Constitutional Whig. [volume], February 06, 1824, Image 3

About Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832

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'passions and appetites, the impetuosity of de
sires, the pressure uf want, and from the habit
*f yielding to sudden impulses which those
causes induce in man.
Crimes will forever be committed, and the
frequency of them might at last dissolve the
bonds which hold society together, er render
the violence of military despotism necessary
to preserve It, if the passion of fear were not
excited by penal laws, to counteract the vari
ous other passions which are so apt to become
ungovernable, and to disregard all checks af
forded by reason. The mischievous force of
the passions can be kept in constant restraint,
only by arraying against them opposing pas
sions of greater force. A?thfe eye of govern
ment cannot see all at once, nor the hand of
.government reach all distant places in u mo
ment, to prevent evil actions, pains and pe
nalties are declared against such as it is ne
cessary to forbid, by which pride is roused,
and fear excited, to cootroul the will whenever
it may threaten to become dangerously li
centious, or unsteady.
Legislatures Wisely endeavour to render a
vailing both these motives 10 restraint, by
blending disgrace with bodily suffering in pu
nishments, so ns to take advantage of that
peculiarity of feeling which distinguishes the
■higher from the lower orders of society. In
the term higher order, with us, are included
all, whatever may be their circumstances, em
ployment, or manners, who look up to lofty
examples, either living or dead, for their guide;
and in that of lower order, all who disregard
example, and live like the brutes, which know
no rule but that of habit, induced by circum
stances operating on the will through feelings
altogether animal. Leaving fines, and forfei
tores, and all pecuniary penalties out of view*
on this occasion, and also exile and transpor
tation because inapplicable to Us, punishment,
jf may be said, can lie inflicted only by loss of
life, or loss of liberty, ^i;h or without servi
tude, or by bodily pail), not extending to ei
ther. .The degiee of disgrace attending any
punishment, it is manifest, must depend upon
the publicly of dm infliction, and the manner
of if, as that may, still more, degrade the vic
tim in the general estimation, below the due
degree, in public opinion, held by him before
his guilt was knewn. The punishment of the
piumy, or me sim'Ks, consists more m igno
miny, or disgrace, limn pah; ; yet, both are
much dread*d, and form a very effectual res
tiaint. The public transportation of a crimi
nal, loaded witli irons, in a r.*rt, or hand-cuff
ed, oil I horse, with his feet lied together un
derneath, is a punishment, which most men
would willingly commute for some moments
of the. severest pain, or for some months more
of penitentiary confinement. Few indeed,
are so hardened as not to prefer confinement
ina county jail, for some time, to the shame
of being thus exhibited to public view
turoughout a long journey. Besides, when
we consider the cost of so many coo:.ty jails,
to he erected, or altered for penal pm poses;
and the variety of punishments by confine
ment in them, fiom the public dislike of that
mode, it vvill perhaps be found that transpor
tation to one central penitentiary is the least
expensive measure. The allowance made by
public liberality to discharge criminals, it is
true, affects unfavorably (his calculation ; but
the penitentiary buildings being in fact far dis
tant from the centre of the State, the amount
of such charges is unnecessarily great.
Death as a punishment can have but one
degree,since humanity has forbidden to torture
the dying, and it is quite obvious, that this
punishment can admit of no proportiuninent
to the offence committed.
When inaoy crimes, varying in the extent
ol the injury done to society, are all pun
ished capitally by law ; pity, another pas
sion, will inevitably be brought into play,
where the trial by jury is preserved in any
purity ; and punishments would, very surely,
soon become so rare, and uncertain, **s to al
low hope of impunity to oppose, and counter
act fear, in the warfare against social order.
The lightning of heaven, no one can ever
forget, may strike dead,-yet so rare is the oc
currence, that its utmost ordinary effect, is to
startle for a moment from their earthly dreams,
those who are accustomed to indulge too
deeply in worldly abstractions.^ Where the
influence of pity can be suppressed by the
arm of power, tlie frequency of terrible ex
amples soon lessens (heir effect on the minds
of all ; and Ihe restraint, before placed by fear
upon the conddct of daring and licentious
men, i3 soon completely destroyed, by the
ferocious feelings engendered. But premedi
tated murder so shocks the sensibility of all,
that pity undergoes a temporary extinguish
ment, arid the sight of an execution, for that
'crime, excites neither sympathy nor horror,
in the beholder, both being lost in thought,
that the punishment of death is especially ap
propriate to that suiltv deed.
rile reflection should not be omitted, that
a dead man is forever useless, and that the
very worst living man, who ran exist, may be
turned to some account: That it is the fault
of society, if tluit is not done, and that the cost
of the experiment, even if it should fail of suc
cess, is too billing tube balanced for one
moment against humanity, by those who may
lie railed upon <o pay their penny fur defray
ing it. Thus Legislatures are urged hy every
consideration to husband the advantage of
capital punishment, arising from (lie terror
excited by the example when it is very rare,
and to reserve it (the case of wilful murder
alrvuys excepted) for occasions when the des
tructive frequency of some infinitely less
shocking crime, may call peremptorily for its
application.
it is manifest that no other corporeal punish
ment than death, even if torture were admit
ted, can he made proportionate to crimes of
different degrees, without consequences fully
as inadmissible as that cruel resource. Can
a Legislature determine, hy law the number
of turns of the. wheel to he made, in racking
one criminal, or the number of stripes to be
inflicted upon another ?/ls not discretion given
to a court or a magistrate, equal to full power
of life or death over the culprits, in times of
great public excitement?
