Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-09-16

Clement 8, was or opinion that these Who
maintained thst interest might he claimed for
money lent, ought TO be treated a. hcrctics =
tnat -, III plain English. burnt TO desth
ifis Holiness could have enjuyed very little
peace OF mind, unless he had been also OF opin
ION. that the head OF the Christian church the
wear general of Christ, the keeper of the KEYS
OF heaven and hell. might lawfully live with
me 1onn,sss OF Perlgord, IN state of open
anu notorious prostitution, and carry her with
MN Wherever he went. In fact, the conduct
ma Opinions of the Roman Catholic Clergy
Tor many Centuries, ought never to be quoted,
p". 'or tue purpose OF showing how tar huInau
depiaVity. ignorance aud insolence can be car.
RED.
There Is note to the I'd part of the 2ad book
OF the Iandects, well worthy of notice. of
"nirh VIII give you the translation
The tate OF Usury was variable among the Romans.
. ny me tist law OF The Twelve Iahies IL was establish
.. Gu thai only one cent should he taken; -hereas
uei"rr II depended M the cupidity oil the lehdets
tiar An q, 49, This interest is very n,oder
as rs II l. Only The I2i part the oent,snai inter
" est. Cone . cent. y nioath.) But since in short
" f'he ans law became obsolete 1t was renewed By
rse1b>scifain C. Marcus aud Gu. Maniias he,ne Con
d suns Iiv. y, ~ Afterwards 10y ano,hsr p,-b,s sci
i"tn Introduced U. e. 40r. interest was reduced 10
. haits v esnt-(Lv. lind. M At length, An al A.
u C. b, tte Genutian Law. all Usur, was pr-hb,ted
e mat law prevailed IN koeoni, aud not in La,i,n.
therefore. to avoid the frauds o the usurefs whn hor
fo"ed names from their friends ia Lailu the sem
90 p', s Id" was introduced and bound the Lauus az
h"t III uhth, Hofhf6s scarce ~ tUds erected by all
'Ese laws. and IN spite OF them usury Increased ak
. noW t.y'Rrffg In consequence of this the prptofs
Wy thet Fd'cts prohibited Usu exec, ding IL u ceGt
az cicero t.siibss OF himself when be governed sic
q" ~" - ~ 80
there Is another curious passage in the Pan
oectS on tie subject OF usnrv. 1t speaks o { IL
per cent. as beng the legitimate interest. hat
e"h"asofs 10 persuade niOnied men TO lend il
az - risearer rste. '.1his IL per cent"(says
The text" IS bitter aud heavy" Honest men
we're accustomed 10 lend DIT q per cent. which.
according to Piiny, is . decent aud moder
ate"
The experience of mankind seems then to
demonstrate that interest. the price of the use
CT money, cannot he regulated by law. IN
,rnth, no price whatever can be regulated hy
iaW, without creating power in society," con-
Sttu,IDg OF Itself an evil infinitely greater than
mat Intended 10 be removed How long will
tsis experience be disregartled? Probably
not Tor many years. The enlightened CITY OF
Glasgow has petitioned parliament for "A rereal
oithe laws regulating interest; n in the French
papers, surprise Is expressed that the English
shonld nave continued them so long.
twou'd bea matter of useful us we'll as " Gu
rious speculation" TO enquire into the causes
OF tie various difficulties which every npor-
tant trnth is forever destined 10 eucnnutcr.-
Eut this enquiry would be out Of place here
WI! merely ,enai X, that from the commence
nent OF the world to Tie present day. .lere
nave beeh two great parties among mankind;
enc generally triand.y to human liberty. the
other as generally hostile. hese parties ex-
~ '.oir, and Will forever exist The first is
friendly 10 truth as we'll as liberty The other
10 ignorance and error, a. well as oDpress sion
TO idea OF the other causes which oppose the
progress OF truth, local and Temporary in their
nature, can lie communicated in a general re-
mark.
Yours, respectfully,
August 1917