within the walls of a prison when unsuspected of crime, and when charged with no other sin but that of being poor. I am myself a descendant of the illustrious house of poverty; and I am willing to say, that the only thing of which I am proud, is my descent. I really feel as though royal blood run in my veins. It is, indeed, a family to which I am attached as well from the ties of consanguinity, as from constant habits of intimacy, during the whole course of my life; for I can safely aver, I never ate, drank, or slept, but with my kindred on all sides. When I see, therefore, such a reproach cast upon my ancestors, and such indignity offered to my name, as to rank or place in "durance vile," either kindred, son or sire, with the vilest knaves and scape goats that ever disgraced community, feelings of indignation, wrath and revenge rush into the mind of your Obedient servant, RTY. UNVEILED POVERTY. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT. Concluded from page 4 During the late Session of our State Legislature, every eye, beaming with hope, was directed to that Assembly. But our hopes are not realised; too much of the "old leaven" is still lurk bably wait until a new generation, more liberal of sentiment, and less governed by tradition, shall arise, to take the places of those who now direct our public councils. thing may be done, even now, to lessBut still, let us not be idle, something may be done, even now, en if not entirely remove the evil complained of. We all know the powerful influence and good effects resulting from Societies: witness our Bible Societies, &c. Let a Society be estab. lished in this city for Preventing Imprisonment for Debt, distinguished by some appropriate name, and governed by an energetic constitution. ligation of each member, be to disfirst, the greatest, the fundamental ob ing in that respectable and august body. Although many noble spirits among them boldly and zealously stood forth the undaunted champions of Justice and Mercy, (whom we believe to be twin-sisters) yet a majority still insisted upon walking in the steps of their forefathers; and we must pro * We claim no affinity to the "house of Adam." Modern humanity and gentility cannot tolerate the idea, though we are very nearly as ancient. Let the countenance law-suits of all descriptions, more especially for debt, and use their influence to have every subject of dispute settled by arbitration. Let it be the duty of the members to deal with each other in the transaction of business, in preference to dealing with persons who are not members. When a member is complained of for debts, let an enquiry be instituted, and delinqency in the discharge of his if the arbitrators discover no reason to suspect fraud, and feel convinced that the debtor is unable to pay, let it be the duty of the Society to protect him in his business until he becomes able. But never deprive an honest man of that liberty which God intended him to enjoy, and for the security of which our countrymen have shed so much precious blood. These hints are mere ly suggested for others to improve up on. take up the subject, and propose some We wish some abler pen would remedy for the unmeritrd sufferings of honest debtors, and the total ruin of many once happy families. ed succeed, much litigation would be Should the project we have suggestprevented-great expenses savedgood will and neighborly love promoted-and a host of merciless leeches compelled to seek a more humane, if not a more honourable vocation, than that of sucking the life-blood of their fellow worms. We propose a Society, because we have witnessed so much good resulting from benevolent associations. Who does not bless the day that first saw our Bible Societies instituted? The Scriptures of truth are now scattering far and wide, throughout the whole habitable globe. But while we are thus assiduous to circulate the Word of God, let us not forget to practice the precepts which that Word enjoins. We are there commanded to " relieve the oppressed" to "visit the prisoner" "to bring out the prisoner from the prison house"-"to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound"-" to let the sighing of the prisoner come before us" and "to hear the groanings of the prisoner." It is true that some of these passages, are predicated of the Lord-but we are commanded to be "merciful, even as He is merciful”—and "inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto Me." An angel was once commissioned from Heaven, to open the prison-doors of two honest prisoners, viz. Paul and Silas. We invite our correspondents, to pursue this subject, and they may thus become the instruments of more real good, than by wasting on ocean of ink in fomenting the passions of partizans, and thus permitting unhallowed feelings to assume the tone of patriotism. THE VICTIM OF PERSECUTION. In the year 1803, the Yellow Fever raged in this city with relentless fury. Every where the citizens fled from the destructive pestilence; the rich resorted to the seats of fashion and pleasure, the poor sought refuge in those shelters provided in the suburbs of the city by the benevolence of our active corporation. Humanity exerted herself in favor of every class of the community-except the debtors. Among the prisoners who endured the indescribable horrors of the season, there was one named Smith. His wife and two daughters kept a boarding house in Water-street. They were too rich to be included in the class that was provided for by the corporation, and too poor to support the expenses of an exile in the country.