Can any liioit he set by law, which may not
pr»*re unequal in operation to an absurd de
gr*»*, from that incalculable inequality in the
capacity to endure, which must ever distin
girish men from each other, hy their nature ?
Have we not too much reason to believe, that
when the punishment is made a public spec
tacle, nil the hardihood of the criminal is call
ed forth, from which the example too often
fails to ghe terror to the $weak, nr disgust to
the good, while it leaves on the minds of the
bold, a feeling like admiration of heroism, very
tekely to produce effects exactly the opposite
of those intended ?
It is only when the guilty are deprived of
their liberty, to punish them for their offences,
that a just proportion between crimes and
punishments can be established ; the certaipty
of punishment insured ; the reformation of
offenders attempted ; and Society indemnifi
ed foMhe injury sustained.
As long as we indulge a hope of the amelio
ration of man by religion, hy education, hy
the. advancement of that science upon which
his health, and consequently h»s happiness most
depends, hy legislative provisions for the en
couragement of industry and the improfe
♦ menf of taste, we must refrain from exhibiting
L before his eyes scenes of violence, anguish,
-rfeepaif and death ; hy which the fierceness Of
th« bold, & the weakness of the timid are alike
increased. Thus, our best feelings are sup
ported by our reason, in >he resolution to ad
here to a penitentiary system of punishments,
and it becomes a paramount duty, to look out
for means to improve, that which is already
established among us. At the first view, we
discover, that oue princpal advantage of the
system is almost entirely lost in our establish
ment, as it is new constituted. Obstinate
rogues are but too often, men of quick, ready
and ingenious minds ; and such soon become
so artful in evading the law, or so skilful in
gaining over public sympathy, that they of
ten go on for a long time, forming new
schemes, and inventing new divices of rogue
ry ; all the while teaching to pliant youth,
their pernicious lessons of cunning depreda
tion.
The mildness and the due apportionment
to offences of penitentiary punishments,
seems to afford a very certain remedy
lor this edl.—Offenders are promptly re
moved from society for the first offence
which can be found against them ; and
the mischievous tendency of their exam
ple, with their precepts, as it seems to those
who do not pursue the crime farther than the
immurement of the criminal, is completely
prevented. But, mixed as our convicts are at
their work, and free as they are, to converse
together in the day, or during the tedious con
finement of the night, instruction in the craft
of roguery becomes more extensive than be
fore, because all reasons fur precautions have
ceased, hostility to social order has become
vindictive, and leisure f<tr propagation of
mischievous knowledge is greatly increased.
An experienced malefactor, and we shall al
ways have enough of that description from
other countries, takes as much pleasure in re
lating the achievements of cunning, with all
tho details of preparation, and the accidents
of execution, as an old sailor doe9 in describ
ing the perils of the ocean, or a veteran sol
dier in recounting the exploits he has per
formed, or witnessed, or authentically heard.
The natural vacancy in the mind of youthful
convicts, is thus soon filled, to their everlasting
ruin, by this destructive outlet from the bane
ful memory of their ah&ndoned associates.—
ji nn uni |mcu.uvm) iiiciiiicuiuna mi ny mem,
after their return into society, produre a
strong desire to commence the practice of the
lessons thus received, which must too often
triumph over reason, with the "id of that des
pair, which consciousness of the contempt of
the world cannot fail to give rise to in the
minds of such outcasts from it. To guard
against this evil, a new rule of prison discipline
should be enforced, in all Penitentiaries, by
which a silence unbroken, like, that of a batta
lionjunder arms, by any thing but orders, k the
sound of movements, may he insured, under
the appropriate penalty of the gag during all
the sqcceeding day : and what is much more
important still than that, anew arrangement
in the interior architecture of all such build
ings should be required, by which a comfor
table recess, with thick walls, and a strong
door, with a safe lock, may be provided for
every male convict, wherein he must be in
flexibly compelled to pass every night, when
nut in the hospital.
Profit from the labour nT criminals should
never he lost sight of; for, society must be. en
titled, in any view of the justice of the case,
t« remuneration from that source. Resides,
the idea of punishment without pain, plainly
arises out of a fanciful humanity. Neverthe
less, the custom of decreeing pain by law in
any other way than by toil and privation, as.
plainly spring from an unamiahle harshness of
our nature, or from out unrefined and unphi
losnphical habits of thought and Reeling.
Where hard labour on cheap diet is steadily
unprofitable, there must exist a lamentable
degree of error in plan, or mismanagement in
execution, which may always be corrected.
