1 do. Fine Jewelry do. 1 do. German Violins, I do Flutes and Fifes, 20 Doz. Silver, Tortoise Shell arid Common Spectacles and Goggles, Coral Beads and Silver Thimbles, •">0 Reams Foolscap and Letter Paper, 100 Reams Wrapping do. 15 Packages Crockery and Glass VVa e, Barrels < operas, Alum, Putty, Lamp black, Spanish brown, Venetian red, Copal and black Varnish, 200 Kegs White Lend, ground in oil, 150 Bags Shot, 2000 lb. Bar Lead, I Case superior Mill Saws, I do. Crosscut and . I do. Hand do. 1 Cask Smoothing Irons, 50 Doz Collin- A Co’s. Cast Steel Axer, 2 Sacks heavy Tiace Chains, Ibhols n’s Patent Scythe Blades, Setts Blacksmiths’ Tools, Paint, Sash, Floor White Wash, and Coante; brushes in great, variety, 1,500 Ih. selected Solo Leather, 50 Sides Upper do. Corn mills—Fanning mill Irons in sets, Wheat and 8a and Sifters, 2,000 Galls Stone Ware Jugs. Jars A Churns, 20 quarter casks Maderia. Marseilles .-herry Tenerifl’e and Malaga Wines, I pipe Bordeaux Claret, 3 do Otard (’ gnac and Seignette Brandy, 25 Barrels Jamaica, St. Cr ux, A N. E. itum, 200 do Western Whiskey, 20,000 Dos invcos \ Rec. Martin Segars, 100 boxes Common do. 50 Boxes Bar Soap, 12 Tierces New Rice, 200 Barrels Handsome Sugar, 20 Hlids do. do. 100 Sacks Coffee, 150 Barrels Prime New-Orleans Molasses, 30 Kegs Lane's, Read &co. Cavendish, & cotnr man Tobacco, 170 Pieces Kentucky, Dundee, and Isvernese Cotton Bagging, ' 100 Coils Bale Rope, 300 lb Bagging Twine, Barrels Loaf and Lump Sugar, Pepper & Pi mento, Alcohol, Spts. Turpentine & Castor Oil. April 22 1831. MATH EMATICAL INSTRUMENTS t or sale by L. J. DAVIES & Cos. March 10. 23 ts New Store rjnilE Subscriber has recently opened an E lablishineiit at ( nlumbus, and of. fers for ale at reasonable pricee SALT, Gin, Buck and Bird UGAR, French Brandy, Shot, COFFEE, American Bran- Bar Lead, Fresh Flour, dy, Writing paper, WHISKEY, Jamaica Spii its, VV raping Pa- MOLASSES, Teneriffe Wine, per, PORK, Malaga Wine, Tobacco, IRON, Muscatel Wine, White Lead, NAILS, Port Wine, Sweet Oil, BALE HOPE, Cherry B< unce, Seidlitz Potv- BAGGI\G, Allspice, ders, Dried Fruit, Pepper, Cards, Mackerel, Crackers, DomeMics, ( ranberries, Raisins, Shoes, White Beans, Soap, Hats, Rum, Rifle Powder, A constant supply wiU he kept o f all the articles considered suitable for this market in the line of GROCERIES, IRONMONGER F, HARDWARE, AND CROCKERY. Orders from the Country will be faith fully and punctually attended to. The terms are Cash, Cotton, or Bank able ACCEPTANCES. R. P. GUYARD. Store is at the Brick Building 1 nearly opposite Nourse fa Clarke’s Hat and Shoe Store. N. B. SALES AT AUCTION, F& Every Monday, Thursday , and Saturday. Columbus. April 22.—2 S—t f. GEORGIA— Stetoart County, WHEREAS John L Easter of said Statu and county r .has this day, made appliea lion tome for Letters of Administration on the Estate of John Easter, sen late of said county and state, deed And Whereas Lavinah E. Brady, also applies to me for letters of administration on the estate ofNathan llradyjun dee of said courtly A state. THESE ARE THEREFORE to cite and admonish, ail and singular, the kindred and creditors of said dec’d to lie and appear at my otiice within the time prescribed by law to shew cause (if any they •hould have,) why said let ters of Administrate n should not be granted on the next ter of tlie Court of Ordinaiy.— Given under my hsnd and private seal, no seal of office, this 2d May, 1831. THOMAS R. MANGHAM, c e o. May 7, 1831, Received by Si cam lit Gen. Marion, A GOOD SUPPLY OF WHISKEY, RUM MOLASSES, MACKEREL FORK, LAUD, CANDLES SOAP, SHOT, COFFEE & GRINDSTONES, ALSO ft Firkins first quality Butter. March 23. J. A. HUDSON. LOOK AT THIS. \LL persons are forewarned irom trading for three promisory notos of hand given by my self to one Asa Tillman; two for thirty dollars each & one for ten dollars, all due the -Jsth Dec. 1831; for I do not intend to pa . them u—til com pelled bv law, for they h ve been fraudulently obtained JOHN WHATLEY. Jart. J. 6m
