2 Aug. 1812

Evidence Introd

Introd

Ch. 26. Imprisonment for debt

' Errors of Abolitionists

cause [...?] interest

In the pictures drawn /All along and on both sides/ of vice and misery there has all along been on both sides but too much truth. In the [...?] formed for the purpose /under the notion/ of accounting for these disastrous phenomena, the same error has prevailed /been taken up/ on both sides. In shutting their eyes against the only cause o this disasterous phenomena - in the successful exertion made /with which they have exerted//which has attended the exertions made/ on both sides to avoid suing the sole authors, the sole creators the sole preservers of all their vice and all their misery both sides have constantly been agreed.

If misery has been produced it is because on this ground production of it is the sole object to which the exercise made of power has been directed. If vice has been produced, it is because while the matter of punishment has not been employed in the prevention of it, the matter of reward has by the hand or under the eye of power been employed or suffered to be employed in the production of it.

If the Debtor /[...?]/ person whom whom, he knowing nothing, as human power can /could/ extract any thing has been consigned to useless, suffering, it is because the Judge got money by consigning him to it:

If the blameless debtor in whose instance all punishment is /would have been/ undue is consigned to a course of suffering more severe because more protracted than any which the worst of criminals would have /is/ consigned to under the name of punishment, it is because it would [...?] /require/ to learn whether he were blameless or blameable and that trouble the Judges were /have/ one and all /been/ resolved not to take.