A complete classification of criminals can
not be abruptly introduced without loss, as all
those who have been already taught the same
handicraft art, whatever may be their ages,
must be 9et to ivork in the same apartment.
But the importance, where reform is hoped
for, of preventing young criminals from re
ceiving any farther criminal instruction, is so
very great, that nothing should be left undone
from which the more complete attainment of
that end may be expected. Therefoie a divi
sion by ages should be adopted, a9 soon as is
practicable, without diminution of the returns
from labor, and 23 yeais being the mean
term of active life, when it i9 protracted to
old age, at all, is perhaps the. best period for
separation* Ail below that age, may be still
considered in youth, and all between it and
56, in manhood ; from which class the small
number actually mold age, scarcely need to
be separated. Again ; to guard against the
contaminating iirfluence of desperate and vin
dictive feelings, which may justly be expected,
it seems not less important to keep the con
victs, wnose term oi connnement was originally
shorter, or is about to expire, apart from those
who are looking forward to an early day of
restitution to all their rights. Four trades and
four workshops, would thus appear to be the
most expedient uumber, for a permanency in
such institutions. Provision should, however,
he made for the performance of a more severe
labor than that required by any of the com
mon useful arts, by way of punishment for
disobedience, negligence, or laziness ; Hnd as a
substitute for the whip, a step wheel, or some
more heavy machinery, to raise water for the
repletion of capacious cisterns, intended to
supply a fire engine of great power, always
kept in order, within the area of the building,
presents itse.lf at once, as best calculated to
answer those two distinct and important pur
poses in our case. Had such a provision for
those purposes been formerly made, the com
monwealth would not have incurred the hea
vy loss it has sustained by the late coflagra
tion ;and the superintendent would have been
saved the mortification he has ever since suf
fered, notwithstanding the complete exculpa
tion afforded him by the evidence taken at the
time before the Board of Directors, which ac
companies this report.
Solitary confinement should be inflexibly
decreed against all those who commit a se
cond felonious offence ; after having expiated
the first by loss of liberty, with hard servitude
in company, through years. In such cases
it would be as idle in plan as it is sure to be
vain in result, to repeat the same experiment
when it has once totally failed. In this point
the cause of humanity requires the support of
all its friends, for solitary confinement can
scarcely be rendered profitable to Ponitentia
ry establishments.
Bat the labor of robust criminals sentenced
for pe/iods long enough to admit of perfect ]
training to profitable arts, if it be properly
enforced, and directed with judgment, and
with economy of time, maintenance, and raw
materials, ought surely to exceed all charges,
including those cvf control, <»nd of security;and
to furnish besides, an accumulating fund suf
ficient for the other expenses of the system.
If solitary confinement give# a chance for re
formation, and moral improvement by the
agency of thought uninterrupted by tumulfu
oils feelings and the excitements of social life,
must not well chosen hooks, containing and
Communicating to the feeblest understandings,
the most obvious and most impressive max
im* of religion and morality, essentially con
tribute to that end? Few of our white enn
I victs are so wholly unlettered as to ba iosus
ceptible of (his gentle, but efficient corrective
under such circumstances. The absolute in
terdiction of all bodily exertion, must, io the
course of years, if years be requisite for refor
mation upon thih plan, at last inevitably pro
duce a decline of all physical powers, which
would restore the penitent to the world only
to be received intv a hospital. la it above the
reach of art to construct small, dry and whole
some cells, which may be ventilated, and tem
pered at the will of the prisoner,by common
air taken from a steeple’s height, by warm
air heated at the great culinary Gre-place, con
veyed to the different cells, the former by
flexible tubes, the latter by pipes of metal, or
of earthen ware, imbedded in the walls ?—
Can we pronounce it too great a streteh of
humane feelings, to place within the reach of
the prisoner, the tools, the implements abd
the materials^ of some valuable art, with a
printed description of all its processes, its
principles, and its results ? Can we suspend
our endeavors to obtain an end so desirable as
reform with the consciousness upon our minds,
that our ignorance, our want of vigilance, and
our blunders, must ultimately be expiated by
the blood of wretches, whose worst crime has
been some mad depredation ? But the great
est possible perfection of architecture, of or
ganization, and of rules for discipline, if the
person selected as Superintendent does not
possess all the qualifications requisite, must
prove as unavailing, as a ship, however well
built, manned, and cquipt, will be sure to prove
unsafe, without a commander of known skill,
science, vigilance, and resolution, Indirect all
raaocBuvres, and control ail the details of sci
ence. To ensure success in this important
point, ample emoluments of office, a wide
range of choice, unbiassed motives nfsclectu#*,
and a just confidence, supported by frequent
scrupulous examination, amd untainted by illi
bend distrust, or individual feelings of favor or
dislike, must always be indispensable. Res
ponsibility for whatever may affect the grand
design of the Legislature, cannot lie too rigid :
hut accountability, which can neven he unjust
ly exact, ought to be. looked for from a dis
tinct office.
under the influence of these views, and of
all existing circumstances, particularly those
appertaining to the finances of the Common
wealth, the Committee have come to the fol
lowing resolutions :
1. That the damaged buildings of the Pe
nitentiary should he restored to the condition
in which they were, before the late fire of
August last.
