Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-10-26
FOR THE EN'QUIRER.
PROPOSED REFORMS IN LEGISLATION.

run lHE EsNGtIhER.
PROPOSED REFORMS IN LEGISLATION
An account ofae Free5ooteers" was publish.
ed in the ENarInER some weeks ago. The iul-
lowing Essay is supplement to it
The .lioth of Ind,,sny--of National Prosberlty-
and Of Happiness.
Slow payments, and suspense in the minds Of
the working-peope whether they W i'll ever be ,,ail,
are the Moth Of Industry. liza man agree Ia work
for another twelve months it is uncertain whether
he will get his money once, at the emu of five
or ten years suit and ii there be the least OF
form in the evidence, the poor man is east has tn
lose his money, his time, and to bear the expense.
The rich employer has ppavoiiably many alysnta-
ges over the isbourer. but, where the rights OF
the poor regarded, and the moth OF industry is
baniSi,ed, as in Pennsylvania Tor instance, il the
poor man can prove he WAS employe ed, the en-
poyer must pay him at once his account. In some
places, the wages OF the birelng must be pnt ia his
hands in nine days I could pro.l,ice instances
Of ten thousand men, Of al trades, employed in one
neighbourhoo,. for time i,pmemOriai and no one
known TO go one day beyond the time sp-
ported without his pay. First the hircling is to he
paid next the physician next the landlord--and
all other claims stand equal footing, in those
places where industry is encouraged, and the hap
pness ind prosperity of the country consulted.-
coants of dray man, of sbutcher, Ola physici.
an in Richmond at 81 per cent. And besides,
you sometimes sse the brck-layer and house-car-
perter go unpaid for months, and their sbour f
nally sold tn pay the debts OF the empioVe the
mast.r-workman become insovent, and the Jour-
neyman 90 unpaid And sucii events happen SO
frequently, AS to be moth to industry. To national
prosperity and to tie happiness III the labouring
pyopel
fTheTe are many people among us, who DO not
know how this injustice is prevented in the other
States. ! viii state, for their inform alton, that in
some Of tie States, the employer cannot sell the
labour &c the mechanic until it is paid for and the
mechanic has right to get his pay out OF the pro
perry for, after certain time, the mechanic can,
without any more suing than landlords use among
us in getting their rents, put mp the improvements
and premises to sale at auction and he at once re.
ccives his money. The uncertainty under which.
the workngpeope lay, in respect TO their wages in
Virginia, is ike moth to industry it deprives
them OF the spirit to work, and they will donot,ns
without the expectation of cxtrsvagant pay. Yet,
this equvocal state OF things is of no bsnet to the
honest man, for he will not take the advantage OF
it, but pay like gentleman; but, the most wortl-
less and unworthy OF men watch every opportunity
to cheat aud swindle.
Would any person ensure and collect the claims
OF country merchant, shoemaker, tailor, halter
sadder, orthose cfany mechanic in the country,
for less than so per cent under the laws of Virgin
when the law will bring the poor man his money
that he frequently parts with his claim for tribe,
and he had better give it away than get it by law
suit. THESE things, like moths, destroy industry,
prosperity and hsppiuess. lit be worth so per
cent. to collect money, people o. must have
double tor their iahorr. Hence tAe why
ply sicians, mechanics Sc are compelled to charge
so high for their services. have really though; il
the most wonderful thing 8 the world, that free
nation should choose 10 Ttn laws that subject ho-
nest people to so much expense, delay and trouble
tocome at their own.
II think the right ogappcai necessary but if you
multiply the rights of appeal excessively, the poor
man might a, we'll wish we had no laws at all for,
it his rich employer does not choose ~ pay him,
the rich can ruin the poor as completely as he can
in England, by continuing tn appeal from tribu-
nal to another, until the poor has nothing to carry
on the suit and to obtain lsstice
Though am in favour oil right TO appeal once,
and would not oppose twice, am we'll satisfied,
that right to appeal beyond twice, is moth to in
dusiry, prosperity and happiness.
There is aaother thing in dstribntive and reri-
butive justice, that amazes me namely, the DELAY
and length Of intervals between the different trials
What memory earth is sufficiently Tenacious, t.
give evidence 20, 10 or years hence Besib, S.
many at the witnesses may die. Further, how can
you dojustice to a man, who has been kent out of
his money contrary TO agreement several years p
u had casting vote, would give my voice that
justice slonld be prompt, and that any subject
of debt controversy should go tom tribu-
bunsl to tribunal. that every person might know his
situation at once. lfsnail debts were 20 be paid in
three months from the commencement of the suit,
larger ones in six months, and the largest in nine
months, the prosperity Of Virginia would be resusc-
tated
Perhaps, Virginia is the only country il the
world, where the landlord is to have his rent be-
fore the labourer his hire. This, it would appear.
is the most offensive law in the sight of God that
could be made, according to the doctrine of the
Bible. But, admitting the authority of the Bible
is too old and unfashi1nable to be introduced il is
still proper to tske notice Of the error becl.se il
is n moth to industry.
Another moth to the prosperity OF Virginia u.s.
exoneratng landed property from being liable to
pay what q man owes. To whieh should be added
the pitiul indulgence of suffering healthy, hearty
man to become insovent for few cents, aud not
subjecting the testimony OF the insolvent to be
scrutinized by Jury, some tribunal. As long
this is the case, citizen Of Virginia trades every
where to disadvantages, and has to pay more for
his goods than IL he lived in another State. II very
kind Of property man has we're liable TO pay his
debts; If every man were confined in jail, that fail
ed to pay what he owed, until he satisfied an hpn-
est jury, that ne had given up all his property for
the benefit Of his creditors in general II claims
for services rendered we're to be paid. ike rent If
the ilral decision OF the law prompt, aud eve-
~ reasonable AID unavoidable expense were TO be
entirely aud fully borne by the party failing to do
justice, our farmers would get ali their goods from
the stores Tor a third less than they now have Ia
give mechanics would abound among them ai,f
work for them promptly IL fact, they would re
ceiye considerably more for whatever they SELL snt
| pay much less tor whatever they buy. Laws, tha
| subj ct an honest men 10 sacrifice so or even 20 pe
cent. in collecting his debts or that will not put
| good proportion OF his claims in his hands in 5 or
| months, and the whole in Q months (; or that vii
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