Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-07-10
On The Di.eaarys Of D<ss..


] know not any circumstances in life that
can occasion so much triumph 10 gene
rous mind as The honorable discharge Of
debts when dependency can be removed
with credit, and distress exchanged for
peace.
There are few men, who, in the com
mon concerns of the world, have not met
with pecuaiary loss aud disappointment
and yet there are tempers that can bear
misfortune without alarm; can reflect up
on the ruin they have occasioned without
feeling and who would be eySn provok.
ed to resentment at the requisiton Of ie-
gal payment. IF man of such dispo-
siiion could only put himself into the sic
tuation of his creditor. partake of his suf-
ferings, and be subject to his cares be
would wonder how he could have been
and would do Justice TO the timid
application, the liberal forbearance, and
the generous sorrow Of him who trusts.
If the inability TO satisfy legal demand
be mortifying, how much more .humihat-
ing must be the reflections when the man
10 whom you are indebted makes use Of
humble arguments, when he could enforce
those measures which are rigid when he
condescends to apply where he had
right to insist; and when he seeks what
he ought, without application to receive.
When We consider the happiness We
give TO others in being punelual TO them
and equitable to ourselves, how much
greater the satisfaesionis OF discharging
demand, than the folly of contracting a
debt can be; what comfort it gives to the
coniding, and what credit it reflects upon
oufselves--ougbt we not to be surprised
that man will be dishonest from princi.
pie, when il is his iHferest to be just.
The gay, the yolupluous, and the dissi-
pated, may contract membranes with
out prospect or intent to pay they may
wanton in the misery of Others, but COM
FUNCTION must come home at last {; and
how wretched must their condition be.
when they are conscious that infamy
should be their portion here, and sorrow
their lof hereafter!
A man in debt, who perseveres in his
extravaganza, is guilty Of fraud Of the
BLACKLIST dye; for he lavi.hes what belongs
TO another, destroys his credit blasts bis
hopes and hurrics him at last to ruin and
despair.
The man of honesty and application has
a right TO the participation Of society, and
to the protection of its laws; he is link
that helps to support The dependent sys-
tenn, and IT one ring be broken, an useful
member of the community is lost, where
as the bankrupt, from extravaganza (for
misfortunes in life must ever claim tha
good mans pity,) is am idle drone, whose
cunning has intrudcd itself into the veal.
thy hive, anu ~ho becomes thief TO d,s-
poll that honey which he had not talentx
nor industry TO make.
have often wondered at the partiality
OF our laws which lay not more heavy
punishment upon the great, than that
which they inflet on the petty villain. A
man who has dealt out misery according
to the extent of his influence will often
find protection from the legislature, when
the poor, the unsupported and less goilry
delinquent, may fall victim to his insig-
nifcance, and lose his life for want of a
name do not mean to be personal but
only insist that he who is guilty ought TO
suffer, he most assuredly will if not from
law, at least from conscience and ifthis
condemn, the hand of him who commits
a suicide thowever sohphistry may att
tempt to cloak il) is the hand Of the exc
cutioner. (Coi. Cent.