2. That such alterations, without enlarge
ment, should be made in the interior of the
said buildings, as are necessary to provide a
separate sleeping place, with thick walls ol
brick, and a thick door, for every male con
vict a* sent confined therein ;and a suffici
ent .Uitional number of such sleeping places
as it is reasonably supposed may be probably
"•anted, for the same purpose of seclusion at
night and on Sundays, of such other convicts
as may he brought.
3. That a proper apartment for a hospital
should he piepared, with good care that it be
dry and easily kept warm ; of a high pitch,
not less than 14 feet, well ventilated,in every
way commodious, aad sufficiently spayious
for that purpose.
4. That the central building, stretching a
cross the area, should he removed, if it is
found practicable without it, to have the
aforesaid sleeping places and hospital, and at
the same time to have a sufficient number of
cells for solitary confinement, with two work
shops, and all the other accommodations now
existing, and deemed indispensable.
.*>. That all the cells for solitary confine
ment should he on the upper floor, and suffi
ciently well lighted to admit of reading, and
doing nice work therein.
6. That a brick wall should he built, level
on the top, 17 feet higher than the general le
vel of the present area, upon a wide and deep
stone foundation, above ground rfs well as un
der, where the difference of the level may re
quire it ; running out GO feet each way, from
each outer angle of the front of the building,
continuing the main line of the front GO feet
farther each way, and extending in two paral
lel lines at right angles, to the said main front
line towards the rear of the great semi-circular
building, 317 feet in length, along each side of
the present structure. »
7. That a new building, containing two
commodious workshops under the same roof,
divided by a thick partition wall, without any
opening in it, should be erected in the middle
of the new yard, equidistant from the side
walls thereof, and also from the end wall, and
the main building : that there should be no
entrance into the said yard, other than one on
each side, between and equidistant from the
two square buildings, which occupy the an
gles of the front area, on both sides, and that
no shed, or other structure,should he placed
near, or in contact with any part of the walls
of the said yard.
6. 1 nat a senlry-Uox should be placed at
one front angle, of the square, and another at
the diagonally opposite rear angle ; the for
mer to command the front and one flank,
and the latter the rear and the. other flank.
9. That the front, flanks and rear of the
square, should be lighted up on the outside, by
lamps sufficiently near, and fixed upon posts
of proper height, to be kept burning through
out every night of the year, with oil.
10. That slate should be used for the co
vering of ail the roof of every part of the
building.
12. That all plank floors should he under
laid with sheet iron, upon the joists or sleep
ers, to stop the communication of fire.
13. That a fire engine of great power should
be procured, and kept always in good order,
in a convenient plate between the outer and
inner gate.
14. That several tanks or cisterns, capa
cious enough to contain water for working the
engine, for so long a lime as may he. probably
requisite, should Ire constructed; and all the
water furnished hy the roof collected and led
by gutters and pipes into them.
15. That a step w heel, or some, heavy ma
chinery to raise water into the cisterns,* should
he provided, as a fit punishment, by the seve
rity of the labour for the small offences which
may be committed by the convic«s, to lessen
the necessity of using the whip.
1G.* That the salaries of the Superintendent
and other officers seem to admit of some re
duction.
J7. That the sum constituting the crime of
grand larceny should be increased from four
dollars, as is now prescribed by law, to some
larger sum, at the discretion of the General
Assembly.
16. That the agent for sales ought to he re
moveahle by the vole of the Executive bqdy,
and not by the Hoard of Directors.
19. That the superintendent has a claim,
worthy of the notice of the House, for com
missions on $ 17,676 worth of manufactured
articles and raw materials destroyed hy fire,
and the Agent for sales two such claims, one
for commissions on 7,470 dolls, worth of ma
nufactured articles destroyed by fire, for which
he had given receipt, and on jf 4,209 bO cents
paid for making clothes for convicts, as also on
$ 1300 70 cents paid for repairs.
20. That every male convict should be in
variably locked up in a separate sleeping cell
throughout every night of the year, when not
in the hospital, by an inflexible rule of the
prison.
* $
21. That all speaking among the mule con
victs not absolutely necessary to carry on
work, should be peremptorily forbidden;
and that every breach of this rule should be
inflexibly punished with tiie gag, to be worn
for the offence throughout the succeeding
day, except while taking food or necessary
drink.
22. That a sum of 530,000, with the saving
possible by employing the convicts upon the
work, may be sufficient fur the completion
of what is recommended.
The engrossed bills—“Concerning Wm. Stone*
—anil “Concerning John Cox,* were read
a third time and passed.
The House went into Committee of the whole,
on the bill “to constitute and appoint a board of
officers to revise the militia laws of this Common
wealth*—Mr. Yancey in the chair: and after
some time employed upon it, the committee rose
and the chairman reported, that the committee
had directed him to report the bill without a
mendmeut; but that an amendment, by way of
substitute for the bill, had been proposed in the
committee, which he was instructed to lay be
fore the House.