→ They were, however, preparing to tax the friendship and charity of some of their neighbors for a little loan of money to enable them to move, with their boarders, to Greenwich, when Mr. Smith was arrested for a small debt, and thrown into prison. This misfortune disconcerted their plan the neighbors fled, and to increase the miseries of Mrs. Smith, the boarders, who had hitherto contributed to her support, fled also ; and shortly after herself, and both her daughters fell victims to the prevailing epidemic. And, will you believe it? reader! no entreaty, no bribe, within the father's power, could prevail on any one to go to his house to bring him infor mation of his family. The first and last information this unfortunate father ever received of his family was in the newspaper. They were buried in Potter's Field. The father starved awhile in jail, till at length, goaded by his suffering, he forged a check on the Manhattan Bank, was transferred to Bridewell, and from thence, after trial and conviction, was condemned to the State Prison for seven years. Soured by misfortunes, and rendered misanthropic by unmerited sufferings, he exul ted in his crimes; and often was heard to advise people rather to be a criminal than a debtor in this country, for that society here furnished the criminal with the conveniences of life, while the debtor was suffered to starve. He at length died, the enemy of society, cursing men! And this is one among the millions of instances in which slavery for debt has destroyed families, and ruined the morals of a man, who, under a rational government, might have lived, the defender of liberty, and a disciple of religion. Unfeeling, cruel, pitiless, and remorseless creditors! and, legislators - of New-York; careless, heedless, and criminal as they, whether ye sleep or wake, may the spirits of the injured Smith and his suffering family give ye no peace till your hearts shall be touched with pity, and your eyes be opened to the folly of your ways. HOWARD. MONDAY, APRIL, 17. Our indulgent patrons, we trust, will excuse the irregular manner in which they may receive this, and the preceding number of the REMEMBRANCER, when we assure them that it was for the want of a regular carrier. Mr. Samuel E. Benson is now engaged for that purpose, and he is hereby authorized to collect the advance for the first quarter. The paper will be regularly served in future every Monday. The continued efforts of maj. Noah, the respectable editor of the National Advocate, to ameliorate the condition of Imprisoned Debtors, as well as to effect necessary amendments of the Insolvent Law, deserves, and receives the commendation of every friend of suffering humanity. We sincerely hope Mr. N. will not relax his exertions in this benevolent cause. Talents can never be better employed than in endeavors to mitigate the sufferings of our fellow men. Most of our Patrons, being among the poorer classes of society, and who, if it should be their misfortune to be lodged within these walls, are generally unacquainted with the means of liberation, and the expense attending the same. We have thought it our duty to furnish them with the annexed explanations of the various Laws on this subject. Persons imprisoned for a sum less than twenty-five dollars, and which they are unable to pay, can procure an immediate discharge, by taking the necessary oaths, and paying one dollar costs. For a sum less than fifty dollars, by a notification to the creditor of their intention to avail themselves of the privilege of the Law; they can by taking oaths, &c. be discharged after fourteen days imprisonment, with considerable costs. Or if for a like sum they neglect to notify the creditor after thirty days imprisonment, they can be discharged upon paying the costs of the twentyfive dollar Act. Under $500, and if in execution, imprisonment and expenses the same as the fifty dollar Act. FIRE.-We observe in the papers an account of the recent conflagration and destruction of the Court House and Gaol, in the county of Delaware, in this state; and with it a poor prisoner, confined for Debt, being the only person within its walls. It has been a source of much anxiety and disquiet to the individuals confined within this Prison. What is to become of them in case of a similar catastrophe? Escape is almost impossible; nay, it is supposed impracticable. The length of time which this building has stood, and the consequent decay of its wooden materials, would present a spectacle of conflagration, at the contemplation of which the mind sickens, and for the prevention of which humanity would seem to require some alteration in the present system of locking up the house. To provide a security for our lives, and to enable us to escape should such a calamity take place, (which may heaven avert,) it is recommended that a Watchman be placed in the Balcony, so that if fire should begin below, we might escape at the top of the Prison. Messrs. Editors.