Mr. WINSTON then moved to postpone both
the bill and substitute to the 3lst of March.
This motion was rejected ; and then, on motion
of Mr. Thompson of Fairfax, they were laid
upon the table.
An engrossed bill “concerning Philip Rc^ar*
was rejected.
As was also an engrossed bill concerning Ma
ry Am* Vizzonneau.
The following engrossed bills were read a 3d
time and passed;—1st, a bill “ amendatory of au
act incorporating trustees for establishing and
conducting a seminary of learning in the town of
Fincastlc in the county of Botetourt :*•—2nd,
“for the punishment of persons convicted of har
bouring runaways:*—3rd, “establishing a fer
ry from the land, of Allen (ramble in the coun
ty of Brooke across the Ohio river, to the oppo
site shore: *—4th, establishing a ferry from the
lands of John Cox in the county of Brooke, a
cross the Ohio river to the opjawilc shore: ”—
—5tli, “concerning the road between Stanton
and the Little Kanawha.*
The Speaker laid before the House the fol
lowing letter:
Second Auditor's Office, 4lli February, 1821.
Sm : In obedience to a resolution of the Gc
! neral Assembly ol the 3d inst. I herewith trans
mit the following statements, viz.
A. Summary statement of Loans obtained to
; effect the Improvements on the James and Ka
nawha Rivers, and to construct the Kanawha
Road—and of the Expenditure thereof, between
the 17th day of February, 1020, and the 31st
day of Dec. 1823, inclusive.
B. Summary Statement of the Revenue of
the Jamos River Company between the 24th of
February, and 31st day of-December, 1323 in
clusive, and of the Expenditure thereof.
C. Statement shewing how far the Revenue
of the James River Company is capable on the
1st day ol Jan. 1324, of paying the expenses,
dividends, and interest, on that day.
D. Estimate of the probable state of the
Revenue of the James River Company at the
expiration of the year 1324.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
With great respect,
Your most obedient serv’t.
JAMES BROWN, Jr. 2d Auditor.
Laid on t'fc table, and ordered to be printed.
On Mr. Haymond’s motion, the Committee
of Roads and Internal Navigation were instruct
ed to enquire into the expediency of amending
Hie act on the subject of the navigation of the
Monongalia River.
COMMITTEE,
ON THE CAUSE OP THE GREEKS.
A meeting of the joint committee, (appointed by
the General Meeting on Friday evening the 30th)—
was held at the Capitol on the evening of the 3d in
stant—(fifteen members of the committee, consisting
partly of members of the Legislature and partly of
citizens of Richmond, being present out of eighteen)
—the Rev. R. C. Moore was requested to take the
Chair—and Thomas Ritchie was appointed Se
cretary.
The following Resolutions were proposed, and u
nanunously adopted:
Resolved, That each member of the committee o
pen a subscription list with the following caption_
“List of subscribers for aiding the Greeks in their
struggle lor Ireedom"—and in one column shall write
the name of each subscriber, and in another the sum
contributed.
Resolved, That the members of the committee
who compose a part of the Legislature, take sub
scriptions from the members of that body and stran
gers, and it shall be the duty of those citizens who
arc designated in each ward of the city of Richmond
for receiving contributions, to solicit the same from
the citizens generally, and for that purpose, if neres
saty, to visit them at their residences.
Resolved, That PhilipN. Nicholas, bo appointed
the Treasurer of this committee, whose duty it shall
be to receive all sums which may be collected by its
members, and deposit the amount in one of the State
Banks to be disposed of as the committee may here
after direct.
JUsoiced, 1 hat the Chairman of this committee be
requested to address letters to the Mayor or princi
pal officer of the towns of Lynchburg, Petersburg.
Fredericksburg, the borough of Norfolk and city of
Williamsburg, the towns of Staunton, Winchester,
Wheeling and Abingdon, Charlottesville, Leesburg,’
Danville. Falmouth,Charlestown, Martinsburg, Lex
ington, Fincastle, Harper’s Ferry, Suffolk, Poits
mouth, Hampton, Port Royal and Tappahannock,
Fairfax in Culpeper, Warrcnton and Woodstock,
and to the Clerks of eaoh county in the State, in
which neither of the before mentioned towns is situ
ated, enclosing copies of the address and resolutions
adopted by the meeting held on the evening of Fri
day the 30th ult. and soliciting their aid in further
ance of the designs of that meeting.
Resolved, That the Rev. the Clergy of this city be
requested to deliver discourses in their respective
churches on the days most convenient to themselves,
for the purpose of promoting contributions for the aid
of the struggling Greek*.
Resolved, That Mr. Lundy of the House of Dele
gates, be requested to deliver an Oration on the 23d
Feb. in the Capitol, tor the purposo of promoting the
same glorious cause.
Resolved. That when this coinmitttce adjourns, it
will adjourn to meet at this place on tho evening of
the 24th day of February at 5 o’clock.
Resolved, That these Resolutions be signed by the
Chairman and Secretary, and published.
R1CHI). C. MOORE, Chairman.
Thomas Ritchie, Secretary.
Hj* It gives us pleasure to state, that Mr. Lcndy
has assented to the wishes of the committee.
Knquirer.
At a meeting of the President and Directors of the
Bank of the United States, on the 27th of January,
1824, the following gentlemen were duly elected Di
rectors of the Office of Discount and Deposit, at
Richmond, for the ensuing year, viz :—
Richard Anderson, James Gibbon,
John Richard, Daniel Warwick,
Edmund W. Routes, Robert Stanard,
Clement B. Weston, Samuel Myers,
John Robinson, John Hobson,
Joseph Marx, William I. Morris.
Hall Neilson.
At a metting of the aforesaid Directors of the Of
fice of Discount and Deposit at Richmond, on the 2d
inst. Richard Anderson, Esq. was unanimosly
re-elected President of said Office.—lb.
SPANISH PATRIOTS.—On the 13th ult.
the schooner Lotitia, C'apt. Robert M. Hamil
ton ; arrived here from the port of Oratavc
(Island ofTeiienife,)having on board the follow
.ing Spanish gentlemen;—Felix Megia-, I.ieut.
Col. Joseph Spinola; Ramon Ceniti,o/ficial Met
jor of the Captaincy of Puerto Rico; and Lcouar
do 1 orex, a surgeon of the Spanish Navy
Tbe^e gentlemen were, in £Jpain, contributor
to seve-al political and periodical papers emi
nently Constitutional among which may be men
tioned particularly, the Zarriago (the Whip)_
the Perrito'Littie Dog)—the Liberal—the Con
stitutional ol Cadiz—and the Aoicate.
The/olloirifig appeal to the citizens of the U-*
nited States contains a brief statement of Choir
interesting case—and we feel assured it is an
appeal which in this land of liberty will not he
| made in vain :
The undersigned Spanish Emigrants to the Citi
zens of'the United States :
Worthy descendants of Washington ! The
political storms of Spain have thrown us u|>on
your shore, and when wc assert that we have
lost all but our honor, we are compelled to de
clare the causes of our unmerited misfortunes.
Those who plotted and consummated the ruin
of the Peninsula, solicited and obtained from the
Cortez, then at Cadiz, that extraordinary pow
ers should be vested in the Executive; and as
they did not blush to make the demand, the Re
presentatives of the Nation, on their part, were
not scandalized at their bare mculion, nor did they
hesitalcsoouafter to grant them. Oneofthese ex
traordinary privileges bestowed upon the Execu
tive was the power of ordering from one part ofthe
kingdom to another and thence to the adjacent
islands, without any judicial proceeding or auy
public information, any Spaniard who should he
suspected of conspiring against the liberties of
the country or against public order. No sooner
did the Ministry feel itself entrusted with so sin
gular a power, than it abused it; for it charac
terised as criminal, an cnthusibsin for civil liber
ty ; and those who had with the greatest forti
tude maintained the Constitutional system, and
defended tho rights of the people against the ty
rannical attempts of men in j>owcr, were called
Exalted, (Exaltadocs) and their exertions mis
construed into a desire of destroying the public
peace. As such tee were sent to the Canary Is- 1
lands in the month of August last, thus depriv
ing the citizens of Cadiz of some of their best
friends, and of whose fidelity they had received
many proofs—inen, who on some occasions had
defended their interests with the sword ; had of
ten done it with their pens, not without some ef
fect by their speeches, and had sometimes even
headed their more active exertions.
i ransportcd to thot anary Islands, the ncwlv
appointed Commandant General, R. Ramon
Toio, concerting with the Political Chief R.
Frederieo Rodriguez Castanon, and complying
with the orders of the ministers, ordered us to
the islands of Iliero and Gomera, giving at
the same time most minute instructions to
prevent our escape. At this time took place
the political catastrophe of Spain—General
R. Isidoro Uriamc, destined to tyrannise over
the Canary Islands, had scarcely received his
commission, than lie issued orders to have onr
persons seized and conducted ua as ptisoner
to the, Islands of Teneriffe where he then res
sided—However, some virtuous and no less
courageous countrymen, undertook, and in a
manner noa*4y miraculous, succeeded in sav
ing us from Uie fury of this despotic chief.—
We were then conveyed to an American ves
sel, by which we have safely arrived in this
port. The limits of this address will not allow us
any further remarks on tills subject, nor docs it
belong to us to detail the services we are con
scious of having rendered to the cause of reason
and justice, in defending for Man his rights a
guinstlhat league of oppressors, which torments
aud would degrade him. Many public journals,
to which we have been the editors, among which
we may name The Zurrirtgo, Goero, Diarui
Gnditano, &c. vouch in Europe, for our constan
cy and unremitted efforts in combatting the ar
bitrary measures of a demoralized Ministry, who
had usurped the power of governing a nation
which had adopted liberal principles.