--I have as you know been an imprisoned Debtor for several months, and I wish you or some of your respectable correspondents to enquire for what reason I have been detained in prison. My case is simple and may be thus stated-about three months ago I received a discharge by the insolvent act, and on the following day was arrested by process issuing out of the circuit court of the United States, for a debt due by me to a gentleman in Philadelphia, and which debt was included in the schedule from which I was discharged. If any of your correspondents will furnish an answer they will much oblige R. To R. we have only to say that the exposition of his case will no doubt attract the attention of the gentlemen of the bar, and he may be assured that if any reason is offered pro or con, it shall receive immediate publicity. For the Remembrancer. It is of importance to every citizen of America, and to every human being who sets his foot on our soil, whether he hopes to be a citizen or not, that the origin, progress, and consequences of the inhuman practice of imprisonment for debt, should be well understood. No man, however high he may stand in power; however rich he may be in fortune; however secure he may feel in his power and wealth, can be proof against the arrows of fate, so that he can boldly say his power shall continue with his life, and his riches shall take no wing, nor ever fly away. Or, in other language, the most wealthy and powerful may, by the uncontroulable chances in human affairs, become "a prisoner for debt." For this reason, every person who breathes this air, is interested in the inquiry, whether imprisonment for debt is consistent with our religion, or our laws. But this inquiry becomes the more interesting, when we consider that the American revolution has made great alterations in every law relating to human liberty, except the single law of imprisonment for Debt. It is a curious fact, well worthy of the statesman's reflections, that while civil, religious, and political liberty, has been carefully and doubly protected by that constitution which our fathers fought and bled for, they utterly overlooked the liberty of unfortunate men. Politicians, men of religion, traitors, criminals-all classes of men felt the benefits of that Revolution, except Debtors. And so completely has this class of beings been overlooked in this age of useful refor mation, that little or no improvement has been made in the law of debtor and creditor, since the 12th century, and even since the days of ancient Rome. It is the natural tendency of the political body in every department to make inroads on the liberties of the people, as much as it is of the individual body to degenerate from the vi gour of youth to the decay of age. It is only revolutions that wake up the sleeping rights and liberties of na tions to protect themselves against the effects of such tendencies; perhaps nothing but another revolution can induce the federal government of America to pass a national bankrupt act, and do justice to that most wretched of all classes of men, not excepting even the slaves of the South-Debtors. In what is the condition of a negro slave more worthy of the sympathy of the philanthropist, than that of our debtor? By comparing the condition of the two pitiable subjects, and certainly both are pitiable, we shall find the condition of the black slave of the =South is enviable and happy, compared with that of the poor helpless white slave-"the imprisoned debtor." The negro works in the open field-the imprisoned debtor can work no where. The negro breathes the pure air of Heaven-the debtor the foetid air of crowded cells. The negro's labour occupies his mind, and he forgets his misery-the debtor's idleness compels him to think only of his misery; and he is glad to get drunk to forget, for a moment, the horrors of his fate. The slave is provided with food-the debtor starves. In this land of christianity, he starves by law, and no man pities him, except that noble and most useful class of men, called the Humane Society. They have told the Legislature this horrid truth, year after year, in vain. Judges, politicians, legislators, and statesmen, are асquainted with the fact, and no man undertakes to remedy it. BENEVOLUS. [To be continued.] P We acknowledge with unfeigned emotions of pleasure the receipt of a POEM, politely communicated to the editors of this paper, for publication, by the Rev. Mr. STANFORD. This venerable man, whose Ministerial labours are devoted to those who are in Prison, has a claim upon our gratitude of more than ordinary character. His Ode, which was too late for this day's paper, shall be inserted in our next. TO CORRESPONDENTS. "B. of Long-Island," is under consideration; his composition has merit, but it does not appear to comport with our object. His manuscript can be had on application to the printer. L. "On the exaction and exorbitant demands of several gentlemen of the bar, for procuring the benefit of the body act," is inadmissible. Personalities shall never dishonor the pages of the Recorder. Temperate disclosures of oppression will always receive a ready insertion. REPORT of prisoners committed to, and discharged from the Debtors Prison of this city, from the seventh to the thirteenth of April inclusive : April 7-committed 4-discharged 3 -8. ·10 -11. -1 -6 4 2 4 -25 Aggregate number of Prisoners 42, of which 18 are supplied by the Humane Society. Most of the persons lodged in Goal since our last, have been for small debts and were of course immediately relieved by making oath that they were not worth $25. What a comment does the above list afford of the necessity of placing a Debtor under locks and keys as it would seem for scarely any other object but paying the various officers one dollar for freedom and NOTHING to the creditor. MARRIED. On Monday evening last, by the Rev. Mr Strong, the Rev.. John T. Halsey, of Newburgh, to Miss Margaret Oakley, of this city. On Thursday evening, Mr. Joseph Moore, merchant, to Miss Sarah Shute, all of this city. Last evening, by the Rev. Mr. Phillips, Mr. Gideon P. Hewett, to Miss Mary C. Hunter. Mr. Sebastian Ande, to Miss Ann Boyce. Mr. William Jackson, to Miss Sarah Somers. DIED, In this city, Mr. Thomas Kenny, aged 26. Mrs. Catherine Brown, aged 80. Mr. James Cassidy. Mrs. Olivia Pear. |