Such, Americans, is the character cf those
Spaniards who now claim your hospitality—
That you s ioutd appreciate, esteem and approve
their political conduct, is what they desire,' and
which mortl than any thing else is calculated to
give them consolation. They have lost every'
tiring, expelled from their country, separated
from their wives, their children, parents, friends
and property; they will soon he ileprived of
their very clothing. But in so dest itute and af
flictive a situation, however necessitous they
may be, snd expectant of relief from the gene
rosity of Americans—they indulgo much in the
consolatory thought, that as lovers of virtue, you
will grtyit your esteem to men who have made
i themselves known as her friends.
We ought not to conclude this address with
out expressing our warmest gratitude to Capt.
R. M. Hamilton, master of the schooner Letitia,
a man as well worthy of the country' that calls
him her own, as the country itself is houored in
the boast of so virtuous a son.
RAMON CERTTTI,
RELIX MEGIA,
LEONARDO PEREZ,
JOSE SPINOLA.
BRAZIL.—Extract of a Letter from Per
nambuco, dated December 16.
“Last weekarrived from Rio de Janeirrf, eight
deputies, belonging to this province. The Em
peror disolvcd the Cortes by force of arms, on
the 12th ultimo. The Brazilians are much dis
satisfied.—What the consequence will be, time
must show.”
NEXT MONDAY TWO WEEKS,
Will be drawn in the City of Richmond, the rich
little scheme of the
QU ANTIC O CANAJL
LOTTERY.
FIRST CLASS;
SCHEME.
1 prize of $5000 is $5000
1 do. 2090 is 2090
8 do. 200 is 1000
50 do. 50 is 2500
200 do. 16 is 3-200
1500 do». 8 i< 12000
1760 prizes $ 26,390
2300 blanks
4060 tickets • $26,390
The time is npproaching, reflect upon it; one,
day's delay may exclude you from the list of adven
turers, and thus the $5000 may escape.
The ecurity that the manager has given for the
payment of all the prizes, entitles this lottery to a
full confidence ; this confidence, added to the impor
tant object for which this lottery was established
claims in return a generous encouragement.
A few tickets may still be had at
M’XNTYRE’S
Virginia Lottery Office, under the Eagle Hotel,
Richmond.
Whole tickets $8 I Quarter $2
Half do. 4 I Eighth 1
O' Persons, wishing to purchase (by certificate)
parcels of 10 tickets, are requested to supply them
selves without delay. This mode of adventuring
in this Lottery is 90 advantageous, that applications
have been very numerous; in consequence of which
there a.-e but few rernainfhg on hand.—Tbe public
will observe that at the present price of tickets, a
certificate for a parcel of 10 whole tickets will re
quire an advance of $ 46, that is: only $ G more
than the price of 5 entire tickets. Thus the chance
of 10 whole tickets may be obtained with an ad
vance of a little more than the full value of fire.
Certifi. ates of parcels of shares, may be bad in the
same proportion—viz :
Certirtcats of whole Tickets $ 46 06
do. half do. 23 06
do. quar. do. 11 56
(ET All prizes subject to a deduction of 15 pet
cent, and payable, 30 days after the drawing; or or
application,if suitable to parties.
Orders from the country, fpoit paid) wlji reccivi
prompt attention.
II Jas,uarr JO rV2
r
WOW DRAWING.
On the I'jUi insL the Seventeenth day's drawing
OF Til E
OBAND STATE LOTTERY
WILL POSITIVELY take placf.
100,000 BOUt&KS
JtliCrHEbT iil^C.
After which 3 drawings only will remain to its
completion.
ILj* CASH paid for all prizes at oon as
drawn, if ordered at COllEIS’b OFFICE—Thar
grand capitals of
100,000 DOLLARS,
20.000 DOLLARS,
10.000 DOLLARS,
10.000 DOLLARS,
5,000 DOLLARS,
8 of 1,000 DOLLARS,
And all vet to be drawn, besides numerous
$ 100’s g50’s &c.
Tickets (warranted mulrawn) at the present
price of
Whole $15,00 I Quarters $3,7S
Halves 7,50 J Eights 1,87
BUT WILL SOON RISE-AT
COHMS’S
LOTTERY AND EXCHANGE OFFICE,
Corner of Main Street. opposite the Eagle IIo*
tel, Richmond, Virginia.
Where the official drawings aro regularly
received.
ill#" Orders from any part of the Union en
closing the cash, post paid, will meet tlie mos
prompt and punctual attention.
Feb. 6.
_ VALUABLE STOCK OF~
mm'T <&<©<&;bs„
AT AUCT10.V.
THE Subscribers, intending to decline theirpre
sent business, will offer for sale, at public
auction, under the management of.Messrs. .Moncure,
Robinson k Pleasants, mi MO.VDA 1, the 22a cf
March vert, their entire
STOCK or DRY GOODS,
Without any reserve.—The following enumerated
articles arc among those that will be offered, viz:
Cloths and Cas.nncrf s,
Cassiuetts, Boinbazclls,
Bombazines,
Fig’d & plain Poplins,
Florences & Levantines
of various colours.
Handsome Plaid Silks,
Figured & plain Sattins
A large Sc extentive as
sortment of
Cotton Shawls and
Handkerchiefs,
Buck, Kid, and Beaver
Gloves,
14-4 and6—1 Cambrics Sc
Cambric MUslins,
Jackonct and Mill Mul
do.
Figured Sc Plain Lcno
and Book do.
Cambric Prints and
Ginghams, Bandanuo,
Flag and Spitalfield
Handkerchiefs,
Circassian Plaids,
Merino Circassians,
Zelia Handkerchiefs Sc
Scarfs,
A superior assortment
of Thread Laces,
White and Coloured
Mersailles Vestings,
.leans,
Cotton C-assimeres,
Worsted Vests and
Drawers,
Cotton Sc Angola do.
A large assortment of
Marseilles Quilts ofdif
ferent sizes.
Damask Table Covers
and Napkins,
Merino Shawls and
Scarfs,
Canton Crape,
Handkerchiefs and
Scarfe,
6-4, Humhums.
A targe stocK ot Mb*
boas of various widths
and Colours,
Silk, Worsted, Gotten
i and Thread Hosiery
Apron Checks,
White and Coloured
Domestics,
Morocco Needle and
Thread Casfes a ud
Pocket Books,
Pearl, Gilt, Cambric*
I.ace & Thread But-,
tons,
Jet Bccds, Bucklos and
Clasps, 50,000 I\ nedlc?.
Bonnet Wire in spools,
Corduroys, Silk and
Tabby Velvets,
Irish Linens,
Linen Cambric and
Cambric Handkr rchiefj
Silk k Luce Shaws and
. Handkerchiefs,
Gilt and Common Pinj,
Black k \\ hita Gauzes
Bobbinetts,
Sewing Cotton in
spools, balls ^ banks,
; P.attinetu,
| Cologue Water,
Power Loom Sliirtin<»,
i Dimities, Violin Strings*
j Quality k Bed Bind
| ings,
Figured k Plain Black
Silk Cravats, very
j elegant,
Russia Drills k Sheet,
ings, Worsted & Cotton
Fassets, \V hite Cotton
Friuges, some ektreum.
ly neat,
Musi n Ro © , White &.
I Coloured Gimpr,
Chinelle, for embroide
ry, kc.
ii ilk vuiny other art ides, too numerous for the.
limits of an advertisement.
Our friends and customers, and the public gene
rally, are invited to call and examine our goous,
before the sale takes place, as we will sell at very
reduced prices, by wholesale and retail, and we have
no hesitation in saying that great bargains will be
offered. v
J. L. k. S. JOSEPH.
[T. All persons indebted, arc requested to come
forward and settle their respective accounts; and
persons to whom we arc indebted, are also request
ed to bring in their bills for settlement.
Feb. B.—uls___ J. L. & S. J.
FOR LIVERPOOL?
The fine coppered Ship MARTHA,
Thomas Li st, Master; trill a,,',
mence loading immediately at C ihj
Point, and meet trilh dispatch. For
freight of lb hhcls. uppldo
IVM. IJARRET, rr
j CHAS. PALMER,
February .'J. 2tif3
uift&ui.u t H >t\ OF PARTNERSHIP.
Partnership heretofore existing under
A the firm of BROOKE & HUBBARD, is
this day dissolved by mutual consent. Extvvr
S. Hubbard, is authorised, to settle the bu
siness of llie concent.
RICHARD BROOKE,
EX CM 8. HUBBARD.
Jan. ilOth, 1824.
AUCTION AND COMMISSION BUSINESS.
TIN HE subscribers have this day, connected
J- themselves in business under the firm of
BROOKE &.( OSBY8. They keep their store
under the Bell Tavern. Any business, en
trusted to them, will be particularly attended
to. Any article deposited with them for sale1,
a liberal advance will be made in cash.
* RICHARD BROOKE,
JOHN COSBY,
SAMUEL COSBY.
Jan. 30th, 1824.
Sugar & t3off©e7~
Tin: Cargo of the brig Franco* will be landed
in a day or two, consisting of
107 Bags PRIME GREeN COFFEE,
10 Hhds. Jamaica Sugar,
Loaf Sugar ami Window Class.
Wr are now receiving,and will receive in n fewdav^
RK) Barrels Loaf Silgar, of various qualities,
200 Boxes Window (.Mass.
•Maneure, Robinson ^ Pleasants.
January 27.
i)on\©stt© UooAsT ^
/Fe have on hand, Jr icilt restive in a fee days, a hove
4 Of 1 Packages Domestic Plaids, Shee tings and
| Is-R-r Shirtings, of the most approved maitu
i factor* in the United States.
JIfoncurc, Robinson «?>• Pleasants.
January 27.
* Trust SaY© .
ON the 21st day of August TS£» a DCrd of
Trust, wasexocuted totWmbscrihersby James
.Hill,of the townof Manchester,whutoh / waseinwry
nd to them a Tract of Land lying in the county ofToW .
hat an, and containing about ninety acres.
The subscribers as Trustee*, will offer the said
Tr&c^of L.aml for sale to the highott bidder, for
r^ *h,"at Powhatan Court House, on Thursday the
1 riM.t 4*7 of February next.
richapd o. Gunderson,''
jhpsg mx*